YAC 2:8 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, 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, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You will love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.

UST So you should not treat rich people better than poor people. Instead, you should obey the commandment that Jesus said was so important. It is from the law of Moses: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” If you show love to everyone equally, you will be doing what is right.

BLB If indeed you keep the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

AICNT If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;[fn]

2:8, Leviticus 19:18

OEB If you keep the royal law which runs – “You must love your neighbour as you love yourself,” you are doing right;

WEBBE However, if you fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you do well.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

LSV If, indeed, you fulfill royal law, according to the Writing: “You will love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

FBV If you really observe the royal law of Scripture: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[fn] then you do well.

2:8 Quoting Leviticus 19:18.

TCNT If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “Yoʋ shall love yoʋr neighbor as yoʋrself,” you do well.

T4T In the Scriptures God has commanded each of you to love other people like you love yourself. That commandment was also given by Jesus our King [MTY]. If you are loving others, you are doing what is right.

LEB However, if you carry out the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[fn] you are doing well.

2:8 A quotation from Lev 19:18|link-href="None"

BBE But if you keep the greatest law of all, as it is given in the holy Writings, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself, you do well:

Moff If you really fulfil the royal law laid down by scripture, You must love your neighbour as yourself, well and good;

Wymth If, however, you are keeping the Law as supreme, in obedience to the Commandment which says "You are to love your fellow man just as you love yourself," you are acting rightly.

ASV Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

DRA If then you fulfill the royal law, according to the scriptures, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; you do well.

YLT If, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' — ye do well;

Drby If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

RV Howbeit if ye fulfill the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
(Howbeit if ye/you_all fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou/You shalt/shall love thy/your neighbour as thyself/yourself, ye/you_all do well: )

SLT If yet ye complete the royal law according to the writing, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

Wbstr If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

KJB-1769 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
(If ye/you_all fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou/You shalt/shall love thy/your neighbour as thyself/yourself, ye/you_all do well: )

KJB-1611 If ye fulfil the royall Law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, ye doe well.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps If ye fulfyll the royal lawe, according to the scripture, thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, ye do well:
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Gnva But if yee fulfill the royall Lawe according to the Scripture, which saith, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, yee doe well.
(But if ye/you_all fulfil the royal Law according to the Scripture, which saith/says, Thou/You shalt/shall love thy/your neighbour as thyself/yourself, ye/you_all do well. )

Cvdl Yf ye fulfill the royall lawe acordinge to the scripture which saith: Thou shalt loue thyne neghbour as thyselfe, ye do well.
(If ye/you_all fulfil the royal law according to the scripture which saith/says: Thou/You shalt/shall love thine/your neghbour as thyself/yourselfe, ye/you_all do well.)

TNT Yf ye fulfill the royall lawe accordynge to the scripture which sayth. Thou shallt love thyne neghbour as thy silfe ye do well.
(If ye/you_all fulfil the royal law accordinge to the scripture which saith/says. Thou/You shallt love thine/your neghbour as thy/your self ye/you_all do well. )

Wycl Netheles if ye performen the kingis lawe, bi scripturis, Thou schalt loue thi neiybour as thi silf, ye don wel.
(Nevertheless if ye/you_all performen the kings law, by scriptures, Thou/You shalt/shall love thy/your neiybour as thyself/yourself, ye/you_all done well.)

Luth So ihr das königliche Gesetz vollendet nach der Schrift: Liebe deinen Nächsten wie dich selbst, so tut ihr wohl.
(So you(pl)/their/her the royal law completed after the/of_the writing: love(n) your(s) neighbour as/like you/yourself himself/itself, so does you(pl)/their/her probably/well.)

ClVg Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis:[fn]
(When/But_if nevertheless the_law completesis regalem after/second Scriptures: Diliges next_door your(sg) like yourself: well you_do: )

2.8 Si tamen legem. Quia aspere et de contemptu divitum locutus erat, et quodammodo contrarius legi divinæ, quæ omnes diligi præcipit, ne omnino contemnendi divites putentur, subdit: quasi dicat propter prædictas causas non sunt eligendi, sed si perficitis hanc legem quæ dicit: Diliges proximum Matth. 22., benefacitis; quia, etsi divites propter divitias non sunt eligendi, non tamen propter Deum minus sunt diligendi. Regalem. Id est excellentem, vel quia communis est omnibus, et omnes complectitur. Vel quæ dicit: Non confundas personam pauperis, nec honores vultum potentis Levit. 19., et alibi: Nulla erit distantia personarum: ita parvum ut magnum audietis, quia judicium Dei est Deut. 1..

