YAC 5:9 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, magenta:vocative.
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 Do not complain, brothers, against one another, so that you may be not judged. Behold, the judge is standing at the door.

UST My fellow believers, do not grumble about each other. That way the Lord Jesus will not have to punish you. He is the one who will judge us, and he will come back soon to do that.

BSB {Do} not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

MSB {Do} not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged.[fn] Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

BLB Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing before the doors.

AICNT Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be {judged};[fn] behold, the judge is standing at the doors.

5:9, judged: Later manuscripts read “condemned.” BYZ TR

OEB Do not make complaints against one another, friends, or judgment will be passed on you. The judge is already standing at the door!

WEBBE Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!

LSV do not murmur against one another, brothers, that you may not be condemned; behold, the Judge has stood before the door.

FBV My friends, don't complain about each other, so you won't be judged. Look, the judge is standing right at the door!

TCNT Do not complain against one another, brothers, so that you will not be [fn]judged. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

5:9 judged ¦ condemned TR

T4T My fellow believers, do not complain about each other, in order that you will not be condemned and punished by the Lord Jesus {in order that the Lord Jesus will not condemn you}. It is he who will judge us, and he is ready to appear.

LEB Brothers, do not complain against one another, in order that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the doors!

BBE Say no hard things against one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged; see, the judge is waiting at the doors.

Moff Do not murmur against one another, brothers, lest you are judged; look, the Judge is standing at the very door!

Wymth Do not cry out in condemnation of one another, brethren, lest you come under judgement. I tell you that the Judge is standing at the door.

ASV Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.

DRA Grudge not, brethren, one against another, that you may not be judged. Behold the judge standeth before the door.

YLT murmur not against one another, brethren, that ye may not be condemned; lo, the Judge before the door hath stood.

Drby Complain not one against another, brethren, that ye be not judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door.

RV Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.
(Murmur not, brethren/brothers, one against another, that ye/you_all be not judged: behold, the judge standeth/stands before the doors. )

SLT Groan not against one another, brethren, that ye be not condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.

Wbstr Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

KJB-1769 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
(Grudge not one against another, brethren/brothers, lest ye/you_all be condemned: behold, the judge standeth/stands before the door. )

KJB-1611 [fn]Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the Iudge standeth before the doore.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and footnotes)

5:9 Or, groane, or grieue not.

Bshps Grudge not one agaynst another brethren, lest ye be dampned: Beholde, the iudge standeth before the doore.
(Grudge not one against another brethren/brothers, lest ye/you_all be dampened: Behold, the judge standeth/stands before the door.)

Gnva Grudge not one against another, brethren, least ye be condemned: behold, the iudge standeth before the doore.
(Grudge not one against another, brethren/brothers, least ye/you_all be condemned: behold, the judge standeth/stands before the door. )

Cvdl Grodge not one agaynst another brethren, lest ye be damned. Beholde, the iudge stondeth before the dore.
(Grodge not one against another brethren/brothers, lest ye/you_all be damned. Behold, the judge standeth/stands before the door.)

TNT Grodge not one agaynst another brethren lest ye be dampned. Beholde the iudge stondeth before the dore.
(Grodge not one against another brethren/brothers lest ye/you_all be dampened. Behold the judge standeth/stands before the door. )

Wycl Britheren, nyle ye be sorewful ech to other, that ye be not demed. Lo! the iuge stondith niy bifor the yate.
(Britheren, won’t ye/you_all be sorrowful each to other, that ye/you_all be not judged. Lo! the judge standeth/stands nigh/near before the gate.)

Luth Seufzet nicht widereinander, liebe Brüder, auf daß ihr nicht verdammet werdet! Siehe, der Richter ist vor der Tür!
(Seufzet not againsteinander, love(v) brothers, on/in/to that you(pl)/their/her not verdammet become! See/Look, the/of_the Richter is before/in_front_of the/of_the Tür!)

ClVg Nolite ingemiscere, fratres, in alterutrum, ut non judicemini. Ecce judex ante januam assistit.
(Don't sighre, brothers, in/into/on either/or, as not/no judgeini. Behold the_judge before door assistit. )

UGNT μὴ στενάζετε, ἀδελφοί, κατ’ ἀλλήλων, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε. ἰδοὺ, ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν.
(maʸ stenazete, adelfoi, kat’ allaʸlōn, hina maʸ krithaʸte. idou, ho kritaʸs pro tōn thurōn hestaʸken.)

