YAC 1:10 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) whereas the wealthy can boast about their weakness because they’ll pass away just like the daisies in the grass.[ref]

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT but the rich in his lowliness, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass.

UST But believers who have a lot of money should be glad that God has humbled them by showing them that their wealth does not make them better than other people. After all, like wildflowers that bloom for only a short time and then wither, rich believers will die like anyone else.

BSB But the [one who is] rich [should exult] in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

BLB and he who is rich, in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of grass.

AICNT and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.

OEB but a rich follower of their humiliation; for the rich will pass away like a wild flower.

WEBBE and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.

LSV but the rich in his becoming low, because he will pass away as a flower of grass;

FBV while the rich should “boast” in the humble position they now have,[fn] since they will fade away like flowers in the field.

1:10 Referring primarily to the way each group is viewed by God ( 1:9-10); not necessarily their position in society…

TCNT and the rich man should rejoice in being made low, because he will pass away like a flower of grass.

T4T And believers who are rich should be happy that they have humbled themselves in order to trust in Jesus Christ (OR, but rich people can only take pride in the fact that God will humble them when he judges everyone [IRO]), because they and their riches [MTY] will pass away, just like wild flowers wither [SIM].

LEB but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass.

BBE But the man of wealth, that he is made low; because like the flower of the grass he will come to his end.

Moff but let one who is rich exult in being lowered; for the rich will pass away like the flower of the grass--

Wymth but a rich man should rejoice in being brought low, for like flowers among the herbage rich men will pass away.

ASV and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

DRA And the rich, in his being low; because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away.

YLT and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away;

Drby and the rich in his humiliation, because as [the] grass's flower he will pass away.

RV and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

SLT And the rich, in his humiliation: for as the flower of the grass he shall pass by.

Wbstr But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

KJB-1769 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

KJB-1611 But the rich, in that hee is made low: because as the floure of the grasse he shall passe away.
(But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flour of the grass he shall pass away.)

Bshps Agayne, the riche, in that he is made lowe: Because as the flowre of the grasse he shall passe away.
(Again, the rich, in that he is made low: Because as the flour of the grass he shall pass away.)

Gnva Againe hee that is rich, in that hee is made lowe: for as the flower of the grasse, shall he vanish away.
(Again he that is rich, in that he is made low: for as the flower of the grass, shall he vanish away. )

Cvdl and the rich, in yt he is made lowe. For eue as the flor of ye grasse shal he vanyshe awaye.
(and the rich, in it he is made low. For eve/even as the flor of ye/you_all grass shall he vanyshe away.)

TNT and the ryche in that he is made lowe. For even as the flower of the grasse shall he vanysshe awaye.
(and the rich in that he is made low. For even as the flower of the grass shall he vanysshe away. )

Wycl and a riche man in his lownesse; for as the flour of gras he schal passe.
(and a rich man in his lowness; for as the flour of gras he shall pass.)

Luth und der da reich ist, rühme sich seiner Niedrigkeit; denn wie eine Blume des Grases wird er vergehen.
(and the/of_the there rich/wealthy is, boast/praise itself/yourself/themselves his Niedrigkeit; because/than as/like a/one flower the grasses becomes he pass_away.)

ClVg dives autem in humilitate sua, quoniam sicut flos fœni transibit;[fn]
(dives however in/into/on humility his_own, since/because like flower/blossom fœni will_pass; )

1.10 Dives autem. Divitem vocat eum qui totam spem in divitiis ponit; non nocet habere divitias, sed amare. Dives autem glorietur. Ironice. Quasi: Non debet gloriari in sua gloria qua superbit et alios opprimit, quia finienda est et humilianda in inferno. Vel, Glorietur in humilitate sua, id est, non in superbia, sed humiliet se subserviendo aliis de divitiis. Quoniam sicut flos feni. Justus ut palma floret, injustus ut fenum: quia ille manet, hic cito transit. Flos justi spes quæ fructum exspectat, radix justi charitas quæ immobilis manet; mali radix cupiditas, flos delectatio temporalium.

1.10 Dives however. Divitem he_calls him who/which the_whole hope in/into/on wealth puts; not/no nocet to_have riches, but to_love. Dives however let_him_boast. Ironice. Quasi: Not/No must to_boast in/into/on his_own glory which proudt and others opprimit, because finienda it_is and humilianda in/into/on hell. Or, Glorietur in/into/on humility his_own, that it_is, not/no in/into/on pride, but humiliet himself subserviendo to_others from/about wealth. Since like flower/blossom feni. Just as palm_tree floret, injust as hay/rate(n): because he/that_one remains, this/here quickly transit. Flos just hope which fruit is_waiting, root just charity which immobilis remains; evil root cupiditas, flower/blossom pleasure/delight temporal.

