YAC 1:25 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) However the person who investigates the perfect law that gives freedom, and then sticks with it, not being just an observer that forgets about it but rather a person who puts it into practice, this person will prosper in whatever they do.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
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 one having gazed into the perfect law of freedom and having continued, not having become a hearer of forgetfulness, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in his doing.

UST But other people consider God’s message carefully. It is perfect and it enables people to do voluntarily what God wants them to do. If these people remember what they have heard and continue to do what God tells them to do, then God will bless them because of what they do.

BLB But the one having looked intently into the perfect law, that of freedom, and having continued in it, not having been a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work--this one will be blessed in his work.

AICNT But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, [[this one]][fn] not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

1:25, this one: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB but the person who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice – that person will be blessed in what they do.

WEBBE But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

WMBB But he who looks into the perfect Torah of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

NET But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.

LSV but he who looked into [the] perfect law—that of liberty, and continued there, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work—this one will be blessed in his doing.

FBV But if you look to the perfect law of freedom and follow it, not as someone who just listens and then forgets, but as someone who acts on it—then you will be blessed in what you do.

TCNT But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, [fn]is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts. He will be blessed in what he does.

1:25 is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts. He 87.1% ¦ is thus not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts. He MSS 6.8% ¦ being not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, he CT 5.4% {Note: The reading of MSS could also be interpreted to support the main Greek text if a spelling error is assumed.}

T4T But other people look closely at God’s message, which is perfect and which sets people free to voluntarily do what God wants them to do. And if they continue to examine God’s message and do not just hear it and then forget it, but do what God tells them to do, God will bless them because of what they do.

LEB But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues to do it, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts, this one will be blessed _⌊in what he does_⌋[fn].

1:25 Literally “in his doing”

BBE But he who goes on looking into the true law which makes him free, being not a hearer without memory but a doer putting it into effect, this man will have a blessing on his acts.

Moff Whereas he who gazes into the faultless law of freedom and remains in that position, proving himself to be no forgetful listener but an active agent, he will be blessed in his activity.

Wymth But he who looks closely into the perfect Law—the Law of freedom—and continues looking, he, being not a hearer who forgets, but an obedient doer, will as the result of his obedience be blessed.

ASV But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.

DRA But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed.

YLT and he who did look into the perfect law — that of liberty, and did continue there, this one — not a forgetful hearer becoming, but a doer of work — this one shall be happy in his doing.

Drby But he that fixes his view on [the] perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in [it], being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of [the] work, he shall be blessed in his doing.

RV But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.
(But he that looketh/looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth/continues, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh/works, this man shall be blessed in his doing. )

SLT And he having stooped into the perfect law of liberty, and remained, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of work, he shall be happy in his doing.

Wbstr But he who looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth in it , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

KJB-1769 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
(But whoso/whoever looketh/looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth/continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. )

KJB-1611 But who so looketh into the perfect Law of libertie, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the worke, this man shall be blessed in his [fn]deed.
(But whoso/whoever looketh/looks into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth/continues therein, he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.)

1:25 Or, doing.

Bshps But who so loketh in the perfect lawe of libertie, and continueth therin he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the worke, shalbe blessed in his deede.
(But whoso/whoever looketh/looks in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth/continues therein he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the work, shall be blessed in his deede.)

Gnva But who so looketh in the perfect Lawe of libertie, and continueth therein, hee not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the woorke, shalbe blessed in his deede.
(But whoso/whoever looketh/looks in the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth/continues therein, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the woorke, shall be blessed in his deede. )

Cvdl But who so loketh in ye perfect lawe of libertie, and continueth therin (yf he be not a forgetfull hearer, but a doar of the worke) the same shalbe happie in his dede.
(But whoso/whoever looketh/looks in ye/you_all perfect law of liberty, and continueth/continues therein (if he be not a forgetfull hearer, but a doar of the worke) the same shall be happy in his dede.)

TNT But whoso loketh in the parfaict lawe of libertie and continueth ther in (yf he be not a forgetfull hearer but a doar of the worke) the same shall be happie in his dede.
(But whoso/whoever looketh/looks in the parfaict law of liberty and continueth/continues there in (if he be not a forgetfull hearer but a doar of the worke) the same shall be happy in his dede. )

Wycl But he that biholdith in the lawe of perfit fredom, and dwellith in it, and is not maad a foryetful herere, but a doere of werk, this schal be blessid in his dede.
(But he that beholdeth/beholds in the law of perfect freedom, and dwelleth/dwells in it, and is not made a foryetful herere, but a doer of work, this shall be blessed in his dede.)

Luth Wer aber durchschauet in das voll kommene Gesetz der Freiheit und darinnen beharret und ist nicht ein vergeßlicher Hörer, sondern ein Täter, derselbige wird selig sein in seiner Tat.
(Who but throughchauet in the full/whole cominge law the/of_the Freiheit and therein insists and is not a vergeßlicher hearer, rather a Täter, the_same becomes blessed be in his Tat.)

ClVg Qui autem perspexerit in legem perfectam libertatis, et permanserit in ea, non auditor obliviosus factus, sed factor operis: hic beatus in facto suo erit.
(Who however perspexerit in/into/on the_law perfect libertatis, and permanserit in/into/on them, not/no I_hearr obliviosus became, but doner work: this/here happy/blessed in/into/on done his_own will_be. )

UGNT ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας, καὶ παραμείνας, οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος, ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται.
(ho de parakupsas eis nomon teleion, ton taʸs eleutherias, kai parameinas, ouk akroataʸs epilaʸsmonaʸs genomenos, alla poiaʸtaʸs ergou, houtos makarios en taʸ poiaʸsei autou estai.)

SBL-GNT ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ παραμείνας, ⸀οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται.
(ho de parakupsas eis nomon teleion ton taʸs eleutherias kai parameinas, ⸀ouk akroataʸs epilaʸsmonaʸs genomenos alla poiaʸtaʸs ergou, houtos makarios en taʸ poiaʸsei autou estai.)

RP-GNT Ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ παραμείνας, οὗτος οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται.
(Ho de parakupsas eis nomon teleion ton taʸs eleutherias kai parameinas, houtos ouk akroataʸs epilaʸsmonaʸs genomenos alla poiaʸtaʸs ergou, houtos makarios en taʸ poiaʸsei autou estai.)

TC-GNT Ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ παραμείνας, [fn]οὗτος οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται.
(Ho de parakupsas eis nomon teleion ton taʸs eleutherias kai parameinas, houtos ouk akroataʸs epilaʸsmonaʸs genomenos alla poiaʸtaʸs ergou, houtos makarios en taʸ poiaʸsei autou estai. )

1:25 ουτος 87.1% ¦ ουτως MSS 6.8% ¦ — CT 5.4%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:19–27: Believers should accept the word of God and obey it

In this section, James emphasized the importance of obeying the word of God. There are three paragraphs: 1:19–21, 1:22–25, and 1:26–27.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Hearing and Doing the Word (ESV)

Christians must listen to God’s message and obey it (UBS)

Paragraph 1:22–25

Believers must not forget the word of God that they had heard. They must do/obey it.

1:25

In Greek and the BSB, 1:25 is one long sentence. This sentence has many clauses, and some clauses repeat information. In some languages, it will not be natural to follow the BSB order and structure. For some ways to reorder this verse, see the General Comment on 1:25a–e at the end of 1:25e.

1:25a

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom,

But the person who carefully studies God’s perfect law that sets people free
But as regards the person who listens carefully to God’s commandments that are perfect and that free us^(incl) from sin,
But some people carefully examine/read the law. This law is completely good and it liberates us^(incl) from sin.

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as But indicates a contrast. The contrast is between the person who only hears the word (1:23–24) and the person who hears the word and does it (1:25).

the one who: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as the one who is in a general statement that applies to anyone. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a pronoun or a plural in such a statement. For example:

the person who (GW)

the one who (NET)

those who (NCV)

if you (GNT)

looks intently: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as looks intently literally means “look/peer into.” Here it is used figuratively and means “investigate carefully.”Some authorities (including F. Field, page 236, and F. J. A. Hort) think the component of carefulness is not present in the meaning of the verb. It seems, however, that examples can be quoted on both sides. In other words, the context shows whether carefulness is implied or not. It refers to determining what God’s word says by listening to someone else read it, asking questions, or reading it oneself.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

thoroughly examines

carefully study (NCV)

carefully thinks about

listens very well

the perfect law: The phrase the perfect law refers to all the commandments in God’s word. It refers to the set of instructions and commands that God gave his people to live by. They are perfect. It does not just refer to the Ten Commandments or other laws in the Old Testament. It also includes Jesus’ teachings.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

God’s perfect law (NCV)

God’s perfect teachings (GW)

God’s perfect rules

perfect: The word perfect means that God’s law is completely good. It has no unrighteous commands.

This same word occurs in 1:17a with similar meaning.

of freedom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as of freedom describes what the perfect law does for people who obey it. It frees them from sin.This interpretation is explicitly supported by the NIV, GNT, REB, and Huther, page 89. However, since the Greek literally just says, “the law of liberty,” some commentators interpret the phrase as “the law that a person obeys freely.” See Mayor, page 70; Mitton, pages 72–73. But the interpretation that the law sets a person free fits well with the teaching of the Psalms (see Psalm 119:32, “I will run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free,” and 119:45 “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts”) and other Jewish literature (for example, “you find no free man except him who occupies himself with the study of Torah,” Aboth 6:2b, cited in Martin, page 51). In some languages it may be necessary to translate freedom as a verb. For example:

that makes us free (REB)

that sets you free (CEV)

In other languages, it may be necessary to provide an object. For example:

that frees people from sin

that frees people to do what God wants them to do

1:25b

and continues to do so—

and continues to study it
if/when he hears and thinks about them constantly,
Those who continue to examine/read this law

and continues to do so: The Greek word that the BSB translates as continues to do so indicates that the person continues to carefully investigate the law of God.

In some languages, it may be possible to translate this word as part of 1:25a. For example:

But the man who continues to look intently into the perfect law

But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law (NLT96)

1:25c–d

not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer: In Greek, this is literally “being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work.” For example:

being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts (RSV)

The words “hearer” and “doer” are the same words as in 1:22a and 1:22c. See the notes on 1:22a, 1:22c, and try to use the same expressions here that you did there.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice (GNT)

They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says (NCV)

not neglecting to do what they heard that they should do but doing it

If it is more natural in your language to first say what a person does and then say what he does not do, then you may want to reverse the order of these clauses. For example the NLT says:

and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard

1:25c

not being a forgetful hearer,

and does not just hear it and forget,
and does not neglect and forget what he heard,
and do not neglect to do what they have learned,

not being a forgetful hearer: If you used a verb in 1:25a that means “look,” “read” or “study,” then it may not be natural to use the verb “heard” here. In such a case, you can say:

not forgetting what he read/studied

not forgetting what he saw in the law

not neglecting to do what he has learned

not forgetting what it says

Another way to translate this is to translate it without the negative. For example:

Remembering what he has heard

1:25d

but an effective doer—

but does/obeys what it teaches,
but follows/keeps them,
but instead they obey it,

but an effective doer: The clause effective doer refers to doing what the perfect law teaches. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

but doing what the law says/teaches

but keeping/obeying the law

1:25e

he will be blessed in what he does.

he will be blessed for doing/keeping it.
God will bless him because he follows/keeps the commandments.
they will be favored/fortunate.

he will be blessed in what he does: The clause that the BSB translates as he will be blessed in what he does is literally “that one will be blessed in the doing of him/it.” The Greek pronoun can be translated as either “him” or “it.” As a result, there are two different ways to interpret the words “the doing of him/it”:

The pronoun should be interpreted as “it” and refers to the law. So the words “the doing of it” refer to doing/keeping the law. According to this interpretation, God will bless a person because he keeps the law. For example, the NLT says:
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says…, then God will bless you for doing it. (RSV, ESV, REB, JBP, NLT, NCV)NIV, NASB, KJV, and NET (which all say something similar to “will be blessed in what he does”) are somewhat ambiguous but the intended meaning may be “in what he does to keep/do the law.”
The pronoun should be interpreted as “him” and refers to the man in 1:25a. So the words “the doing of him” refer to the activities that the man does. According to this interpretation, God will bless the man in everything he does. For example, the NJB says:
But anyone who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and keeps to it…will be blessed in every undertaking. (NJB, GNTThe GNT’s “you will be blessed by God in what you do” will probably be interpreted by most readers to mean “in whatever you do.” It is also possible to understand “in what you do” to refer to what was just said about putting the law into practice., CEV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because this is the most natural meaning of the phrase “the doing of it” in this context. These words refer to the same action as the words “doing it” in 1:25d. In other words, it means doing what the law says.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

he will be blessed because he does/keeps the law

he will be blessed through/by doing it

Those who do this will be made happy (NCV)

In some languages, it may not be natural to translate the clause in what he does because it repeats information in 1:25d. If that is true in your language, you may leave this clause implicit. For example:

he will be blessed

will be blessed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as blessed means that the person is in a good position or situation. In other words, because he is doing what the law commands, all will be well with him. He will be blessed in the sense that God will think well of him.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

God will bless him

how good it will be for that kind of person

a person like that will be favored/fortunate

This does not mean that he will necessarily be comfortable or successful from a human point of view.

This same word occurs in 1:12. See bless, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

General Comment on 1:25a–e

In Greek and the BSB, 1:25 is one, long sentence. In some languages, it may be natural to divide this long sentence into several sentences. For example:

^25aBut the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, ^25band they continue to study it. ^25cThey do not forget what they heard, ^25dbut they obey what God’s teaching says. ^25eThose who do this will be made happy. (NCV)

It may also be natural to change the order of some of the clauses. For example:

^25a–bBut if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—^25dand if you do what it says ^25cand don’t forget what you heard, ^25ethen God will bless you for doing it. (NLT96)

The law is complete and frees us^(incl) from sin. So if we study it carefully, and remember to always obey it, God will bless us.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας, καὶ παραμείνας & οὗτος μακάριος & ἔσται

the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τόν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καί παραμείνας οὐκ ἀκροατής ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλά ποιητής ἔργου οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται)

James is using a further hypothetical situation to teach. This illustration is a contrast to the one he offered in [1:23](../01/23.md). Alternate translation: [But suppose someone gazes into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres … . Then that person will be blessed]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ & παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον

the_‹one› & ˓having˒_investigated into ˓the˒_law perfect

In this verse, James continues to compare hearing the word of God to looking in a mirror. But the image now becomes a metaphor rather than a simile, since James speaks about someone who has gazed into the law. He means someone who has listened attentively to God’s word. Alternate translation: [someone who has listened attentively to the perfect law]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

˓the˒_law perfect (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τόν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καί παραμείνας οὐκ ἀκροατής ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλά ποιητής ἔργου οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται)

James is using the possessive form to describe a law that brings freedom. See the notes to [2:12](../02/12.md) for a further explanation of what James means by the law of freedom. Alternate translation: [the perfect law that brings freedom]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract noun freedom by translating the idea behind it with an adjective such as “free.” Alternate translation: [the perfect law that sets people free]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what this law gives people the freedom to do. Alternate translation: [the law that sets people free to obey God]

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

As in [1:4](../01/04.md) and [1:17](../01/17.md), the term perfect refers to something that has developed to the point where it is fully suited to its purpose. See how you translated the term in those verses. Alternate translation: [the law that is perfectly suited to set people free from sin]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

καὶ παραμείνας

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Δέ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τόν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καί παραμείνας οὐκ ἀκροατής ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλά ποιητής ἔργου οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται)

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 context. Alternate translation: [and who has continued to obey that law]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς

James is using the possessive form to describe a hearer who is characterized by forgetfulness. Alternate translation: [a hearer who is forgetful]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract noun forgetfulness by translating the idea behind it with a verb such as “forget.” Alternate translation: [a hearer who forgets] or [someone who forgets what he hears]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ποιητὴς ἔργου

By association with the work that it takes to carry out God’s commands, James is using the term work to mean what God commands. Alternate translation: [someone who does what God commands]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὗτος μακάριος & ἔσται

this_‹one› blessed & will_be

While the word blessed is an adjective and so the expression will be blessed is not a passive verbal form, it may be helpful to your readers to translate this with an active verbal form. Alternate translation: [God will bless such a person]

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ

in the doing ˱of˲_him

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract noun doing by translating the idea behind it with a verb such as “do.” Alternate translation: [in what he does]

Parallel YAC 1:25

Section 1:19–27: Believers should accept the word of God and obey it

Paragraph 1:22–25

1:25

1:25a

1:25b

1:25c–d

1:25c

1:25d

1:25e

General Comment on 1:25a–e