YAC 5:12 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Πρό
2. pro
3. Before
4. -
5. 42530
6. P·······
7. before
8. before
9. PS
10. Y60
11. 148261
1. πάντων
2. pas
3. all things
4. -
5. 39560
6. S····GNP
7. all ‹things›
8. all ‹things›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148262
1. οὖν
2. oun
3. -
4. -
5. 37670
6. C·······
7. therefore
8. therefore
9. -
10. -
11. 148263
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148264
1. ἀδελφοί
2. adelfos
3. brothers
4. brothers sisters
5. 800
6. N····VMP
7. brothers
8. brothers
9. -
10. Y60; F148268; F148284; F148297; F148301; F148312; F148350; F148352; F148359; F148361; F148363; F148373
11. 148265
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148266
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. don't won't
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148267
1. ὀμνύετε
2. omnuō
3. be swearing
4. swear
5. 36600
6. VMPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ swearing
8. ˓be˒ swearing
9. -
10. Y60; R148265
11. 148268
1. μήτε
2. mēte
3. neither
4. -
5. 33830
6. C·······
7. neither
8. neither
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148269
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148270
1. οὐρανόν
2. ouranos
3. by heaven
4. heaven
5. 37720
6. N····AMS
7. ˱by˲ heaven
8. ˱by˲ heaven
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148271
1. μήτε
2. mēte
3. nor
4. -
5. 33830
6. C·······
7. nor
8. nor
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148272
1. τήν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148273
1. γῆν
2. gē
3. earth
4. earth
5. 10930
6. N····AFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148274
1. μήτε
2. mēte
3. nor
4. -
5. 33830
6. C·······
7. nor
8. nor
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148275
1. ἄλλον
2. allos
3. other
4. other
5. 2430
6. R····AMS
7. other
8. other
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148276
1. τινά
2. tis
3. any
4. -
5. 51000
6. E····AMS
7. any
8. any
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148277
1. ὅρκον
2. horkos
3. oath
4. -
5. 37270
6. N····AMS
7. oath
8. oath
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148278
1. τινά
2. tis
3. -
4. -
5. 51000
6. E····AMS
7. any
8. any
9. -
10. -
11. 148279
1. ἤτω
2. eimi
3. let be
4. -
5. 15100
6. VMPA3··S
7. let_be
8. let_be
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148280
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148281
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 148282
1. λόγος
2. logos
3. -
4. -
5. 30560
6. N····NMS
7. message
8. word
9. -
10. -
11. 148283
1. ὑμῶν
2. su
3. of you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y60; R148265
11. 148284
1. τό
2. ho
3. your
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NNS
7. your
8. your
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148285
1. Ναί
2. nai
3. Yes be
4. -
5. 34830
6. N····NNS
7. yes ‹be›
8. yes ‹be›
9. D
10. Y60
11. 148286
1. ναί
2. nai
3. yes
4. -
5. 34830
6. N····NNS
7. yes
8. yes
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148287
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. But but
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148288
1. τό
2. ho
3. your
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NNS
7. your
8. your
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148289
1. Οὒ
2. ou
3. No be
4. -
5. 37560
6. N····NNS
7. no ‹be›
8. no ‹be›
9. D
10. Y60
11. 148290
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. no
4. -
5. 37560
6. N····NNS
7. no
8. no
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148291
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. in order that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148292
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148293
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. -
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. -
11. 148294
1. ὑπό
2. hupo
3. under
4. -
5. 52590
6. P·······
7. under
8. under
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148295
1. κρίσιν
2. krisis
3. judgement
4. judged
5. 29200
6. N····AFS
7. judgement
8. judgment
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148296
1. πέσητε
2. piptō
3. you all may fall
4. -
5. 40980
6. VSAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ fall
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ fall
9. -
10. Y60; R148265
11. 148297

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:7–12: Suffering believers should be patient and persevere in their faith

In this section, James explained how Christian people should respond when ungodly rich people oppress them. Christians should not resist but should be patient, waiting for the Lord to come and bring justice (5:7–8). The theme of patience in the midst of suffering is related to the opening theme of the letter (1:2–4). As well as being patient in suffering, Christians should be patient with one another (5:9). They should follow the example of the prophets of God (5:10–11). They should avoid swearing with oaths (5:12).

Commentators disagree over which section the paragraph 5:12 belongs to. ManyHuther, page 215, 217; Mitton, page 191; Davids (1982); Moo (1985), page 173. of them say that it does not belong to this section (5:7–12) more than the next one (5:13–18), and prefer to set it off as separate from both. A fewLaws, page 219; Martin, page 199; see also Ropes, page 300, for a similar view. of them put it with 5:13–18 because it shares the same topic of referring to God when speaking. A few othersAlford, page 325; Adamson (1976), page 194; Hiebert, page 308. (see also the NIV) put it with 5:7–11, because it is similar to 5:9. On the whole it seems best to put 5:12 with this section, but to make it a separate paragraph.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Believers should be patient when they suffer

Be patient; the Lord is coming (UBS)

Paragraph 5:12

The Jews used oaths frequently, especially when they had strong feelings. They swore oaths when they made promises or threats, or when they wanted to strengthen the statement they were making. Some examples from the Bible are: 1 Samuel 1:26, 20:3, 20:12; 1 Kings 17:1; Matthew 14:7, 26:72. James here taught that Christian people should avoid oaths.