UGNT ὁ δὲ πλούσιος, ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται.
(ho de plousios, en taʸ tapeinōsei autou, hoti hōs anthos ⱪortou pareleusetai.)

SBL-GNT ὁ δὲ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται.
(ho de plousios en taʸ tapeinōsei autou, hoti hōs anthos ⱪortou pareleusetai.)

RP-GNT ὁ δὲ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται.
(ho de plousios en taʸ tapeinōsei autou; hoti hōs anthos ⱪortou pareleusetai.)

TC-GNT ὁ δὲ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται.
(ho de plousios en taʸ tapeinōsei autou; hoti hōs anthos ⱪortou pareleusetai. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:2–11: James encouraged believers to continue to trust God during times of testing

The theme of this section is that it is important for Christians to continue to trust God when going through various kinds of trials or difficulties. These trials are a test of their faith (1:2–4). They need God’s wisdom in order to remain faithful to him, and so they should pray for wisdom (1:5). When they come to God in prayer, they should have an attitude of firm trust in him (1:6–8). Both poverty and wealth test a Christian. They should trust God whether rich or poor and learn to think about poverty and wealth as God does (1:9–11).

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Have faith and wisdom

When you have trials/tests, you must trust God

Be joyful when your faith is tested

Paragraph 1:9–11

Even if a Christian has a low position in society, he can rejoice. He can rejoice because, in God’s opinion, he is in a high position. Similarly, a Christian who is rich should have God’s opinion about himself. Although rich people are generally given high status because of their riches, rich Christians should rather value a low position and humble attitude. They should remember that our lives on earth are short and that riches will not last.

The theme of section 1:2–11 is that Christians should continue to trust God/Jesus when they have various kinds of tests/trials. Poverty is a kind of trial. It is also the result of the trial of being persecuted. Riches too may be a kind of test of faith. They test whether the Christian will trust God or his money. And for rich Christians who had lost wealth and status because of their faith in Christ, they should think of this in a positive way.

1:10a

But the one who is rich should exult in his low position,

But a rich believer should be glad that he is lowered/humbled by God,
But rich believers should rejoice when God humbles them,

But the one who is rich: The clause But the one who is rich contrasts with 1:9. However, there are two ways to interpret the clause the one who is rich:

It refers to believers who are rich, in contrast to the ones who are poor (1:9). James was warning rich believers not to put their confidence in or highly value riches. For example, the GNT says:
the rich Christians (GNT, REB, GW, CEV and probably BSB, NIV, NLT, NCV)Mayor, pages 43–44; Ropes, pages 145–146; Mitton, pages 36–37; Adamson (1976), page 61; Hiebert, pages 91–92; Moo (1985), page 68; Lenski, page 534; Tasker, page 43.
It refers to unbelievers. James was speaking about rich people who were generally evil and not believers in Jesus, like the ones described in James 2:6–7 and 5:1–6. He said that they will be condemned. For example, the NASB says:
the rich man (NASB, NET)Alford, page 278; Huther, pages 55–56; Laws, pages 62–64; Davids (1982), pages 76–77; Martin, pages 25–26; Dibelius, pages 84–85, Stulac, pages 190–201.

Some English translations can be understood either way (ESV, RSV, NJB, KJV, JBP). The choice between interpretation (1) and (2) is very difficult. Some translators may prefer to translate in a way that can be understood as either (1) or (2). For example:

the rich (ESV)

rich people

If you must choose one interpretation, or if you prefer to choose one interpretation, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions and many commentators follow that interpretation.

Some ways to make it clear that the one who is rich is also a brother are:

the rich brother

Rich believers (GW)

the rich Christians (GNT)

the one: Like “the brother” in 1:9a, the one here refers to rich believers in general. Consider whether it is more natural to use a singular or plural term here in your language.

should exult: The phrase should exult does not occur in Greek. However, it is clear from the parallel structure in 1:9b that readers should understand the same phrase here. So the BSB has supplied these words.

As noted in 1:9b, the Greek word that the BSB translates as should exult often means “boast.” But the Bible teaches that we should “boast” or “highly value” things that people generally have a low opinion of. Some of these things are weakness (2 Corinthians 12:5), knowing God (Jeremiah 9:24), and sufferings (Romans 5:3). Here James says that rich believers should “think well of” or “highly value” their low position.

