YAC 4:2 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) You all have wants that are not fulfilled so it leads to murder. You’re jealous and not able to get everything you want, so you quarrel and fight. You don’t have, because you haven’t asked God,

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, 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 You covet, and you do not have. You kill and envy, and you are not able to obtain. You battle and war. You do not have because you do not ask.

UST You desire to have things, but you do not get them. This makes you bitterly resent the people who do have them. But you still do not get what you want, so you quarrel and fight with others. If you pray to God instead for the things you desire, then God will give you what you truly need.

BLB You desire and do not have. You kill and covet and are not able to obtain. You fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

AICNT You desire and do not have, you murder and are envious and cannot obtain, you fight and wage war, [[but]][fn] you do not have because you do not ask.

4:2, but: Some manuscripts include. 𝔓74 TR

OEB You crave, yet do not have, so you commit murder, so You covet, yet cannot gain your end. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

WEBBE You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;

LSV You desire, and do not have, [so] you murder; and you are zealous, and are not able to attain, [so] you fight and war; and you do not have, because of your not asking;

FBV You burn with desire, but don't get what you want. You kill for what you lust after, but don't get what you're looking for. You argue and you fight, but you don't get anything, because you don't pray for it.

TCNT You desire but do not have. You murder and are jealous but cannot obtain what you want. You fight and war. [fn]You do not have, because you do not ask.

4:2 You ¦ Yet you TR

T4T There are things that you very much desire to have, but you do not get those things, so you want to kill [HYP] those who hinder you from getting them. You desire what other people have, but you are unable to get what you desire, so you quarrel and fight with one another [HYP]. You do not have what you desire because you do not ask God for it.

LEB You desire and do not have; you murder and are filled with envy, and are not able to obtain; you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

BBE You are burning with desire, and have not your desire, so you put men to death; you are full of envy, and you are not able to get your desire, so you are fighting and making war; you have not your desire, because you do not make request for it.

Moff You crave, and miss what you want: you envy and covet, but you cannot acquire: you wrangle and fight--you miss what you want because you do not ask God for it;

Wymth You covet things and yet cannot get them; you commit murder; you have passionate desires and yet cannot gain your end; you begin to fight and make war. You have not, because you do not pray;

ASV Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.

DRA You covet, and have not: you kill, and envy, and can not obtain. You contend and war, and you have not, because you ask not.

YLT ye desire, and ye have not; ye murder, and are zealous, and are not able to attain; ye fight and war, and ye have not, because of your not asking;

Drby Ye lust and have not: ye kill and are full of envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not.

RV Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.
(Ye/You_all lust, and have not: ye/you_all kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye/you_all fight and war; ye/you_all have not, because ye/you_all ask not. )

SLT Ye eagerly desire, and have not: ye kill, and are zealous, and cannot succeed: ye fight and wage war, and ye have not, because ye ask not.

Wbstr Ye lust and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

KJB-1769 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
(Ye/You_all lust, and have not: ye/you_all kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye/you_all fight and war, yet ye/you_all have not, because ye/you_all ask not. )

KJB-1611 Ye lust, and haue not: yee kill, and desire to haue, and cannot obtaine: yee fight and warre, yet yee haue not, because ye aske not.
(Ye/You_all lust, and have not: ye/you_all kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtaine: ye/you_all fight and war, yet ye/you_all have not, because ye/you_all ask not.)

Bshps Ye lust, and haue not: Ye enuie, and haue indignation, and can not obtayne: Ye fyght and warre, ye haue not, because ye aske not.
(Ye/You_all lust, and have not: Ye/You_all envy, and have indignation, and cannot obtayne: Ye/You_all fight and war, ye/you_all have not, because ye/you_all ask not.)

Gnva Ye lust, and haue not: ye enuie, and desire immoderately, and cannot obtaine: ye fight and warre, and get nothing, because ye aske not.
(Ye/You_all lust, and have not: ye/you_all envy, and desire immoderately, and cannot obtaine: ye/you_all fight and war, and get nothing, because ye/you_all ask not. )

Cvdl Ye lust, and haue not. Ye envie and haue indignacion, and can not obtayne. Ye fight & warre, and haue not, because ye axe not.
(Ye/You_all lust, and have not. Ye/You_all envie and have indignation, and cannot obtayne. Ye/You_all fight and war, and have not, because ye/you_all axe not.)