5:12a

Above all, my brothers,

¶ Above all this that I have just said, my brothers,
¶ My fellow believers, more important than everything else is this:

Above all: The phrase Above all here means “most of all,” or “most important of all.” James was probably ranking the avoidance of swearing oaths as even more important than avoiding other sins of the tongue such as grumbling.See Mayor, page 161; Ropes, page 300; Adamson (1976), page 194. Huther, page 215, thinks the comparison is with all the other warnings of the epistle. Other commentators think that James meant, “What I am going to say now is extremely important,” and that he was not comparing the importance of this topic with the importance of what he had said before. See Davids (1982), page 189; Mitton, page 191; Hiebert, page 308; Laws, pages 219–220; Martin, page 203.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

But most of all (NLT)

It is of the highest importance (JBP)

Most importantly

my brothers: Notice that the BSB places the phrase my brothers at the end of 5:12a. This follows the word order of the Greek text. In some languages, it is more natural to place it at the beginning. For example:

My friends, if any of you wander away from the truth... (GNT)

In some languages, it is not natural to repeat my brothers so often. Read 5:7–12 to see if it would be more natural to omit one or more of the phrases my brothers.

5:12b

do not swear,

do^(plur) not swear with/by oaths.
do not use oaths to convince others that you^(plur) are telling the truth.

do not swear: The Greek word that the BSB translates as swear refers to calling upon God or some other being or object to be a witness that what you are saying is true. It is implied that God will punish you if what you are saying is not true. James said that his readers should stop swearing or using oaths.

Another way to translate this word is:

do not use an oath (GNT)

Be sure to distinguish the word “swear” from the words “curse” and “bad words/language.”

If there is no expression that refers to this word in your language, you may need to explain what James means. For example:

do not call on God to punish you if you are lying

5:12c

not by heaven or earth

You^(plur) should not swear by the name of heaven or by the name of this world,
For instance: Do^(plur) not use an oath saying that something/someone in heaven or earth

not by heaven or earth: The phrase by heaven or earth means “calling on heaven or earth as a witness that you are telling the truth.” These are examples of the common oaths that the Jews used in the days when James wrote. In this context, heaven means the place where God lives, and earth means this world where human beings live.

In some languages, it will be natural to translate this phrase as a separate sentence. For example:

Don’t use the name of heaven, earth…to prove what you say (NCV)

Do not swear by using anything in heaven or on earth to support your words

See heaven, meaning 2, in the Glossary for more information.

5:12d

or by any other oath.

or by the name of anything else.
or anything else is your witness that you are telling the truth.

or by any other oath: The phrase or by any other oath means “do not swear by using anything else as a witness that you are telling the truth.”

5:12e

Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no,

When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no. (NCV)
Just say a simple yes or no. (NLT)

Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no: This clause implies that when you talk:

You should not add any oaths to your words. A simple “yes” or “no” is sufficient.
You should always be honest and tell the truth. You should not lie.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

“Yes” or “No” is all you need to say. (CEV)

If you mean yes, say yes. If you mean no, say no. (GW)

Speak the truth without an oath. Say only “yes” when you mean “yes” and say only “no” when you mean “no.”

5:12f

so that you will not fall under judgment.

Otherwise, you^(plur) will be judged to be guilty.
If you^(plur) say more, God will judge you and punish you.

so that you will not fall under judgment: The Greek clause that the BSB translates literally as so that you will not fall under judgment indicates the basis for what James wrote in 5:12a–d.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

otherwise, you^(plur) will be condemned

If you say anything more, you will be condemned. (CEV)

and then you will not come under God’s judgment (GNT)

In other words, if you follow James’ advice, God will not condemn you on the Day of Judgment. This is because a person who is in the habit of swearing oaths will sooner or later break his promise or tell a lie. So he will be guilty of using God’s name in an unacceptable way.

fall under judgment: The Greek words that the BSB translates literally as fall under judgment mean “be declared/judged guilty” of having done something wrong. This also includes the idea that the person will be punished for doing wrong. But “judgment” here does not refer to eternal condemnation and punishment in hell.

Some other ways to translate this are:

be judged guilty (NCV)

be pronounced/declared guilty of sin

See judge, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πρὸ πάντων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πρό πάντων δέ ἀδελφοί μού μή ὀμνύετε μήτε τόν οὐρανόν μήτε τήν γῆν μήτε ἄλλον τινά ὅρκον ἤτω δέ ὑμῶν τό Ναί ναί καί τό Οὒ οὒ ἵνα μή ὑπό κρίσιν πέσητε)

James is using a spatial metaphor to emphasize the importance of what he is about to say. Your language may use a different spatial metaphor. Alternate translation: [above all]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφοί μου

brothers (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πρό πάντων δέ ἀδελφοί μού μή ὀμνύετε μήτε τόν οὐρανόν μήτε τήν γῆν μήτε ἄλλον τινά ὅρκον ἤτω δέ ὑμῶν τό Ναί ναί καί τό Οὒ οὒ ἵνα μή ὑπό κρίσιν πέσητε)

