YAC 2:5 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative, 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 Listen, my beloved brothers, did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to the ones loving him?

UST Listen to me, my fellow believers whom I love. God has chosen poor people who seem to own nothing of value to trust in him very much. He will give them great things when he reigns everywhere. This is what he has promised to do for everyone who loves him.

BLB Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those loving Him?

AICNT Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor in {the}[fn] world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

2:5, the: Later manuscripts read “this.” TR

OEB Listen, my dear friends. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the things of this world to be rich through their faith, and to possess the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?

WEBBE Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

LSV Listen, my beloved brothers, did God not choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those loving Him?

FBV Listen, my dear friends: Didn't God choose those who the world considers poor to be rich in their trust in him, and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?

TCNT Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen the poor [fn]of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

2:5 of the 89.6% ¦ of this TR 6.1% ¦ in the CT 2.3%

T4T Listen to me, my fellow believers whom I love: God has chosen [RHQ] poor people whom unbelievers consider to possess nothing of value, so that he might bless them greatly because they trust in him, and in order that they will enter the place where he will rule [MET] forever. That is what he has promised to those who love him.

LEB Listen, my dear brothers! Did not God choose the poor of the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

BBE Give ear, my dear brothers; are not those who are poor in the things of this world marked out by God to have faith as their wealth, and for their heritage the kingdom which he has said he will give to those who have love for him?

Moff Listen, my beloved brothers; has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the realm which he has promised to those who love him?

Wymth Listen, my dearly-loved brethren. Has not God chosen those whom the world regards as poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He has promised to those that love Him?

ASV Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

DRA Hearken, my dearest brethren: hath not God chosen the poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love him?

YLT Hearken, my brethren beloved, did not God choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the reign that He promised to those loving Him?

Drby Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not [fn]God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?

2.5 Elohim

RV Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
(Hearken, my beloved brethren/brothers; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? )

SLT Hear, my dearly beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the beggars of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them loving him?

Wbstr Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

KJB-1769 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
(Hearken, my beloved brethren/brothers, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath/has promised to them that love him? )

KJB-1611 Hearken, my beloued brethren, Hath not God chosen the poore of this world, rich in faith, and heires of [fn]the kingdome, which hee hath promised to them that loue him?
(Hearken, my beloved brethren/brothers, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heires of the kingdom, which he hath/has promised to them that love him?)

2:5 Or, that.

Bshps Hearken my deare beloued brethren. Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, such as are riche in fayth, and heyres of the kyngdome, which he promised to them that loue hym?
(Hearken my dear beloved brethren/brothers. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, such as are rich in faith, and heyres of the kingdom, which he promised to them that love him?)

Gnva Hearken my beloued brethren, hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, that they should be rich in faith, and heires of the kingdome which he promised to them that loue him?
(Hearken my beloved brethren/brothers, hath/has not God chosen the poor of this world, that they should be rich in faith, and heires of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? )

Cvdl Harken my deare beloued brethre. Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde, which are ryche in faith, and heyres of the kyngdom which he promysed to the that loue him?
(Harken my dear beloved brethre. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, which are rich in faith, and heyres of the kingdom which he promised to the that love him?)

TNT Harken my deare beloved brethren. Hath not God chosen the poore of this worlde which are ryche in fayth and heyres of the kyngdom which he promysed to them that love him?
(Harken my dear beloved brethren/brothers. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world which are rich in faith and heyres of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? )

Wycl Heere ye, my moost dereworthe britheren, whethir God chees not pore men in this world, riche in feith, and eiris of the kyngdom, that God bihiyte to men that louen him?
(Heere ye/you_all, my most dear/precious brethren/brothers, whether God chose not poor men in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, that God promised to men that love him?)

Luth Höret zu, meine lieben Brüder! Hat nicht GOtt die Armen auf dieser Welt, die am Glauben reich sind und Erben des Reichs, welches er verheißen hat denen, die ihn liebhaben?
(Hear to/for, my love(v) brothers! Hat not God the poor_(one) on/in/to this world, the in/at/on_the faith rich/wealthy are and inheritance the Reichs, which he promised has those, the him/it love(v)?)

ClVg Audite, fratres mei dilectissimi: nonne Deus elegit pauperes in hoc mundo, divites in fide, et hæredes regni, quod repromisit Deus diligentibus se?[fn]
(Listen, brothers my/mine belovedssimi: isn't_it God chose the_poor in/into/on this to_the_world, rich in/into/on with_faith, and theseredes of_the_kingdom, that repromisit God loving himself? )

2.5 Audite. BED. Diligentius attendite, quia non qui ditiores in sæculo, etc., usque ad sed hos tamen exspectatione futuri regni præclaros reddidit et nobiles. Nonne Deus. BED. Pauperes elegit Deus qui alibi ait: Nolite timere, pusillus grex, quia complacuit Patri vestro dare vobis regnum. Pauperes etiam parentes quorum nutriretur officio elegit.