TNT Ye lust and have not. Ye envie and have indignacion and cannot obtayne. Ye fight and warre and have not because ye axe not.
(Ye/You_all lust and have not. Ye/You_all envie and have indignation and cannot obtayne. Ye/You_all fight and war and have not because ye/you_all axe not. )

Wycl Ye coueiten, and ye han not; ye sleen, and ye han enuye, and ye moun not gete. Ye chiden, and maken batel; and ye han not, for ye axen not.
(Ye/You_all coueiten, and ye/you_all have not; ye/you_all sleen, and ye/you_all have envy, and ye/you_all may/can not gete. Ye/You_all chiden, and making battle; and ye/you_all have not, for ye/you_all axen not.)

Luth Ihr seid begierig und erlanget es damit nicht; ihr hasset und neidet und gewinnet damit nichts; ihr streitet und krieget. Ihr habt nicht, darum daß ihr nicht bittet.
(You(pl) are eager and obtained it with_it/so_that not; you(pl)/their/her hates and envies and wins/gains(v) with_it/so_that nothing; you(pl)/their/her argues and battle(v). You(pl) have not, therefore that you(pl)/their/her not requests.)

ClVg concupiscitis, et non habetis: occiditis, et zelatis: et non potestis adipisci: litigatis, et belligeratis, et non habetis, propter quod non postulatis.[fn]
(desiresis, and not/no you(pl)_have: killedis, and zelatis: and not/no can_you adipisci: litigatis, and belligeratis, and not/no you(pl)_have, because that not/no demandsis. )

4.2 Propter quod. Propter hæc, scilicet quod Deum digne postulatis; si enim illum pia intercessione postularetis etiam temporalia ad usum necessaria, et non solum sempiterna daret.

4.2 Because that. Because these_things, namely that God worthily demandsis; when/but_if because him pious intercessione postularetis also temporal_(things) to use necessary, and not/no only everlasting would_give.

UGNT ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν; μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε; οὐκ ἔχετε, διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς;
(epithumeite kai ouk eⱪete; foneuete kai zaʸloute, kai ou dunasthe epituⱪein; maⱪesthe kai polemeite; ouk eⱪete, dia to maʸ aiteisthai humas;)

SBL-GNT ἐπιθυμεῖτε, καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε· φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν· μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε. οὐκ ἔχετε διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς·
(epithumeite, kai ouk eⱪete; foneuete kai zaʸloute, kai ou dunasthe epituⱪein; maⱪesthe kai polemeite. ouk eⱪete dia to maʸ aiteisthai humas;)

RP-GNT Ἐπιθυμεῖτε, καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε· φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν· μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε, οὐκ ἔχετε διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς·
(Epithumeite, kai ouk eⱪete; foneuete kai zaʸloute, kai ou dunasthe epituⱪein; maⱪesthe kai polemeite, ouk eⱪete dia to maʸ aiteisthai humas;)

TC-GNT Ἐπιθυμεῖτε, καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε· φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν· μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε, [fn]οὐκ ἔχετε διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς·
(Epithumeite, kai ouk eⱪete; foneuete kai zaʸloute, kai ou dunasthe epituⱪein; maⱪesthe kai polemeite, ouk eⱪete dia to maʸ aiteisthai humas; )

4:2 ουκ εχετε ¦ ουκ εχετε δε TR ¦ και ουκ εχετε ANT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–12: Believers must submit to God, not to their own selfish desires

In this section, James wrote about the problem of Christians quarreling among themselves. He identified the root of the problem as our human selfish desires. Then he pointed out that the solution is to humble ourselves and submit to God.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Warning against being God’s enemy (UBS)

Submit Yourselves to God (NIV)

Paragraph 4:1–3

In this paragraph, James discussed why Christian people quarrel with each other. He introduced this topic by means of a rhetorical question (4:1a). He then responded to his question, using another rhetorical question (4:1b). Christians quarrel because they selfishly desire things. In 4:2–3 he explained the answer in more detail.