See how you translated the term brothers in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: [my fellow believers]

μὴ ὀμνύετε

Here, to swear means to guarantee, by appealing to something that is considered to be certain and reliable, that a statement is true or that an action will be performed. Alternate translation: [do not make an oath] or [do not make a vow]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἤτω & ὑμῶν τὸ ναὶ, ναὶ, καὶ τὸ οὒ, οὔ

let_be & ˱of˲_you_all (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πρό πάντων δέ ἀδελφοί μού μή ὀμνύετε μήτε τόν οὐρανόν μήτε τήν γῆν μήτε ἄλλον τινά ὅρκον ἤτω δέ ὑμῶν τό Ναί ναί καί τό Οὒ οὒ ἵνα μή ὑπό κρίσιν πέσητε)

In the second phrase, James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the first phrase. Alternate translation: [let your “Yes” be “Yes” and let your “No” be “No”]

ἤτω & ὑμῶν τὸ ναὶ, ναὶ, καὶ τὸ οὒ, οὔ

Alternate translation: [simply give your word, without making an oath]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ κρίσιν πέσητε

in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Πρό πάντων δέ ἀδελφοί μού μή ὀμνύετε μήτε τόν οὐρανόν μήτε τήν γῆν μήτε ἄλλον τινά ὅρκον ἤτω δέ ὑμῶν τό Ναί ναί καί τό Οὒ οὒ ἵνα μή ὑπό κρίσιν πέσητε)

James is speaking of judgment as something that a person might fall under. Alternate translation: [so that you will not be judged]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ κρίσιν πέσητε

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state more explicitly what this means. Alternate translation: [so that God will not have to judge and punish you for breaking your oath]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Before
2. -
3. 42530
4. PS
5. pro
6. P-·······
7. before
8. before
9. PS
10. Y60
11. 148261
1. but
2. -
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148264
1. all things
2. -
3. 39560
5. pas
6. S-····GNP
7. all ‹things›
8. all ‹things›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148262
1. brothers
2. brothers sisters
3. 800
5. adelfos
6. N-····VMP
7. brothers
8. brothers
9. -
10. Y60; F148268; F148284; F148297; F148301; F148312; F148350; F148352; F148359; F148361; F148363; F148373
11. 148265
1. of me
2. -
3. 14730
5. egō
6. R-···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148266
1. not
2. don't won't
3. 33610
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148267
1. be swearing
2. swear
3. 36600
5. omnuō
6. V-MPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ swearing
8. ˓be˒ swearing
9. -
10. Y60; R148265
11. 148268
1. neither
2. -
3. 33830
5. mēte
6. C-·······
7. neither
8. neither
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148269
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148270
1. by heaven
2. heaven
3. 37720
5. ouranos
6. N-····AMS
7. ˱by˲ heaven
8. ˱by˲ heaven
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148271
1. nor
2. -
3. 33830
5. mēte
6. C-·······
7. nor
8. nor
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148272
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148273
1. earth
2. earth
3. 10930
5. gē
6. N-····AFS
7. earth
8. earth
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148274
1. nor
2. -
3. 33830
5. mēte
6. C-·······
7. nor
8. nor
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148275
1. other
2. other
3. 2430
5. allos
6. R-····AMS
7. other
8. other
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148276
1. any
2. -
3. 51000
5. tis
6. E-····AMS
7. any
8. any
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148277
1. oath
2. -
3. 37270
5. horkos
6. N-····AMS
7. oath
8. oath
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148278
1. but
2. -
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148281
1. let be
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-MPA3··S
7. let_be
8. let_be
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148280
1. of you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y60; R148265
11. 148284
1. your
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NNS
7. your
8. your
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148285
1. Yes be
2. -
3. 34830
4. D
5. nai
6. N-····NNS
7. yes ‹be›
8. yes ‹be›
9. D
10. Y60
11. 148286
1. yes
2. -
3. 34830
5. nai
6. N-····NNS
7. yes
8. yes
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148287
1. and
2. But but
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148288
1. your
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NNS
7. your
8. your
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148289
1. No be
2. -
3. 37560
4. D
5. ou
6. N-····NNS
7. no ‹be›
8. no ‹be›
9. D
10. Y60
11. 148290
1. no
2. -
3. 37560
5. ou
6. N-····NNS
7. no
8. no
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148291
1. in order that
2. -
3. 24430
5. hina
6. C-·······
7. in_order_that
8. in_order_that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148292
1. not
2. -
3. 33610
5. mē
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148293
1. under
2. -
3. 52590
5. hupo
6. P-·······
7. under
8. under
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148295
1. judgement
2. judged
3. 29200
5. krisis
6. N-····AFS
7. judgement
8. judgment
9. -
10. Y60
11. 148296
1. you all may fall
2. -
3. 40980
5. piptō
6. V-SAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ fall
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ fall
9. -
10. Y60; R148265
11. 148297

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 5:12

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)