SBL-GNT μὴ στενάζετε, ⸂ἀδελφοί, κατʼ ἀλλήλων⸃, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε· ἰδοὺ ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν.
(maʸ stenazete, ⸂adelfoi, katʼ allaʸlōn⸃, hina maʸ krithaʸte; idou ho kritaʸs pro tōn thurōn hestaʸken.)

RP-GNT Μὴ στενάζετε κατ' ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε· ἰδού, ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν.
(Maʸ stenazete kat' allaʸlōn, adelfoi, hina maʸ krithaʸte; idou, ho kritaʸs pro tōn thurōn hestaʸken.)

TC-GNT Μὴ στενάζετε [fn]κατ᾽ ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί, ἵνα μὴ [fn]κριθῆτε· ἰδού, [fn]ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν.
(Maʸ stenazete kat allaʸlōn, adelfoi, hina maʸ krithaʸte; idou, ho kritaʸs pro tōn thurōn hestaʸken. )

5:9 κατ αλληλων αδελφοι 78.5% ¦ αδελφοι κατ αλληλων CT 7.3% ¦ κατ αλληλων MSS 7.3%

5:9 κριθητε ¦ κατακριθητε TR

5:9 ο ¦ — ST

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

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Coming of the Lord as Judge

The Bible is clear that there will be a day of judgment (Jas 5:3), and the book of James provides followers of Christ with both a warning and a promise regarding that day. James announces the future coming of the Lord as Judge (Jas 5:7-9; cp. Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3). God, who gave the law, is the Judge who has the power to save and destroy (4:12). Those who slander Jesus Christ and oppress his followers will be slaughtered (see 2:6-7; 5:5-6). If those who follow Christ neglect to show mercy (2:13), befriend the world (4:4), sin through speech (4:11; 5:9), or live to satisfy evil desires (4:1, 16), they, too, will be judged by the law that was intended to set them free (2:12).

The Lord’s future coming influences present realities. God already honors the faithful poor and humiliates the exploitative rich (1:9-10; 5:2-3). Christ’s followers have already become God’s prized possession as God is restoring all things (1:18). James declares that we should obey the royal law of the messianic kingdom (2:8), of which followers of Christ have become heirs (2:5).

The coming of the Lord may not be immediate, so James exhorts Christians to endure (1:3-4) and wait patiently for Christ’s return (5:7-8). They will receive the crown of eternal life (1:12) and reap the harvest of righteousness sown by a life of faithfulness to God (3:18).

In view of impending judgment, James exhorts Christ’s followers to resist the devil and to humble themselves before God (4:7). We must grieve over sin, live with pure intentions and behavior (4:8-9), and rescue any Christian brother or sister who is headed toward death (5:19-20). Like Elijah, we must practice faith, prayer, and confession (5:13-18). Like Job, we must endure suffering, discovering in the end the scope of God’s kindness and mercy (4:10; 5:11).

Passages for Further Study

1 Sam 2:10; Pss 2:7-12; 96:11-13; Isa 26:21; Mic 1:3; Matt 16:27; Luke 12:35-48; 18:8; John 5:22-30; Acts 10:42; 1 Cor 4:5; Jas 5:7-9; 1 Jn 2:28

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:7–12: Suffering believers should be patient and persevere in their faith

In this section, James explained how Christian people should respond when ungodly rich people oppress them. Christians should not resist but should be patient, waiting for the Lord to come and bring justice (5:7–8). The theme of patience in the midst of suffering is related to the opening theme of the letter (1:2–4). As well as being patient in suffering, Christians should be patient with one another (5:9). They should follow the example of the prophets of God (5:10–11). They should avoid swearing with oaths (5:12).

Commentators disagree over which section the paragraph 5:12 belongs to. ManyHuther, page 215, 217; Mitton, page 191; Davids (1982); Moo (1985), page 173. of them say that it does not belong to this section (5:7–12) more than the next one (5:13–18), and prefer to set it off as separate from both. A fewLaws, page 219; Martin, page 199; see also Ropes, page 300, for a similar view. of them put it with 5:13–18 because it shares the same topic of referring to God when speaking. A few othersAlford, page 325; Adamson (1976), page 194; Hiebert, page 308. (see also the NIV) put it with 5:7–11, because it is similar to 5:9. On the whole it seems best to put 5:12 with this section, but to make it a separate paragraph.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Believers should be patient when they suffer

Be patient; the Lord is coming (UBS)

Paragraph 5:7–9

In this paragraph, James recommended that Christians be patient even though they were suffering. He supported this by illustrating patience from ordinary life and then applying the illustration to spiritual life.

5:9a

Do not complain about one another, brothers,

My brothers, do^(plur) not grumble about one another,
Fellow-believers, do^(plur) not complain about one another.