2.5 Listen. BED. Diligentius pay_attention, because not/no who/which ditiores in/into/on forever, etc., until to but these nevertheless is_waitingione of_the_future of_the_kingdom beforeclaros returned and nobles. Isn't_it God. BED. Pauperes chose God who/which alibi he_said: Don't to_be_afraid, pusillus flock, because I_was_pleasedt Patri your dare to_you(pl) kingdom. Pauperes also parents whose nutriretur officio chose.

UGNT ἀκούσατε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί: οὐχ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ, πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν?
(akousate, adelfoi mou agapaʸtoi: ouⱪ ho Theos exelexato tous ptōⱪous tōi kosmōi, plousious en pistei, kai klaʸronomous taʸs basileias haʸs epaʸngeilato tois agapōsin auton?)

SBL-GNT ἀκούσατε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί. οὐχ ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς ⸂τῷ κόσμῳ⸃ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν;
(akousate, adelfoi mou agapaʸtoi. ouⱪ ho theos exelexato tous ptōⱪous ⸂tōi kosmōi⸃ plousious en pistei kai klaʸronomous taʸs basileias haʸs epaʸngeilato tois agapōsin auton;)

RP-GNT Ἀκούσατε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί. Οὐχ ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τοῦ κόσμου πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν;
(Akousate, adelfoi mou agapaʸtoi. Ouⱪ ho theos exelexato tous ptōⱪous tou kosmou plousious en pistei, kai klaʸronomous taʸs basileias haʸs epaʸngeilato tois agapōsin auton;)

TC-GNT Ἀκούσατε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί. Οὐχ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς [fn]τοῦ κόσμου πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν;
(Akousate, adelfoi mou agapaʸtoi. Ouⱪ ho Theos exelexato tous ptōⱪous tou kosmou plousious en pistei, kai klaʸronomous taʸs basileias haʸs epaʸngeilato tois agapōsin auton; )

2:5 του κοσμου 89.6% ¦ του κοσμου τουτου TR 6.1% ¦ τω κοσμω CT 2.3%

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 2:5–7

In this paragraph, James wrote about two further reasons why Christians should not favor a rich person above a poor one. The reasons are:

that God honors poor people, and
that the enemies of Christ and the church are more likely to be rich people.

2:5a

Listen, my beloved brothers:

¶ My dear brothers and sisters, listen^(plur)!
¶ Be^(plur) attentive, my beloved fellow believers!

Listen: James used the word Listen so that his readers would pay special attention to what he wrote next. Some other ways to translate Listen are:

Be attentive to what I am about to say

Please think about this

In your translation, use whatever a speaker of your language would say in order to encourage his listeners to focus their thoughts on the next words.

my beloved brothers: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as my beloved brothers refers to believers in Christ to whom James was writing. It refers to both men and women.

For suggestions on translating this phrase, see the note in 1:16 where this same phrase occurs.

The BSB places the phrase my beloved brothers at the beginning of 2:5, right after the word “listen.” This follows the Greek text. In some languages, it may be more natural to place it before the word “listen.”

2:5b–e

Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to emphasize that God had certainly chosen the people whom society regards as being poor. He chose them to be rich in faith.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

As a rhetorical question. In some languages, it will be more natural to divide this long question into two questions. For example:
Do you not know that God has chosen those who are poor to be rich in faith? Do you not know that he has chosen them to obtain the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
God has chosen those who are poor to be rich in faith, right? God has chosen them to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him, right?
As a statement. For example:
God has certainly chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith. He has certainly chosen them to inherit the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him.
God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him. (GNT)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

2:5b

Has not God chosen the poor of this world

Did not God choose people who are poor in the things of this world
God often chooses people whom others regard as being poor
God has certainly chosen poor people

Has not God chosen the poor: The clause Has not God chosen the poor refers to the fact that most of the people whom God has chosen are poor. It does not mean that all poor people are rich in faith. In some languages, it is more natural to make that clear. For example:

God has often chosen those who are poor

It is those people who are poor…whom God has often chosen

God has certainly chosen more poor people than rich people

the poor of this world: The phrase that the BSB translates as poor of this world is literally “poor in the world” or possibly “poor to the world.”The grammatical dative τῷ κόσμῳ can be understood in various ways including as: a) a locative identifying the place where they are poor, b) an ethical dative (also called dative of interest), poor in the opinion of the world, or c) a dative of respect, poor in regard to the things of the world. This means that they had little of the things that the people (especially unbelievers) considered valuable. They had little land, money, and other possessions.There are differences of interpretation represented in the versions and discussed in commentaries. It could mean poor with reference to worldly things (McCartney, page 141) or poor in the eyes of the world (the majority of commentators). We felt the difference is subtle and both are true: these poor were in reality poor in terms of material possessions and they were considered poor.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

poor in things and money

poor according to the way people think

In some languages, it may be possible to translate “poor in/to the world” simply as “poor.” Readers will understand that the poor have very little or no money, land, or possessions. They are poor according to the way that people think.