4:2a–f

Scholars disagree over how to punctuate this verse. The problem centers on how the word “kill/murder” is connected to the rest of the verse. The two interpretations are:

The verb “kill/murder” is primarily connected to what comes before it. So it should be separated from what follows by strong punctuation, such as a full stop.Ropes, page 254; Mitton, page 147; Laws, page 169; Hiebert, page 245; Moo (1985), page 140. Mayor, page 130–131, would accept this, but he prefers to emend (i.e., reconstruct) the text. See also Blass-Debrunner-Funk, A Greek Grammar of the NT, §494, and the margin of Westcott & Hort’s Greek text. For example, the ESV says:
You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. (NIV11, RSV, GNT, REB, CEV, NASB, NJB, GW, NLT, ESV)
The verb “kill/murder” is primarily related to what comes after it.Alford, page 312; Huther, page 176; Adamson (1976), page 167–168; Davids (1982), page 158; Martin, page 140–141. It is also the punctuation of Westcott & Hort in the text, and of the UBS Greek New Testament. So there should be punctuation separating it from what comes before it. For example, the NET says:
You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. (BSB, NIV84, NET, NCV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the interpretation that the majority of English versions follow.

See the General Comment on 4:2a–f at the end of 4:2f for examples of how this verse can be reordered.

4:2a

You crave

You want something (NIV)
You^(plur) want/desire things,

You crave: The Greek word that the BSB translates as You crave is literally “You want/desire.” James did not say what his readers wanted or desired. In some languages, it may be more natural to supply an object, as the BSB has done. For example:

You want something (CEV)

You want things (NCV)

You want what you don’t have (NLT)

4:2b

what you do not have;

but don’t get it (NIV)
but you^(plur) do not have them,

what you do not have: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as what here introduces a contrast that many versions translate as “but.” The contrast is between what people want and what they actually have. For example:

you want something but don’t get it (NIV)

you do not have: The Greek verb that the BSB translates literally as you do not have indicates that the believers were not receiving the thing or things that they wanted.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

don’t have (CEV)

you do not have them (NCV)

4:2c

you kill

so you^(plur) murder.
so you^(plur) are ready to kill. (GNT)

you kill: The clause you kill is a result of not having what you want. In some languages, it is more natural to make the relation between 4:2b and 4:2c clear by supplying a conjunction. For example:

^2aYou want ^2bwhat you don’t have, ^2cso you commit murder. (GW)

kill: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as kill normally means “murder” (as in 2:11a–b). Here it is probably a hyperbole. James used this word to startle his readers. He warned them that if they were not careful, their bad desires would soon lead to actual murder.Ropes, page 255; Laws, page 172. It is unlikely that James’ readers were actually killing one another. If they had been killing one another, he would have written more to criticize them even more harshly.

Some ways to translate this word are:

Translate it literally. For example:
you murder (ESV) If you translate it literally, it may be good to add a footnote saying that this is an exaggeration.
Translate it in a way that shows that cases of murder had not actually occurred. For example:
you are ready to kill (GNT)

4:2d

and covet,

You^(plur) strongly desire something that someone else has,
You^(plur) are envious of the things of others,

covet: The Greek word that the BSB translates as covet means “desire to possess something that someone else has.” This could be a material possession (like a big house) or a special honor or position of authority.Some translations understand the Greek verb here to mean “to envy, be jealous of [someone]” (NASB, REB, NLT, NET). This is also a valid possibility, but it does not fit so well with the next verb, “you cannot have,” which implies the object is a thing, not a person.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

you^(plur) want what someone else has

you strongly desire things (GNT)

You are jealous of what others have (NLT)

4:2e

but are unable to obtain it.

but you^(plur) are not able to obtain it.
but you^(plur) do not succeed in getting these things.

but are unable to obtain it: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as are unable to obtain it is more literally “you are not able to obtain.” This clause indicates that the believers were unable to get the thing or things that they were coveting. As in 4:2b, it may be natural to supply an object. For example:

cannot obtain it (NRSV)

you cannot get them (GNT)

you^(plur) are not able to get what you want

4:2f

You quarrel and fight.

You^(plur) argue and fight with one another.
So you^(plur) fight with each other.

You quarrel and fight: The clause You quarrel and fight is the result of not obtaining what you want. In some languages, it is more natural to make this relationship between 4:2e and 4:2f clear by supplying a conjunction. For example:

^2ebut you cannot get them, ^2fso you quarrel and fight (GNT)

quarrel and fight: The verbs quarrel and fight are related to the nouns “fights and quarrels” in 4:1a. So the translations of them should correspond if possible. Try to use words that can include both verbal disputes and physical fighting.

Another way to translate these verbs is:

argue and fight (NCV)

The verbs quarrel and fight are a doublet. This means that these two words mean almost the same thing. In some languages, the two verbs can be translated by a single verb. For example:

^2eyou cannot have what you want, ^2fso you fight with each other.

