YAC 3:13 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=none 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.
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 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his works from his good conduct in humility of wisdom.

UST If any of you are very understanding, you will demonstrate that by living your life properly. Being wise leads us to act gently toward others.

BLB Who is wise and understanding among you; let him show his works out of the good conduct, in the humility of wisdom.

AICNT Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the meekness of wisdom.

OEB Who among you claims to be wise and intelligent? They should show that their actions are the outcome of a good life lived in the humility of true wisdom.

WEBBE Who is wise and understanding amongst you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.

LSV Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? Let him show his works out of good behavior in meekness of wisdom,

FBV Who among you has wisdom and understanding? Let their good lives demonstrate what they do—doing what is right with wise kindness and consideration.

TCNT Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done with the gentleness that comes from wisdom.

T4T If any of you thinks [RHQ] that you are wise and know a lot, you should always act in a good way to show people that your good actions are the result of your being truly wise. Being wise helps us to act gently toward others.

LEB ¶ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his[fn] good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.

3:13 *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

BBE Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.

Moff Who among you is wise and learned? Let him show by his good conduct, with the modesty of wisdom, what his deeds are.

Wymth Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove it by a right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit.

ASV Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.

DRA Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew, by a good conversation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.

YLT Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,

Drby Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;

RV Who is wise and understanding among you? let him shew by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
(Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. )

SLT Who wise and knowing among you? let him show out of a good mode of life his works in meekness of wisdom.

Wbstr Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by a good deportment his works with meekness of wisdom.

KJB-1769 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
(Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. )

KJB-1611 Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge amongst you? let him shew out of a good conuersation his workes with meekenes of wisedome.
(Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge amongst you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.)

Bshps Who is a wise man, and endued with knoweledge among you? let him shewe his workes out of good conuersation with mekenesse of wisdome.
(Who is a wise man, and endued with knoweledge among you? let him show his works out of good conversation with meekness of wisdom.)

Gnva Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew by good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisdome.
(Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by good conversation his works in meeknessse of wisdom. )

Cvdl So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water and fresshe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you, let him shewe the workes of his good couersacion in meknes that is coupled with wissdome.
(So can no fountain give both salt water and fresshe also. If any man be wise and endued with learning among you, let him show the works of his good coversacion in meekness that is coupled with wissdome.)

TNT If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you let him shewe the workes of his good conversacion in meknes that ys coupled with wisdome.
(If any man be wise and endued with learning among you let him show the works of his good conversacion in meekness that is coupled with wisdom. )

Wycl Who is wijs, and tauyt among you? schewe he of good lyuyng his worching, in myldenesse of his wisdom.
(Who is wise, and taught among you? show he of good living his working, in mildness of his wisdom.)

Luth Wer ist weise und klug unter euch? Der erzeige mit seinem guten Wandel seine Werke in der Sanftmut und Weisheit.
(Who is wise and wise/clever under you? The show with his good change(n) his work in the/of_the Sanftmut and wise_(people).)

ClVg Quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos? Ostendat ex bona conversatione operationem suam in mansuetudine sapientiæ.[fn]
(Who wise and disciplinetus between you(pl)? Ostendat from good(s) conversation operation his_own in/into/on gentleness of_wisdom. )

3.13 Quis sapiens et disciplinatus inter vos? Confutatis illis qui nec vitæ sanctitatem, nec linguæ continentiam habent, monet illos qui sibi sapientes videbantur, vel etiam erant, ut sapientiam magis ostendant disciplinate vivendo, quam alios docendo, quia qui proclivior est ad docendum quam faciendum, aliquando jactantiam, vel contentionem incurrit, vel invidiam contra alios doctores, et alia multa mala.

3.13 Who wise and disciplinetus between you(pl)? Confutatis to_them who/which but_not of_life sanctitatem, but_not tongues/languages continence they_have, advises those who/which to_himself wise_people they_seemed, or also they_were, as wisdom more ostendant disciplinete living, how others by_teaching, because who/which proclivior it_is to teachndum how to_be_done, sometimes they_boastiam, or contentionem incurrit, or envy on_the_contrary others teachers, and other fine evil.

UGNT τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν? δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας.
(tis sofos kai epistaʸmōn en humin? deixatō ek taʸs kalaʸs anastrofaʸs ta erga autou en prautaʸti sofias.)

SBL-GNT Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν; δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας.
(Tis sofos kai epistaʸmōn en humin; deixatō ek taʸs kalaʸs anastrofaʸs ta erga autou en prautaʸti sofias.)

RP-GNT Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν; Δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πρᾳΰτητι σοφίας.
(Tis sofos kai epistaʸmōn en humin; Deixatō ek taʸs kalaʸs anastrofaʸs ta erga autou en prautaʸti sofias.)

TC-GNT Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν; Δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πρᾳΰτητι σοφίας.
(Tis sofos kai epistaʸmōn en humin; Deixatō ek taʸs kalaʸs anastrofaʸs ta erga autou en prautaʸti sofias. )

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:13–18: The wisdom of God is quite different from the wisdom of the devil

This section has three paragraphs. First, in 3:13 James introduced the topic of wisdom. Then he continued with two paragraphs. In each paragraph he discussed one type of wisdom. The first type he discussed (in 3:14–16) is the false wisdom that does not come from God. The second type he discussed (in 3:17–18) is the true wisdom that does come from God.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

True Wisdom Comes from God (NLT)

Two Kinds of Wisdom (NIV)

Paragraph 3:13

This verse introduces the topic of spiritual wisdom by challenging people who claim to be wise. James said that their claim must be tested.

See the General Comment on 3:13a–c at the end of 3:13c for ways to reorder this verse.

3:13a

Who is wise and understanding among you?

¶ Do any of you have wisdom and insight? (GW)
¶ If there is anyone among you^(plur) who thinks that he is wise and knows what is right and wrong,
¶ Those of you^(plur) who think/claim that you are truly wise

Who is wise and understanding among you?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to focus on a specific group of people and to address them. He addressed those who thought that they were wise and understanding. For example:

Who among you thinks/says that he is wise and understanding?

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? (NCV)
Do any of you have wisdom and insight? (GW)
As a conditional clause. For example:
If you are wise and understand God’s ways (NLT)
As a statement. For example:
Anyone who thinks he is wise and understanding
Regarding those who think that they are wise and understanding
Now I want to talk to those of you who think/claim that you are wise and understanding.

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

is wise and understanding: The two Greek words that the BSB translates as wise and understanding are a doublet. This means that these two words mean almost the same thing. In some languages, both words can be translated by one emphatic word or phrase. For example:

truly wise

is wise: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wise here describes a person who lives in a way that agrees with what God wants. Wisdom in the Bible is concerned with choosing between right and wrong actions.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

has wisdom

thinking is good

makes good/godly choices

understanding: The Greek word that the BSB translates as understanding here describes a person who knows what is right and what is wrong.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

has insight

is perceptive

3:13b

Let him show it by his good conduct,

If you^(plur) do, show it by/through the way you behave/live.
he should show this by/in his good living.
must prove it and behave well.

Let him show it: The clause Let him show it is a command. The pronoun him refers to the person in 3:13a who is wise and understanding. The verb show here means “prove to everyone” or “demonstrate.” The pronoun it refers to the claim to be wise in 3:13a. So this clause means:

He must show/prove to others that he is wise and understanding

Another way to translate this clause is:

He must do what is wise and understanding, then people will know/see it in him.

Your translation of this clause must correspond with the way you translated “Who is…” in 3:13a. For example:

^13aDo any of you have wisdom…? ^13bShow this… (GW)

^13aIf you are wise…, ^13bprove it… (NLT)

^13aAre there those among you who are truly wise…? ^13bThen they should show it (NCV)

^13aA person who thinks that he is wise ^13bmust prove that he has wisdom.

by his good conduct: The phrase by his good conduct is the means by which a person shows that he is wise. The phrase good conduct refers to the person’s good behavior or good conduct.The KJV says “out of a good conversation.” When the KJV was translated, the word “conversation” meant “behavior.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

by his good life (NIV)

by living right (NCV)

with/through his good behavior

in his good works

3:13c

by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

In other words, show^(plur) it by doing good deeds with the humility that wisdom brings.
He must show it by/with good works that he does gently and wisely.
Do^(plur) good deeds humbly. This humility comes from being wise.

by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom: There are several ways to connect this phrase to the rest of the verse:

Make it a more specific restatement of the phrase “by his good conduct” (in 3:13b). For example:
^13bYou are to prove it by your good life, ^13cby your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom. (GNT)
Make it the second clause that is parallel to “by his good conduct.” For example:
^13bThen show it by living right ^13cand by being humble and wise in everything you do. (CEV)
Make it the object of the verb “show.” For example:
^13bhe should show ^13chis works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings. (NET)The NET accurately follows the Greek grammar here by translating “his works” as the object of the verb “show.” However, this solution makes it difficult to naturally connect the phrase “by his good conduct” (3:13b) to the rest of the sentence.

deeds done in…humility: The clause deeds done in…humility means “good deeds that are done with a humble attitude.” In other words, the deeds are done modestly and not proudly.It is not clear from the Greek text whether the phrase in the humility that comes from wisdom is to be connected to the word “show” or whether it is to be connected to the word “deeds.” In other words, does it mean that when the man shows the deeds he has done, he is to do it humbly, not proudly? Or does it mean that the deeds he has done must be deeds that are done humbly, not selfishly? The second interpretation makes better sense in the context and is accepted by BSB, GNT, NIV, and many commentators.

deeds: The Greek word that the BSB translates as deeds is more literally “works” (as in the RSV). This word refers to “good deeds.” It refers to good activities that people do out of love for God or for other people. This same word occurs in 2:14c.

the humility that comes from wisdom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the humility that comes from wisdom is literally “the humility/meekness of wisdom.” This probably means the humility that comes from wisdom (as the BSB translates it). In other words, wisdom is the source from which humility comes.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the gentleness that wisdom brings (NET)

humility. This humility comes from wisdom

When someone has humility that comes from wisdom, he has both humility and wisdom. So another way to translate this phrase is:

humility and wisdom (GNT)The Translator’s Handbook (page 122) and Exegetical Summary (page 136) both treat “humility and wisdom” (GNT) as a separate interpretation from “humility that comes from wisdom.” However it is not certain whether the GNT (and similar CEV) really interpret the meaning of the genitive differently or have simply chosen to translate it differently.

humility: The Greek word that the BSB translates as humility refers to a submissive and teachable attitude. This attitude is expressed by a person being gentle or mild rather than being harsh or ready to fight.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

meekness (ESV)

gentleness (NCV)

being mild

See the note on 1:21c “humbly” which translates the same phrase in Greek.

wisdom: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wisdom here refers to the ability to know and choose what is right. Use an expression that corresponds to the one you have chosen for “wise" in 3:13a.

General Comment on 3:13a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 3:13a–c. For example:

^13aYou who claim to be wise and to perceive things well ^13bneed to prove it. In order to prove it, you should behave well. ^13cThat is, you should do good without boasting about it. This is the attitude that wise people have.

^13aSome of you think that you are wise and understand what is right and wrong. ^13bSo then, behave well. ^13cDo good deeds in a gentle/humble way. ^13bThis will show/prove that you are wise, ^13csince truly wise people are humble.

General Comment on 3:13c

In some languages, it may be necessary to divide this complex clause into several sentences. For example:

^13c He must also show his wisdom by his good deeds. He does these good deeds with a humble attitude. This humility comes from wisdom.

^13cHe must do good and not think he is great or important. That way he will show people that he is wise.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν? δειξάτω

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τίς σοφός καί ἐπιστημῶν ἐν ὑμῖν Δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τά ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας)

James is not looking for information. He is using the question form to express a condition. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question by translating this as a conditional statement. Alternate translation: [If anyone is wise and understanding among you, let him show]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων

The words wise and understanding mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this connection by translating them with a single expression. Alternate translation: [truly wise]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the abstract nouns works, conduct, humility, and wisdom by stating the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: [Let him show by conducting himself well, and by being humble as a wise person should be, that he does what God wants him to do]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας

among in ˓the˒_gentleness ˱of˲_wisdom

James is using the possessive form to describe humility that comes from wisdom. Alternate translation: [in the humility that comes from wisdom] or [with the humble attitude that comes from being wise]

Parallel YAC 3:13

Section 3:13–18: The wisdom of God is quite different from the wisdom of the devil

Paragraph 3:13

3:13a

3:13b

3:13c

General Comment on 3:13a–c

General Comment on 3:13c