2:5c

to be rich in faith

to be rich in believing
to be rich in faith, right?
to trust/believe in Christ. When they trust, it may be said that they have real riches.

to be rich in faith: The phrase rich in faith contrasts with “poor of this world” (2:5b). These people were actually rich because they had placed their faith in Christ and had the benefits of such faith. This is something of great value.

This phrase does not necessarily indicate that they had a lot of faith. It simply means that they had faith.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

Translate it literally using the word rich. For example:
to be rich in faith/believing
to rather be rich because they have faith
Show that the word rich is used in a spiritual sense. For example:
to believe in Christ. When they believe, it may be said that they are rich.
Use a word other than rich that fits better with faith. For example:
to instead have faith, which is truly valuable

in faith: The word faith refers here to faith in Jesus. If it is necessary to include an object for the verb “believe,” use “our Lord Jesus Christ” as in 2:1, or simply “Jesus Christ.” “Faith in Jesus” means to trust, to rely on, and to be committed to him.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

trust in our Lord Jesus Christ

reliance/dependence upon Jesus Christ

confidence in Jesus Christ

In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun faith with a verb. Some ways to do this are:

relying/depending on Jesus

trusting in Jesus

believing in Jesus

trusting in and committing to Jesus

having confidence in Jesus

Your language may use an idiom for this meaning.

See believe, meaning 2, in the Glossary.

2:5d

and to inherit the kingdom

and to obtain his kingdom
He has chosen poor people to possess the kingdom
He has also chosen them to receive the benefits of his ruling them.

to inherit the kingdom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as to inherit the kingdom is literally “to be heirs of the kingdom” (as in the RSV). The “heirs” are God’s children, so they will receive all the blessings that God has promised to give to his people.

The phrase the kingdom refers to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God refers to God ruling and caring for his people as their king. It refers to the relationship that he has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that he rules over.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have a share/part in his kingdom

to be citizens/subjects of his kingdom

to receive the eternal blessings of his kingdom

to have the benefits of being a citizen of his kingdom

to be blessed by having him as their/our king

2:5e

He promised those who love Him?

that he promised to all those who love him?
that he promised to the people who love him, right?
God promised that he would give these benefits/blessings to all of us^(incl) who love him.

He promised those who love Him: This clause describes the kingdom. In some languages, it will be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

God has promised this kingdom to those who love him.

promised: The Greek word that the BSB translates as promised means “said or announced with certainty that he will do something.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

said he would do

vowed

assured

those who love Him: The phrase those who love him refers to all believers. James is saying that poor believers are included in this group. Some other ways to translate this are:

to all those who love him

to everyone who loves him

to all of us who love him

The same words occur in 1:12d.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀκούσατε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀκούσατε ἀδελφοί μού ἀγαπητοί οὐχ ὁ Θεός ἐξελέξατο τούς πτωχούς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καί κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

James uses this expression to emphasize what he is about to say. Alternate translation: [Pay attention to this]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί

brothers (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀκούσατε ἀδελφοί μού ἀγαπητοί οὐχ ὁ Θεός ἐξελέξατο τούς πτωχούς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καί κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

See how you translated this phrase in [1:16](../01/16.md). Alternate translation: [my dear fellow believers]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐχ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ, πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν?

not ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀκούσατε ἀδελφοί μού ἀγαπητοί οὐχ ὁ Θεός ἐξελέξατο τούς πτωχούς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καί κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question by translating his words as a statement. Alternate translation: [God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him.]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τοὺς πτωχοὺς

James is using the adjective poor as a noun to refer to a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [people who are poor]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῷ κόσμῳ

˱in˲_the world

James is using the term world in a different sense than in 1:27. Here it refers to the world that we live in, and so it indicates ordinary life. Alternate translation: [in this life]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πλουσίους ἐν πίστει

rich in faith_‹to_be›

James speaks of having much faith as if that made a person wealthy. Alternate translation: [to have strong faith]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πλουσίους ἐν πίστει

rich in faith_‹to_be›

Your language may require you to specify the object of faith. Alternate translation: [to have strong faith in Jesus]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς

heirs ˱of˲_the kingdom which

James speaks of the people to whom God has promised the kingdom as if they were going to inherit wealth from a family member. Alternate translation: [participants in the kingdom that]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns