YAC 2:3 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) and you told the well-dressed one, ‘You sit here in this good chair,’ while telling the poor man, ‘You stand over here,’ or ‘You sit here on the mat,’

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 and you look at the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, “You sit here well,” and to the poor one you say, “You stand there,” or, “Sit by my footstool,”

UST And suppose that you show special attention to the one dressed in fine clothes. You tell him, “Please sit here in this nice seat!” But you tell the poor one to go to a less honorable place, saying, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit on the floor!”

BSB [If] you lavish attention on the [man] in fine clothes and say, “Here [is] a seat of honor,” [but] say to the poor [man], “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

MSB [If] you lavish attention on the [man] in fine clothes and say, “Here [is] a seat of honor,” [but] say to the poor [man], “You must stand” or “Sit here under [my] footstool,”[fn]

BLB and you should look upon the one wearing the splendid apparel and should say, "You sit here honorably," and to the poor should say, "You stand," or, "Sit there under my footstool,"

AICNT {but}[fn] you look upon the one wearing the fine clothing and say [[to him]],[fn] You sit here in a good place, and to the poor man, You stand there, or sit here under my footstool,

2:3, but: Some manuscripts read “and.” THGNT TR

2:3, to him: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB and you show more respect to the visitor who is wearing grand clothes, and say – ‘There is a good seat for you here,’ but to the poor man – ‘You must stand; or sit down there by my footstool,’

WEBBE and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing and say, “Sit here in a good place;” and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and to the poor person, “You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor”?

LSV and you may look on him bearing the radiant clothing, and may say to him, “You—sit here well,” and may say to the poor man, “You—stand there,” or, “Sit here under my footstool,”

FBV If you pay special attention to the well-dressed man, and say, “Please sit here in a seat of honor,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit on the floor by my feet,”

TCNT If you pay attention to the man who is wearing fine clothing and say [fn]to him, “Yoʋ sit here in a good place,” but you say to the poor man, “Yoʋ [fn]stand there, or sit here under my footstool,”

2:3 to him ¦ — CT

2:3 stand there, or sit here 86.4% ¦ stand there, or sit NA²⁷ TH 1% ¦ stand, or sit there ECM NA²⁸ SBL WH 1%

T4T And suppose that you ◄show special attention to/treat better► the one who is dressed in fine clothes by saying, “Sit here in this good seat!” and you say to the poor one, “Stand there or sit on the floor [MTY]!”

LEB and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, “Be seated here in a good place,” and to the poor person you say, “You stand or be seated there[fn] by my footstool,”

2:3 Some manuscripts have “you stand there or be seated”

BBE And you do honour to the man in fair clothing and say, Come here and take this good place; and you say to the poor man, Take up your position there, or be seated at my feet;

Moff if you attend to the wearer of the handsome clothes and say to him, "Sit here, this is a good place," and tell the poor man, "You can stand," or "Sit there at my feet,"

Wymth and you pay court to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say, "Sit here; this is a good place;" while to the poor man you say, "Stand there, or sit on the floor at my feet;"

ASV and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

DRA And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel, and shall say to him: Sit thou here well; but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool:

YLT and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, 'Thou — sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, 'Thou — stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' —

Drby and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:

RV and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;
(and ye/you_all have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou/you here in a good place; and ye/you_all say to the poor man, Stand thou/you there, or sit under my footstool; )

SLT And ye look toward him bearing the brilliant clothing, and ye say to him, Sit thou well here; and to the beggar ye say, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Wbstr And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say to him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

KJB-1769 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
(And ye/you_all have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou/you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou/you there, or sit here under my footstool: )

KJB-1611 And yee haue respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say vnto him, Sit thou here [fn]in a good place: and say to the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footstoole:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

2:3 Or, well, or seemely.

Bshps And ye haue a respect to hym that weareth the gay clothyng, and say vnto hym, sitte thou here in a good place: & say vnto the poore, stande thou there, or sitte here vnder my footestoole:
(And ye/you_all have a respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou/you here in a good place: and say unto the poor, stand thou/you there, or sit here under my footstool:)

Gnva And ye haue a respect to him that weareth the gaie clothing; and say vnto him, Sit thou here in a goodly place, and say vnto the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footestoole,
(And ye/you_all have a respect to him that weareth the gaie clothing; and say unto him, Sit thou/you here in a goodly place, and say unto the poor, Stand thou/you there, or sit here under my footstool, )

Cvdl & ye haue a respecte to him yt weareth the gaye clothinge & saye vnto hi: Sit thou here i a good place, & saye vnto ye poore, stonde thou there or sit here vnder my fote stole:
(and ye/you_all have a respect to him it weareth the gaye clothing and say unto him: Sit thou/you here 1 a good place, and say unto ye/you_all poor, stand thou/you there or sit here under my footstool:)

TNT and ye have a respecte to him that weareth the gaye clothynge and saye vnto him. Sit thou here in a good place: and saye vnto the poore stonde thou there or sit here vnder my fotestole:
(and ye/you_all have a respect to him that weareth the gaye clothinge and say unto him. Sit thou/you here in a good place: and say unto the poor stand thou/you there or sit here under my footstool: )

Wycl and if ye biholden in to hym that is clothid with clere clothing, and if ye seie to hym, Sitte thou here wel; but to the pore man ye seien, Stonde thou there, ethir sitte vndur the stool of my feet; whether ye demen not anentis you silf,
(and if ye/you_all beholden in to him that is clothed with clear clothing, and if ye/you_all say to him, Sit thou/you here well; but to the poor man ye/you_all said, Stand thou/you there, either sit under the stool of my feet; whether ye/you_all demen not towards yourself,)

Luth und ihr sähet auf den, der das herrliche Kleid träget, und sprächet zu ihm: Setze du dich her aufs beste, und sprächet zu dem Armen: Stehe du dort oder setze dich her zu meinen Füßen,
(and you(pl)/their/her sawt on/in/to him, the/of_the the magnificent garment träget, and spoket to/for him: Set/Put you(sg) you/yourself her onto best/prime, and spoket to/for to_him poor_(one): Stand you(sg) there or set/put you/yourself her to/for my feet,)

ClVg et intendatis in eum qui indutus est veste præclara, et dixeritis ei: Tu sede hic bene: pauperi autem dicatis: Tu sta illic; aut sede sub scabello pedum meorum:
(and intendatis in/into/on him who/which dressed it_is dress beforeclara, and saidis to_him: You(sg) sit_down this/here well: to_the_poor however let_him_sayis: You(sg) sta there; or sit_down under scabello feet of_mine: )

UGNT ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν, καὶ εἴπητε, σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε, σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ, ἢ, κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου,
(epiblepsaʸte de epi ton forounta taʸn esthaʸta taʸn lampran, kai eipaʸte, su kathou hōde kalōs, kai tōi ptōⱪōi eipaʸte, su staʸthi ekei, aʸ, kathou hupo to hupopodion mou,)

SBL-GNT ⸂ἐπιβλέψητε δὲ⸃ ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπρὰν καὶ ⸀εἴπητε· Σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε· Σὺ στῆθι ⸂ἢ κάθου ἐκεῖ⸃ ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου,
(⸂epiblepsaʸte de⸃ epi ton forounta taʸn esthaʸta taʸn lampran kai ⸀eipaʸte; Su kathou hōde kalōs, kai tōi ptōⱪōi eipaʸte; Su staʸthi ⸂aʸ kathou ekei⸃ hupo to hupopodion mou,)

RP-GNT καὶ ἐπιβλέψητε ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπράν, καὶ εἴπητε αὐτῷ, Σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε, Σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ, ἢ κάθου ὧδε ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου·
(kai epiblepsaʸte epi ton forounta taʸn esthaʸta taʸn lampran, kai eipaʸte autōi, Su kathou hōde kalōs, kai tōi ptōⱪōi eipaʸte, Su staʸthi ekei, aʸ kathou hōde hupo to hupopodion mou;)

TC-GNT [fn]καὶ ἐπιβλέψητε ἐπὶ τὸν φοροῦντα τὴν [fn]ἐσθῆτα τὴν λαμπράν, καὶ εἴπητε [fn]αὐτῷ, Σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς, καὶ τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε, Σὺ στῆθι [fn]ἐκεῖ, ἢ κάθου ὧδε ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου·
(kai epiblepsaʸte epi ton forounta taʸn esthaʸta taʸn lampran, kai eipaʸte autōi, Su kathou hōde kalōs, kai tōi ptōⱪōi eipaʸte, Su staʸthi ekei, aʸ kathou hōde hupo to hupopodion mou; )

2:3 και επιβλεψητε ¦ επιβλεψητε δε ECM NA SBL WH

2:3 εσθητα την λαμπραν ¦ λαμπραν εσθητα PCK

2:3 αυτω ¦ — CT

2:3 εκει η καθου ωδε 86.4% ¦ εκει η καθου NA²⁷ TH 1% ¦ η καθου εκει ECM NA²⁸ SBL WH 1%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–13: Believers must avoid favoritism

The theme of this section is that Christians should not treat rich people better than poor people. They should treat everyone with kindness. This is one of the marks of a truly godly person.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Show mercy and honor to poor people and thereby fulfill the royal law of love

Obey the law of love by treating poor people with mercy and honor

Do not discriminate against poor people

Paragraph 2:1–4

In this paragraph, James taught that believers must not favor rich people over poor people.

2:3a

If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes

If you^(plur) show more respect to the man who wears fine clothes
Then you^(plur) show more consideration/respect to the well-dressed man than to the poor man.

If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes: The Greek word that the BSB translates as lavish attention on means “look at someone in a way that shows that you care about them and are interested in their needs.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

If you show more respect to the well-dressed man (GNT)

You honor the rich man

and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes (NRSV)

2:3b

and say, “Here is a seat of honor,”

and you^(plur) say, “Come sit^(sing) here in this good seat,”
You^(plur) say to him, “Sir, please come^(sing) have a seat here at the front.”
You^(plur) invite him to sit in a nice seat.

Here is a seat of honor: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as Here is a good seat of honor is literally “You sit here well.” There are two ways to interpret the word “well” in this context:

It refers to a good seat, either because the seat is more comfortable than others or because it is a seat of honor.Alford, page 291; Huther, page 102; Mayor, page 81; Hiebert, page 153; Adamson (1976), page 106; Laws, page 99; Davids (1982), page 109; Martin, page 62. For example, the NET says:
You sit here in a good place. (BSB, NIV, NJB, GNT, NASB, KJV, NET, NLT, CEV, ESV)
It indicates a polite request, “please”Ropes, page 190; Adamson (1989), page 279 note 43; Dibelius, page 131; Lenski, page 565. For example, the REB says:
Please take this seat. (RSV, REB, GW)

In many cultures, it is important to speak politely to important people. So, even though interpretation (1) is the preferred interpretation, your translation may combine interpretations (1) and (2). For example:

Sir, here is a good seat for you

Please, sir, sit here in this nice seat

2:3c

but say to the poor man, “You must stand”

but you^(plur) say to the poor man, “Go stand^(sing) over there,”
However, you^(plur) tell the poor man to go stand at the side,

2:3c–d

“You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”: In the earliest Greek manuscripts, there were no punctuation marks. There are two ways to punctuate this sentence:

There should be two separate quotations. According to this interpretation, these two clauses are two possible commands.Adamson (1976), page 101; Dibelius, page 132; Lenski, page 565. For example, the NET says:
“You stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor.” (BSB, RSV, NIV, NJB, NET, GW, NCV, ESV)
There should be only one quotation. According to this interpretation, the poor man was given two choices: sit on the ground or stand.Alford, page 291; Huther, page 102; Mitton, page 83; Hiebert, page 153; Moo (1985), page 89; Martin, page 62. For example, the REB says:
‘You stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my footstool,’ (KJV, REB, NASB, GNT, NLT, JBP)

It seems unlikely that people would give the poor man a choice between sitting or standing. It seems more likely that James mentioned two commands that people might give to a poor man. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Another way to translate this is:

but to the poor man you either say, “Stand over there,” or you say, “Sit on the ground/floor.”

2:3d

or “Sit at my feet,”

or you^(plur) say, “You^(sing) sit there on the ground at my feet,”
or perhaps you^(plur) tell him to go^(sing) sit on the ground.

“Sit at my feet,”: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as sit at my feet is literally “sit below my footstool.” At the time when James lived, important people used to sit on a fine chair with a low stool in front of it. They would rest their feet on this stool. This was called a footstool. Poor people would sit on the floor below the level of the rich person’s feet on the footstool.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

sit here on the floor by my footstool (REB)

sit on the floor next to my chair

sit down next to my feet

What is important here is not the footstool itself but the fact that “below the footstool” represents the most inferior place. Use an expression that shows that the speaker is showing contempt for the poor man. For example:

sit on the ground

go sit over there

General Comment on 2:3a–d

When translating the words spoken to the two men who might come into the worship place, it is more natural in some languages to use indirect speech. For example:

You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor. (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐπιβλέψητε δέ ἐπί τόν φοροῦντα τήν ἐσθῆτα τήν λαμπράν καί εἴπητε Σύ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς καί τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε Σύ στῆθι ἐκεῖ ἤ Κάθου ὑπό τό ὑποπόδιον μού)

James is continuing to describe the condition in the hypothetical situation that he introduced in the previous verse. Alternate translation, as in UST: [and suppose]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / you

ἐπιβλέψητε & εἴπητε & εἴπητε

˱you_all˲_˓may˒_look_at & ˱you_all˲_˓may˒_say & ˱you_all˲_˓may˒_say

In these three instances you is plural, since James is speaking to all of his readers about what they might do in such a situation.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἐπιβλέψητε & ἐπὶ

˱you_all˲_˓may˒_look_at & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐπιβλέψητε δέ ἐπί τόν φοροῦντα τήν ἐσθῆτα τήν λαμπράν καί εἴπητε Σύ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς καί τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε Σύ στῆθι ἐκεῖ ἤ Κάθου ὑπό τό ὑποπόδιον μού)

In this context, this expression means to look at someone or something with admiration. Alternate translation: [you look admiringly at]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς & σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ & κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

Since these comments are addressed to the rich person and to the poor person as individuals, You is singular in the first two instances and the implied “you” in the command to sit is also singular.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς

In this context well means “honorably.” It does not refer to how well the rich person would be able to sit in the indicated seat. Alternate translation: [Sit here in this place of honor]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς

This is an imperative, but it should be translated as a polite request rather than as a command. It may be helpful to add an expression such as “please” to make this clear. Alternate translation: [Please sit here in this place of honor]

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

καὶ

The term and introduces a contrast between the way the rich person and the poor person are treated. Alternate translation: [but]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative

σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ & κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

These statements addressed to the poor person probably are direct imperatives rather than polite requests, since James is illustrating how believers might treat poor people differently from rich people. Not adding “please” to these statements would show the contrast with the way the rich person is addressed.

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ & κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

The implications are that the poor person is being told to stand or sit in a humbler and less honorable place. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly, as UST does.

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / you

κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

˓be˒_sitting (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐπιβλέψητε δέ ἐπί τόν φοροῦντα τήν ἐσθῆτα τήν λαμπράν καί εἴπητε Σύ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς καί τῷ πτωχῷ εἴπητε Σύ στῆθι ἐκεῖ ἤ Κάθου ὑπό τό ὑποπόδιον μού)

This imperative statement uses the singular first-person pronoun my, since it is something that one of the believers might say to the hypothetical poor person. If this would not be natural in your language, since the statement is introduced by you (plural) say, you could also use a plural form in the statement itself. Alternate translation: [Sit on the floor by our feet]

Parallel YAC 2:3