2.8 When/But_if nevertheless the_law. Because aspere and from/about contemptu rich spoke was, and in_a_certain_way opposite/reverse I_read divine, which everyone diligi commands, not completely contemnendi rich putentur, I_submit: as_if let_him_say because aforementioneds causes not/no are eligendi, but when/but_if completesis this the_law which he_says: Diliges next_door Matth. 22., benefacitis; because, even_though rich because riches not/no are eligendi, not/no nevertheless because God minus are diligendi. Regalem. That it_is excellentem, or because common it_is to_all, and everyone complectitur. Or which he_says: Not/No confundas person poor, but_not with_honours face powerful Levit. 19., and alibi: Nulla will_be distance of_persons: so/thus parvum as magnum will_hearis, because judgement of_God it_is Deut. 1..

UGNT εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν, κατὰ τὴν Γραφήν, ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε.
(ei mentoi nomon teleite basilikon, kata taʸn Grafaʸn, agapaʸseis ton plaʸsion sou hōs seauton, kalōs poieite.)

SBL-GNT Εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικὸν κατὰ τὴν γραφήν Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε·
(Ei mentoi nomon teleite basilikon kata taʸn grafaʸn Agapaʸseis ton plaʸsion sou hōs seauton, kalōs poieite;)

RP-GNT Εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικόν, κατὰ τὴν γραφήν, Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε·
(Ei mentoi nomon teleite basilikon, kata taʸn grafaʸn, Agapaʸseis ton plaʸsion sou hōs seauton, kalōs poieite;)

TC-GNT Εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικόν, κατὰ τὴν γραφήν, Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν, καλῶς ποιεῖτε·
(Ei mentoi nomon teleite basilikon, kata taʸn grafaʸn, Agapaʸseis ton plaʸsion sou hōs seauton, kalōs poieite; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents 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 2:8–11

This paragraph indicates that showing favor to rich people is breaking God’s law. God told us to love everyone as we love ourselves. If we do not treat poor people as well as we treat rich people, we are not loving poor people. So we are not loving everyone as we love ourselves. As a result, we break God’s law.

2:8a

If you really fulfill the royal law

¶ If you^(plur) obey the law of God the king
¶ If you^(plur) follow the commands of God our^(incl) king,

If you really fulfill the royal law: There are at least three ways to interpret the Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as really:

It indicates a contrast with 2:9. It means “^2:8if, on the one hand, you keep the royal law…. ^2:9But if, on the other hand, you show favoritism….”This understands μεντοι … δε to function in a similar way to μεν … δε. Some versions show this contrast only at the beginning of 2:9. For example, the GNT says:
^8dYou will be doing the right thing ^8aif you obey the law of the Kingdom,…^9aBut if you… (KJV, GNT, CEV, JBP, NCVIt is not certain that these versions are following this interpretation. But since μεν is often left untranslated in a μεν … δε construction, it is possible that these versions are interpreting (and translating) μεντοι … δε in a similar way to μεν … δε.)
It indicates that something is true, and it indicates it with emphasis. It can be translated as “really,” “truly,” or “in fact.” (BSB, RSV, NIV, ESV, NLT)
It indicates a contrast with what comes before. In this context, it contrasts with showing partiality against poor people as described in 2:1–7 and explicitly noted in 2:6a, “you have insulted the poor.” It can be translated as “but” or “however.” For example, the NASB says:
If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law… (NASB, REB, NET)

In the case of interpretations (2) and (3), some scholars also think that this conjunction indicates some irony. In other words, James implies that people are not really keeping the royal law.See, for example: Davids (1982), page 114; McCartney, pages 147–148; Tasker, page 60.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is certain that the conjunction shows contrast with 2:9. It may also show contrast with what goes before or emphasize the truth of the statement (or show irony), but this is less certain. And these should be clear from the context with or without a conjunction.

In most languages, it will be enough to mark the contrast at the beginning of 2:9. So it may not be necessary to translate the conjunction here. Or you may have a way to show that a pair of things are being contrasted. For example:

on the one hand,…on the other hand

fulfill: The Greek word that the BSB translates as fulfill means “obey.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

If you obey the royal law

If you do what God said in the royal law

the royal law: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the royal law is literally “kingly law.” This law comes from a king and is the law of the kingdom. Here the king is God.

This phrase refers to the whole of God’s law, and it consists of many commands. It does not refer specifically to the command that follows (“Love your neighbor as yourself”) though that is one very important command within God’s law.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the law of the Kingdom (GNT)

the law of God the/our King

law from the highest authority (GW)

2:8b

stated in Scripture,

that is written in Scripture:
in particular the one in his written word that says

stated in Scripture: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as stated in Scripture is literally “according to the Scripture” (as in the RSV). The royal law is written in the Scripture.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

in the Scripture

written in Scripture

as God said in the Scripture

by keeping in particular God’s command which says

Scripture: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Scripture is used in a special way in the New Testament. It refers to words that God directed someone to write. Such writings had authority because God guided a person to write them. In the New Testament the word Scripture almost always refers to something that was written in the Old Testament. Here it refers to the verse which follows, quoted from Leviticus 19:18.

Some other ways to translate Scripture are:

God’s written words

this word of God that someone/Moses wrote

God’s written command

2:8c

“Love your neighbor as yourself,”

“Love your^(sing) neighbor as you love yourself,”
that people should love their fellow human beings as well as they love themselves,

Love your neighbor as yourself: In Greek, the word Love is singular. The word neighbor is also singular. However, this command was intended for everyone. It was also intended to command us to love all our neighbors, not just one. In many languages, it will be more natural to use plurals here. For example:

Love^(sing) your neighbors as yourself

Love^(plur) your neighbors as you^(plur) love yourselves

People should love their neighbors as they love themselves

This command also occurs in Matthew 19:19; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; and Romans 13:9. You should translate it here as you did in these other passages.

Love: In this context, Love refers to seeking the well-being of others. It does not refer to having warm feelings towards them. It also does not refer to romantic love.

Some other ways to translate this are:

Do what is best for

Act lovingly toward

Do good things that show you care for

neighbor: The Greek word that the BSB translates as neighbor literally refers to someone who lives nearby. It also refers to someone of the same social group or someone who speaks the same language. It can also refer to anyone you interact with.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

person who is near you

fellow human being

people you interact with

General Comment on 2:8a–d

In some languages, it is more natural to change the order of 2:8a–d. For example:

^8bIn Scripture, ^8athe royal law is/says, ^8c“Love your neighbor as yourself.” ^8aIf you really keep this law, ^8dyou do well.

^8bThe Scripture says, ^8c“Love your neighbor as yourself.” ^8aThis is the royal law. If you keep this law, ^8dyou do well.

2:8d

you are doing well.

you^(plur) do well.
you^(plur) are doing what you should do.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

εἰ μέντοι

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικόν κατά τήν Γραφήν Ἀγαπήσεις τόν πλησίον σοῦ ὡς σεαυτόν καλῶς ποιεῖτε)

James is using these words to introduce a contrast with what he said in [2:6](../02/06.md), “you have dishonored the poor,” meaning “you have treated rich people much better than you have treated poor people.” Alternate translation: [But if, instead of favoring rich people]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

νόμον & βασιλικὸν

˓the˒_law & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Εἰ μέντοι νόμον τελεῖτε βασιλικόν κατά τήν Γραφήν Ἀγαπήσεις τόν πλησίον σοῦ ὡς σεαυτόν καλῶς ποιεῖτε)

There are two possible reasons for why James describes the law that he quotes here from [Leviticus 19:18](../lev/19/18.md) as royal. (1) When Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, he said that this law was one of two that summed up all of the other laws and guided life in the kingdom of God. (The other law was to love God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength.) Alternate translation: [the law that guides life in the kingdom of God] (2) James may say that this law is royal because God, the true king, gave it to people. Alternate translation: [God’s law]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / declarative

ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν

Here the law of Moses is using a future statement to give a command. Alternate translation: [You are to love your neighbor as you love yourself]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν

The words You, your, and yourself are singular in this quotation because, even though Moses gave this law to the Israelites as a group, each individual person was expected to obey it. So in your translation, use the singular forms of “You,” “your,” and “yourself” if your language marks that distinction.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τὸν πλησίον σου

This is an idiom. It does not mean only someone who lives nearby. Alternate translation: [other people] or [anyone you encounter]

καλῶς ποιεῖτε

well ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_doing

Alternate translation: [you are doing what God wants you to do]