YAC 1:26 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) If anyone supposes that they’re religious but doesn’t guard what comes out of their mouth, then that person’s religion is only skin deep and hasn’t affected their heart.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor.
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 If anyone thinks to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of that one is worthless.

UST Some people think that they worship God properly, but they say bad things. Those people are wrong in what they are thinking. God is not impressed with our worship activities if we continually say bad things.

BSB If anyone considers himself religious [and yet] does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart [and his] religion [is] worthless.

MSB If anyone among you[fn] considers himself religious [and yet] does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart [and his] religion [is] worthless.

BLB If anyone seems to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one is worthless.

AICNT If anyone [[among you]][fn] thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

1:26, among you: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB When a person appears to be religious, yet does not bridle their tongue, but imposes on their own conscience, that person’s religious observances are valueless.

WEBBE If anyone amongst you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn’t bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(26-27)Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

NET If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

LSV If anyone thinks to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one [is] vain;

FBV If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.

TCNT If anyone [fn]among you considers himself to be religious but does not bridle his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

1:26 among you 80.1% • MSS 8.2% ¦ — CT 9.4%

T4T Some people think that they worship God in the right way, but they habitually say evil things [MTY]. Those people are wrong in thinking [SYN] that they worship God rightly. The fact is that they worship God ◄in vain/uselessly►.

LEB If anyone thinks he is religious, although he[fn] does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

1:26 *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“bridle”) which is understood as concessive

BBE If a man seems to have religion and has no control over his tongue but lets himself be tricked by what is false, this man's religion is of no value.

Moff Whoever considers he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is futile.

Wymth If a man thinks that he is scrupulously religious, although he is not curbing his tongue but is deceiving himself, his religious service is worthless.

ASV If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain.

DRA And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

YLT If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain [is] the religion;

Drby If any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain.

RV If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain.
(If any man thinketh/thinks himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth/deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. )

SLT If any among you seem to be religious, bridling not his tongue, but deceiving his heart, the religion of this one vain.

Wbstr If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

KJB-1769 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
(If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth/deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. )

KJB-1611 If any man among you seeme to be religious, & bridleth not his tongue, but deceiueth his owne heart, this mans religion is vaine.
(If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth/deceives his own heart, this mans religion is vain.)

Bshps If any man among you seeme to be deuout, and refrayneth not his tongue, but deceaueth his owne heart, this mans deuotion is vayne.
(If any man among you seem to be devout, and refrayneth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this mans deuotion is vain.)

Gnva If any man amog you seeme religious, and refraineth not his tongue, but deceiueth his owne heart, this mans religion is vaine.
(If any man among you seem religious, and refraineth not his tongue, but deceiveth/deceives his own heart, this mans religion is vain. )

Cvdl Yf eny man amonge you seme deuoute, & refrayne not his toge: but deceaue his awne herte, this mannes deuocion is in vayne.
(If any man among you seem devoute, and refrain not his toge: but deceive his own heart, this mannes deuocion is in vain.)

TNT Yf eny man amonge you seme devoute and refrayne not his tonge: but deceave his awne herte this mannes devocion is in vayne
(If any man among you seem devoute and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart this mannes devocion is in vain )

Wycl And if ony man gessith hym silf to be religiouse, and refreyneth not his tunge, but disseyueth his herte, the religioun of him is veyn.
(And if any man gessith himself to be religiouse, and refreyneth not his tongue, but deceiveth/deceives his heart, the religion of him is vain.)

Luth So aber sich jemand unter euch lässet dünken, er diene GOtt, und hält seine Zunge nicht im Zaum, sondern verführet sein Herz, des Gottesdienst ist eitel.
(So but itself/yourself/themselves someone under you lets seem, he serve God, and holds his tongue not in_the bridle, rather seduced be heart, the God’sdienst is vain.)

ClVg Si quis autem putat se religiosum esse, non refrenans linguam suam, sed seducens cor suum, hujus vana est religio.[fn]
(When/But_if who/any however thinks himself religiosum to_be, not/no refrenans tongue/language his_own, but seducens heart his_own, of_this in_vain it_is religion. )

1.26 Non refrenans linguam suam, etc. AUG., Serm. 3 ad fratres in eremo. Verbositas quid aliud est? etc., usque ad et tu diligenter attendas: Qui non refrenat linguam suam, hujus vana est religio, etc.

1.26 Not/No refrenans tongue/language his_own, etc. AUG., Serm. 3 to brothers in/into/on desert. Verbositas what something_else it_is? etc., until to and you(sg) carefully attendas: Who not/no refrenat tongue/language his_own, of_this in_vain it_is religion, etc.

UGNT εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.
(ei tis dokei thraʸskos einai, maʸ ⱪalinagōgōn glōssan autou, alla apatōn kardian autou, toutou mataios haʸ thraʸskeia.)

SBL-GNT Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς ⸀εἶναι μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν ⸀αὐτοῦ ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν ⸀αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.
(Ei tis dokei thraʸskos ⸀einai maʸ ⱪalinagōgōn glōssan ⸀autou alla apatōn kardian ⸀autou, toutou mataios haʸ thraʸskeia.)

RP-GNT Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρῆσκος εἶναι ἐν ὑμῖν, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.
(Ei tis dokei thraʸskos einai en humin, maʸ ⱪalinagōgōn glōssan autou, alla apatōn kardian autou, toutou mataios haʸ thraʸskeia.)

