YAC 3:9 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) We use it to bless our master and father, yet we use it to curse our fellow humans who are made in God’s image.[ref]

Key: khaki:verbs, 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 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse the men, the ones having come into being according to the likeness of God.

UST We use speech to praise God, who is our Lord and Father. But we also use speech to say that we want bad things to happen to people. That is very wrong, because God made people like himself.

BSB With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

MSB With [the tongue] we bless our God[fn] and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

BLB With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, those being made according to the likeness of God.

AICNT With it we bless {the Lord}[fn] and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God.

3:9, the Lord: Later manuscripts read “God.” BYZ TR

OEB With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made “in God’s likeness.”

WEBBE With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.

LSV with it we bless the God and Father, and with it we curse the men made according to [the] likeness of God;

FBV We use the same tongue to bless our Lord and Father, as well as to curse people who are made in God's image—

TCNT With it we bless [fn]God our Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.

3:9 God our ¦ our Lord and CT

T4T We use our tongue to praise God, who is our Lord and Father, but we also use our same tongue to ask God to say evil things to people. That is very wrong! God made people like himself, so we should speak as respectfully to others as we speak to God.

LEB With it we bless the[fn] Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

3:9 *Or possibly “our,” if the Greek article is understood as a possessive pronoun

BBE With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.

Moff With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with the tongue we curse men made in God's likeness;

Wymth With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.

ASV Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

DRA By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

YLT with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;

Drby Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of [fn]God.

3.9 Elohim

RV Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God:

SLT With it we praise the God and Father; and with it we curse men, those made according to the similitude of God.

Wbstr With this we bless God, even the Father; and with this we curse men, who are made after the similitude of God.

KJB-1769 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

KJB-1611 Therewith blesse wee God, euen the Father: and therewith curse wee men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps Therwith blesse we God the father: and therwith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(Therwith bless we God the father: and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.)

Gnva Therewith blesse we God euen the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(Therewith bless we God even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. )

Cvdl Therwith blesse we God the father, and therwith cursse we men which are made after the similitude of God.
(Therwith bless we God the father, and therewith cursse we men which are made after the similitude of God.)

TNT Therwith blesse we God the father and therwith cursse we me which are made after the similitude of God.
(Therwith bless we God the father and therewith cursse we me which are made after the similitude of God. )

Wycl In it we blessen God, the fadir, and in it we cursen men, that ben maad to the licnesse of God.
(In it we bless God, the father, and in it we cursen men, that been made to the likeness of God.)

Luth Durch sie loben wir GOtt den Vater, und durch sie fluchen wir den Menschen, nach dem Bilde Gottes gemacht.
(Durch they/she/them praise we/us God the father, and through they/she/them curse(v) we/us the people, after to_him images/pictures God’s made.)

ClVg In ipsa benedicimus Deum et Patrem: et in ipsa maledicimus homines, qui ad similitudinem Dei facti sunt.
(In herself to_be_blessedmus God and Father: and in/into/on herself curseimus people/men, who/which to similarity of_God made are. )

UGNT ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν Κύριον καὶ Πατέρα, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, τοὺς καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας.
(en autaʸ eulogoumen ton Kurion kai Patera, kai en autaʸ katarōmetha tous anthrōpous, tous kath’ homoiōsin Theou gegonotas.)

SBL-GNT ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν ⸀κύριον καὶ πατέρα, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν θεοῦ γεγονότας·
(en autaʸ eulogoumen ton ⸀kurion kai patera, kai en autaʸ katarōmetha tous anthrōpous tous kathʼ homoiōsin theou gegonotas;)

RP-GNT Ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ πατέρα, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθ' ὁμοίωσιν θεοῦ γεγονότας·
(En autaʸ eulogoumen ton theon kai patera, kai en autaʸ katarōmetha tous anthrōpous tous kath' homoiōsin theou gegonotas;)

TC-GNT Ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν [fn]Θεὸν καὶ πατέρα, καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθ᾽ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας·
(En autaʸ eulogoumen ton Theon kai patera, kai en autaʸ katarōmetha tous anthrōpous tous kath homoiōsin Theou gegonotas; )

3:9 θεον ¦ κυριον CT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 3:1–12: Believers must be careful what they say

In this section, James warned believers to be careful with their speech. When believers do not control what they say, it can have a devastating, evil impact. This was an especially serious danger for those who taught others in the church. James reinforced his warning with a series of comparisons or illustrations to show how important it is that Christians control their speech.

Introduction

3:1–2a: Becoming a teacher in the church is a serious thing to do

The tongue is compared to small things which have large effects

3:2b–3	A small bit can turn a horse
3:4–5c	A small rudder can turn a sailing ship
3:5d–6	A small fire can destroy much
3:7–8	Animals can be tamed but not our tongues

Each of us should be consistent in using our tongue for good

3:9–10	The tongue should not be used for both blessing and cursing
3:11	Springs produce one kind of water
3:12	Trees produce one kind of fruit

Some other possible headings for this section are:

We must control our speechTranslator’s Handbook on James, page 100.

Controlling the things we say (NCV)

Paragraph 3:9–12

In this paragraph, James showed how inconsistent the tongue is. Both good words and bad words come out of the same mouth. This is something that should not happen. It is also contrary to nature.