General Comment on 4:2a–f

Verse 4:2a–f is made up of two sentences. Each sentence tells what the people want and how they react when they do not get what they want. In some languages, it is more natural to first tell how people react and then the reason that they react that way. For example:

^2cYou kill each other ^2bbecause you do not have ^2awhat you crave. ^2fYou quarrel and fight each other ^2ebecause you are unable to obtain ^2dwhat you covet.

4:2g

You do not have,

You^(plur) do not have what you want,
You^(plur) do not have the things you want,

You do not have: Here James left some words implicit. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply this implicit information. For example:

You don’t have the things you want (GW)

You do not have what you want (GNT)

4:2h

because you do not ask.

because you^(plur) do not ask God for it.
because you^(plur) don’t pray for them. (GW)

because: The Greek word that the BSB translates as because introduces the reason that people do not get what they desire.

you do not ask: Although the BSB translates this clause literally, many English versions supply the word God to make clear whom the people did not ask.

This clause refers to praying to God. For example:

because you don’t pray for them. (GW)

General Comment on 4:2g–h

Verse 4:2g–h gives the reason that people do not get what they want. In some languages, it is more natural to change the order of these clauses. For example:

^2hYou do not ask God for what you want, ^2gso/therefore you do not have what you want.

This is a general statement about a situation that frequently happened. It does not mean, however, that James’ readers never asked God for things. This is made clear in 2:3.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπιθυμεῖτε καί οὐκ ἔχετε φονεύετε καί ζηλοῦτε καί οὒ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν μάχεσθε καί πολεμεῖτε Οὐκ ἔχετε διά τό μή αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς)

In both of these sentences, James is using the word translated and to introduce a contrast between the first and second clauses. Alternate translation: [You covet, but you do not have. You kill and envy, but you are not able to obtain]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν

Your language may require you to specify the objects of have and obtain. Alternate translation: [You covet, but you do not have what you covet. You kill and envy, but you are not able to obtain the things that you envy]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν

These two sentences mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If it would be helpful in your language, you could combine them. Alternate translation: [You desperately want things that other people have, but you could not get them]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε

˱you_all˲_˓are˒_murdering (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπιθυμεῖτε καί οὐκ ἔχετε φονεύετε καί ζηλοῦτε καί οὒ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν μάχεσθε καί πολεμεῖτε Οὐκ ἔχετε διά τό μή αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς)

James probably does not mean the word kill literally. Rather, this could mean: (1) James is using the word in a figurative and spiritual sense to mean “hate.” This usage would reflect the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus said that the meaning of the commandment “do not kill” also applied to being angry with others and insulting them ([Matthew 5:21–22](../mat/05/21.md)). The apostle John wrote that “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” ([1 John 3:15](../1jn/03/15.md)). Alternate translation: [You hate and envy] (2) James is describing someone wanting something so badly that he would almost kill to get it. Alternate translation: [You envy almost to the point of murder]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hendiadys

φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε

James is expressing a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word kill describes how his readers envy what others have. Alternate translation: [you envy hatefully] or [you envy murderously]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε

˱you_all˲_˓are˒_quarrelling (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπιθυμεῖτε καί οὐκ ἔχετε φονεύετε καί ζηλοῦτε καί οὒ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν μάχεσθε καί πολεμεῖτε Οὐκ ἔχετε διά τό μή αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς)

As in [4:1](../04/01.md), James is using the terms battle and war. Alternate translation: [You engage in disputes and conflicts]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε

The words battle and war 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: [You have continual conflicts]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐκ ἔχετε, διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς

not ˱you_all˲_˓are˒_having (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐπιθυμεῖτε καί οὐκ ἔχετε φονεύετε καί ζηλοῦτε καί οὒ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν μάχεσθε καί πολεμεῖτε Οὐκ ἔχετε διά τό μή αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς)

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express more fully what this means. Alternate translation: [You do not get what you want because you do not ask God for it]

Parallel YAC 4:2

Section 4:1–12: Believers must submit to God, not to their own selfish desires

Paragraph 4:1–3

4:2a–f

4:2a

4:2b

4:2c

4:2d

4:2e

4:2f

General Comment on 4:2a–f

4:2g

4:2h

General Comment on 4:2g–h