TC-GNT Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρῆσκος [fn]εἶναι ἐν ὑμῖν, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν [fn]αὐτοῦ, [fn]ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν [fn]αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.
(Ei tis dokei thraʸskos einai en humin, maʸ ⱪalinagōgōn glōssan autou, alla apatōn kardian autou, toutou mataios haʸ thraʸskeia. )

1:26 ειναι εν υμιν 80.1% ¦ εν υμιν ειναι MSS 8.2% ¦ ειναι CT 9.4%

1:26 αυτου ¦ εαυτου WH

1:26 αλλα ¦ αλλ ANT ECM NA²⁸ PCK TR

Key for above GNTs: 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 1:26–27

In order to please God, a person must control his tongue, help others, and avoid sin.

1:26a

If anyone considers himself religious

¶ If anyone thinks that he is a religious person
¶ Whoever believes that they do God’s laws/work,

If anyone: Some Greek manuscripts also have the phrase “among you” in 1:26. For example, the KJV says, “If any man among you.” The majority of English versions do not include this phrase. The Greek phrase that the BSB literally translates as If anyone can also be translated as “Anyone who.” The form of this Greek “if” clause indicates that James was referring to everyone who was like this. He was not uncertain whether there was anyone like this. So in some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural here. For example:

Those who

People who (NCV)

If you^(plur)

considers himself religious: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as considers himself religious implies that the person falsely thinks that he is religious. He believes that he does things that please God, but he is wrong.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

thinks that he is religious

says that he is a religious person

religious: The Greek word that the BSB translates as religious describes a person who seriously follows the rites and teachings of a religion. This might include prayer, worship with other people, and fasting.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

devoted to God

on God’s path

walks well with God

does God’s work/laws

1:26b

and yet does not bridle his tongue,

but he does not bridle his tongue,
but he does not control his tongue/mouth,
and yet they cannot restrain themselves from saying words that they should not say,

does not bridle his tongue: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as does not bridle his tongue refers to the way a person who rides a horse controls his horse with ropes or leather straps around the head. The ropes are called a bridle. (See the illustration below.) The act of controlling a horse by means of those ropes or straps is also called “bridle.” (For example, “He bridles his horse.”)

Here this word is a metaphor. James compared someone who is able to control his tongue to a horse that is bridled. They are similar in that both can be controlled. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
does not bridle his tongue (ESV)
Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
can’t control your tongue (CEV)
say things they should not say (NCV)

his tongue: The Greek phrase that the BSB literally translates as his tongue is also a figure of speech. It refers to “the words that a person says” with his tongue.

Some other ways to translate this figure are:

his mouth

his words

what he says

1:26c

he deceives his heart

he is deceiving himself,
they are lying to themselves.

he deceives his heart: The Greek word that the BSB translates as heart is frequently used in Greek to refer to a person’s thoughts. Some modern English versions translate this word as “himself.”

Another way to translate this phrase is:

he is fooling himself (GW)

he is lying to himself

what he thinks about himself is wrong

A person deceives himself if he thinks that he is religious when, at the same time, he cannot control his tongue.

1:26d

and his religion is worthless.

then his religious practices are worth nothing.
Their worship of God is of no value/use.

and his religion is worthless: In Greek, 1:26a–c is part of a complex clause that begins with “if.” This is followed by the consequence in 1:26d. The RSV follows this grammatical structure: Condition ^26aIf any one thinks he is religious^26band does not bridle his tongue^26cbut deceives himself,Consequence^26dthis man’s religion is vain.The NIV and many other modern versions have transferred 1:26c (but deceives himself) to the consequence. One way to emphasize the consequence in 1:26d is to make it a separate sentence. For example, the GW says:^26aIf a person thinks that he is religious^26bbut can’t control his tongue,^26che is fooling himself.^26dThat person’s religion is worthless. The clause his religion is worthless indicates that all that he does to show that he is devoted to God is useless in God’s eyes. Another way to translate this is:

this person’s religious acts/practices are worth nothing

his religion is of no worth/use

his worship has no value

religion: The Greek word that the BSB translates as religion refers to the worship of God or gods. It refers primarily to outward, external acts of piety or devotion.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

ceremonies to God

worship of God

piety toward God

This word also occurs in Acts 26:5.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς δοκεῖ θρῆσκος εἶναι μή χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν ἑαυτοῦ ἀλλά ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία)

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. Alternate translation: [Suppose someone thinks that he is religious, but he does not bridle his tongue, thus deceiving his heart. Then his religion is worthless]

δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι

˓is˒_supposing (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ τὶς δοκεῖ θρῆσκος εἶναι μή χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν ἑαυτοῦ ἀλλά ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία)

The word translated religious could refer to a pattern of behavior rather than to participation in worship activities. Alternate translation: [thinks that he is honoring God by his actions]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ

James speaks of a person bridling his tongue as if he were controlling a horse with a bridle. Alternate translation: [but he does not control his tongue]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ

A “bridle” is headgear that is used to control a horse. If your readers would not be familiar with what a “bridle” is, you could use a different illustration that would be familiar to them of a device that is used in your culture to control animals.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ

By association with the way that the tongue is used in speech, James is using the term tongue to mean what a person says. Alternate translation: [not controlling what he says]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ

seducing ˓the˒_heart ˱of˲_him

James is using one part of this hypothetical person, his heart, to mean the person himself. Alternate translation: [deceiving himself]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία

˱of˲_this_‹one› useless_‹is› his religion

James says worthless as an overstatement for emphasis. There would conceivably still be some value in the religion of a person even if he did not carefully control what he said. But James wants to emphasize how inconsistent it is to claim to love God but then to say things that hurt and disparage other people. He will develop this point further in [3:9–10](../03/09.md). Alternate translation: [his actions are not as pleasing to God as he thinks]

Parallel YAC 1:26

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

Paragraph 1:26–27

1:26a

1:26b

1:26c

1:26d