3:9a

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father,

¶ We^(incl) praise/bless our^(incl) Lord and Father with our tongues,
¶ You^(plur) use your lips/mouths/words to praise the one who is our^(incl) Master and our Father.

With the tongue: As in 3:5a, the tongue represents the words that we speak with our tongues. In some languages, “the lips” or “the mouth” represent the words that a person says.

we bless our Lord and Father: This clause is a general statement. In some languages, it is more natural to use a different noun or pronoun in place of the pronoun we. For example:

people praise their Lord and Father

you^(plur) praise your Lord and Father

we bless: The Greek word that the BSB translates as we bless means “speak well” of God, “praise” God or “thank” God. It contrasts with the phrase “curse men” in 3:9b.

James was perhaps thinking of prayer here. Jews, and no doubt Jewish Christians, started many of their prayers of praise to God with the words “Blessed are you.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

we speak well of

we praise (NIV)

We…give thanks (GNT)

See bless, meaning 2, in the Glossary.

our Lord and Father: Some manuscripts and the KJV have “God” instead of “Lord.” “Lord” has the strongest manuscript support and is followed by the majority of English versions. The phrase our Lord and Father contains two titles that both refer to the one God. Make sure your translation clearly refers to one God.

Some ways to do this are:

the one who is our Lord and our Father

our Lord who is our Father

our Lord: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Lord means “one who is in authority,” or “master.” Here it refers to God. He is the one who has supreme authority.

Some other ways to translate Lord are:

our Master

our Owner

our supreme Chief/Leader

God, our Lord

3:9b

and with it we curse men,

and we^(incl) also speak evil against people with our tongues,
You^(plur) also use your lips/mouths/words to condemn your fellow humans,

we curse: The Greek word that the BSB translates as we curse means “we speak against a person.” It means “we call on God (or another spiritual power) to do harm to someone.” It is stronger than insulting or abusing someone. It is the opposite of blessing a person.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

we speak evil against

we condemn with words

we call upon God to harm

men: The Greek word that the BSB translates as men refers to human beings in general. It includes women and children. Check how you translated this same word in 3:7b and 3:8a.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

people

other human beings

It is particularly important here to use a word that includes all human beings. This is so that your translation does not convey the wrong meaning that only men “have been made in God’s likeness” (in 3:9c).

3:9c

who have been made in God’s likeness.

even though they were made/created to be like God.
in spite of the fact that God made/created them to be like himself.

The clause in 3:9c points out why it is wrong for the same tongue to praise God and then curse men. It is wrong because humans are made in God’s likeness. Doing such a thing is praising God and then cursing his likeness.

who have been made in God’s likeness: The BSB and most other English versions translate 3:9c as a relative clause. In some languages, translating this clause as a relative clause may imply that there are other people who have not been created in God’s likeness. It may also hide the point that cursing men is cursing God’s likeness.

Some other ways to translate this clause to give the correct meaning are:

and they have been made in God’s likeness

though they are made in God’s likeness (REB)

in spite of the fact that they are created in God’s likeness

have been made in God’s likeness: The BSB translates the Greek verb here as the passive verb have been made. Some ways to translate this verb are:

Use a passive verb. For example:
who were created to be like God (CEV)
Use an active verb. For example:
whom God made like himself (NCV)

in God’s likeness: The phrase in God’s likeness indicates that God made people to resemble him in certain ways. Theologians debate as to what ways people are in God’s likeness. Some of the ways they suggest are: people can love, talk, create, reason, make moral choices, rule God’s creation, and appreciate beauty. You will not want to say all this in your translation. But avoid translating this in a way that will make readers think that people look like God. It is speaking more of their character and abilities, not of their physical appearance.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are in the examples above.

This phrase comes from Genesis 1:26.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-pronouns

ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν & καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα

in it (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τόν Κύριον καί Πατέρα καί ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τούς ἀνθρώπους τούς καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας)

The pronoun it refers to the tongue. Alternate translation: [With our tongue we bless … and with our tongue we curse]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν & καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα

James is using the tongue to represent what people say, by association with the way the tongue is used for speech. Alternate translation: [We use our tongue in speech to bless … and we use our tongue in speech to curse] or [By what we say, we bless … and by what we say, we curse]

Note 3 topic: translate-blessing

εὐλογοῦμεν

˱we˲_˓are˒_blessing

In this context, bless does not mean to confer a blessing on someone, as a superior would to an inferior. Rather, it means to say good things about someone. Alternate translation: [we say good things about]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

τὸν Κύριον καὶ Πατέρα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τόν Κύριον καί Πατέρα καί ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τούς ἀνθρώπους τούς καθʼ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας)

James is not talking about two different people. He is expressing a single idea by using two nouns connected with and. The noun Father further identifies the Lord. Alternate translation: [the Lord our Father]

Note 5 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

Πατέρα

Father

Father is an important title for God.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τοὺς ἀνθρώπους

James is using the term men in a generic sense that includes all people. Alternate translation: [people]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοὺς καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας

James means implicitly that God created people in his own likeness. Alternate translation: [whom God made according to his own likeness]

Parallel YAC 3:9

Section 3:1–12: Believers must be careful what they say

Paragraph 3:9–12

3:9a

3:9b

3:9c