Do not complain about one another: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as complain refers to being discontented with others and blaming them for problems. Blaming others is a way of judging them. It is accusing them of doing something wrong. So this “grumbling” leads to the consequent action mentioned in 5:9b. (See 4:11 and Matthew 7:1.)

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

Donʼt grumble against each other (NIV)

Do^(plur) not talk against your fellow believers or accuse them

one another: The phrase one another refers to other Christians. Christians should not grumble against one another. See examples above for ways to translate this.

brothers: Notice that the BSB places the word brothers at the end of 5:9a. In some languages, it is more natural to place it at the beginning of the verse. For example:

Brothers and sisters, do not complain against each other (NCV)

The word brothers last occurred in 5:7a.

5:9b

so that you will not be judged.

Otherwise, the Lord will condemn you.^(plur)
If you^(plur) do complain, the Lord will declare you to be guilty of sin.

so that you will not be judged: The Greek clause that the BSB translates literally as so that you will not be judged indicates the basis for what James wrote in 5:9a. It indicates that James’ readers will be judged if they continue grumbling about one another.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

or you will be judged guilty (NCV)

if you^(plur) do, you will be condemned

will not be judged: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as will not be judged here describes part of the process of judging. It is the part when a judge decides and declares that a person is guilty/wrong. Connected with this decision and pronouncement is the idea that the person will be punished. Here James was saying that the Lord will declare guilty the person who grumbles about another Christian brother.

Some other ways to translate this are:

will not be condemned

will not be declared/pronounced to be wrong

will not be guilty of sin

God’s judgment here does not refer to eternal condemnation and punishment in hell. The word judged also occurs with a similar meaning in 2:12a and 2:13a. See judge, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

James did not say who would do the judging. There are two possibilities:

It is the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is God the Father. For example:
so that God will not judge you (GNT)

It is preferable that you do not distinguish between God the Father and Jesus here. So if you must say who will judge, it is recommended that you say “the Lord.” In 5:8, James said that the Lord would soon come, and in 5:9c he said that the Judge is standing at the door. It is likely that he was thinking about the same event.In 4:12 James said that there was only one Judge, God, the Lawgiver. But most commentators think that here James is thinking of Christ, who is soon to come back (see Martin, page 192; Hiebert, page 301; SSA, page 146; cf. Ropes, page 297; Laws, page 213).

5:9c

Look, the Judge is standing at the door!

The judge is arriving soon!
The one who will judge everybody is ready to come to/into our^(incl) world again!
The Lord will soon be here, and he will be the judge!

Look: In Greek, this sentence begins with a word that the BSB translates as Look and the RSV translates as “behold”. This word calls attention to something surprising. The NIV uses an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence to show this surprise.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Do not be surprised!

Listen to this!

You should use whatever expression is natural in your language for showing surprise. This same word occurs in 5:4a–b.

the Judge: Commentators disagree as to whether the Judge refers to the Lord Jesus Christ or to God the Father. If you have made explicit who will judge in 5:9b, you will need to make sure that this refers to the same person.

If you need to make it clear that James is not referring to a human judge it is recommended that you say “the Lord.” For example:

the Lord, the one who will judge all people

See judge, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

standing at the door: This is a Greek idiom. It means “nearly here” (as in Matthew 24:33). There are at least two ways to translate this idiom:

Keep the idiom. For example:
stands before the gates! (NET)
right outside the door (CEV)
Translate the meaning. For example:
ready to appear. (GNT)
ready to come! (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφοί

brothers

See how you translated the term brothers in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: [my fellow believers]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μὴ κριθῆτε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή στενάζετε ἀδελφοί κατʼ ἀλλήλων ἵνα μή κριθῆτε Ἰδού ὁ κριτής πρό τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν)

If your language does not use this passive form, you can express this with an active form, and you can state who would do the action. Alternate translation: [God may not judge you]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ, ὁ κριτὴς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή στενάζετε ἀδελφοί κατʼ ἀλλήλων ἵνα μή κριθῆτε Ἰδού ὁ κριτής πρό τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν)

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Alternate translation: [Be aware that the judge]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή στενάζετε ἀδελφοί κατʼ ἀλλήλων ἵνα μή κριθῆτε Ἰδού ὁ κριτής πρό τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν)

James is comparing Jesus to a judge who is just about to walk into a courtroom. Alternate translation: [Jesus will soon return and judge everyone for what they have done]

Parallel YAC 5:9

Section 5:7–12: Suffering believers should be patient and persevere in their faith

Paragraph 5:7–9

5:9a

5:9b

5:9c