Some other ways to translate this are:

be glad (GNT)

think well/highly of

highly value

rejoice

If possible, use the same word for both the lowly brother (1:9b) and for the rich brother.

in his low position: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as in his low position refers to:

a humble attitude. God causes rich men to become humble so they understand that they need him to save them. Rich believers also become humble as they realize that their wealth does not make them important. They learn to highly value things that most people think of as lowly like serving others and being mistreated for the sake of Jesus.
losing their wealth and high status when they were persecuted for being believers in Jesus.

If possible, translate this in a general way that could include both (a) and (b).

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

in being brought low (NRSV)

when God makes them humble (CEV)

God has humbled them (NLT)

1:10b

because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

because he will soon die like a wild flower does.
because they, and their riches with them, will soon end/finish just like blossoms do/finish.

because: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as because introduces the basis for the command in 1:10a. The rich believer should take pride in his low position, not in his riches (1:10a), because he, and his riches with him, will not last long (1:10b). In some languages, it is more natural to put the basis for the command (in 1:10b) before the command (in 1:10a). See the General Comment on 1:10a–b below for an example.

he will pass away like a flower of the field: This clause is a simile. In this simile, the rich person is compared to a wild flower. Some ways that they are similar are:

They are not permanent. Both will soon die.
It is only for a short period of time that people regard a rich person and a wild flower as important.

It is implied that the rich person’s wealth is also not permanent. You may want to make this explicit in your translation. For example:

he, and his riches too, will pass away like a wild flower

he will pass away: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as he will pass away here means that the rich believer, like all people, “will die.” His life on this earth will end. For example:

The rich will die (NCV)

Many languages use idiomatic expressions for dying. In English, one such expression is what the BSB has used: pass away. If you have an idiom or an expression that would fit both a flower that withers and dies as well as a person who dies, you may want to use that here. For example:

he will no longer be alive

he will cease to live/be

he will no longer be present

like a flower of the field: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as flower of the field refers to flowers that grow on their own. No one plants them. In Israel, the land where James lived, brightly colored wild flowers grow in great numbers when rain comes. But it is not long before the hot sun dries them up, and they die.

In some languages there is no general word for a flower. In such cases, it may be necessary to:

General Comment on 1:10a–b

Use a word for a specific well-known flower that only lives for a short while and dies in the heat.
Use a word for a specific part of a plant such as:
a blossom
a bloom

In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of the clauses in 1:10 and put the basis (1:10b) before the command (1:10a). For example:

^10aBut the one who is rich ^10bwill pass away like a flower of the field. ^10aSo, he should exult in his low position, not in his riches.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ὁ δὲ πλούσιος, ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ δέ πλούσιος ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ ὅτι ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται)

James is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the previous verse. Alternate translation: [but let the rich boast in his lowliness] or [but let the rich take satisfaction in his lowliness]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

ὁ & πλούσιος

the & rich

James is using the adjective rich as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with an equivalent expression. It is clear in context that James is speaking of a rich “brother” or “believer,” in parallel with the “lowly brother” he describes in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [a believer who is rich]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

the humiliation ˱of˲_him

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun lowliness with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [the low place he occupies]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

the humiliation ˱of˲_him

James is using a spatial metaphor to describe rich believers as if they were in a low place in order to indicate that God has taught them humility. Alternate translation: [the humility that God has taught them]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

the humiliation ˱of˲_him

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly, as UST does, that God has taught rich believers humility by showing them that their wealth does not make them better than other people.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism

παρελεύσεται

˱he˲_˓will_be˒_passing_away

James is using a mild expression to refer to death. Alternate translation: [he will die]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου

like ˓a˒_flower ˱of˲_˓the˒_grass

The point of this comparison is that just a wild flower blooms only for a short time, rich people will live on earth for the same relatively short time as anyone else, so their riches do not give them any advantage. You could explain the meaning of this figurative expression in your translation. (However, you could also reproduce the simile, as suggested in the next note.) Alternate translation: [after living for only a relatively short time]

Note 8 topic: translate-unknown

ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται

like ˓a˒_flower ˱of˲_˓the˒_grass ˱he˲_˓will_be˒_passing_away

If you would like to use a simile in your translation but your readers would not be familiar with a flower of the grass (that is, a wildflower), you could use a different illustration. You could use something familiar to them that lasts only for a short time.

Parallel YAC 1:10

Section 1:2–11: James encouraged believers to continue to trust God during times of testing

Paragraph 1:9–11

1:10a

1:10b

General Comment on 1:10a–b