Paragraph 1:13–15

In this paragraph, James taught that God does not tempt people. Our own sinful desires in our hearts and minds tempt us.

1:13a

When tempted: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tempted refers to being “encouraged/enticed to do something wrong.” Some ways to translate this word are:

caused to desire to do what is wrong
-or-
persuaded to do evil
-or-
encouraged/urged to sin

Notice that there is a difference between being tempted to do something wrong and actually doing it.

Here the word tempted is a passive verb. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

When people are tempted (New Century Version)

• Use another type of verb. For example:

When you experience/undergo temptation
-or-
When you desire to do evil

This Greek word is related to the word translated as “trial” in 1:2b and 1:12a. It has a wide range of meanings in Greek. It can mean:

(a) “tested” to cause a person to trust God more.

(b) “tempted” to do evil. This is its meaning in 1:13.

The context indicates which meaning is intended.

In some languages, it is necessary to use a different word here than in 1:2b and 1:12a. This is true in English. In other languages, there may be one term which fits both testing/trials and temptations. This is true in Greek. In such a case, it may be necessary to add a phrase that indicates the purpose of the testing/trial. For example:

When we are tested to make us do evil
-or-
When we experience trials/difficulties which might cause us to sin

1:13c

“God is tempting me.”: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as God is tempting me is literally “I am being tempted from God.” The verb is passive. Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

I am tempted by God (Revised Standard Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

God is tempting me (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

General Comment on 1:13c

In some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

No one should say that God is tempting him.

1:13d

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces the basis for James’ command in 1:13a–b. No one should say, “God is tempting me” (1:13a–b), because God cannot be tempted by evil… (1:13d–1:15). The basis for the command continues to the end of 1:15.

God cannot be tempted by evil: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cannot be tempted by evil means that God never feels the desire to do anything wrong. He never wants to sin. So though someone might try to tempt him, he will never do what is wrong.

There are at least two ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

God is never tempted to do wrong (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

• Use an active verb. For example:

Evil cannot tempt God (New Century Version)
-or-
God never wants to do anything wrong

by evil: The word evil in this context refers to moral evil. It refers to acts and thoughts that are morally harmful and damage a person’s spiritual life. God will never desire to do anything that is wrong, sinful, or against his holy character and nature.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

wrong
-or-
sinful

1:13e

nor does He tempt anyone: The clause nor does He tempt anyone means that God does not encourage anyone to do something wrong. He never urges anyone to sin.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and he doesn’t use evil to tempt others (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and he does not try to make people want to do wrong

General Comment on 1:13a–e

In some languages, it is more natural to change the order of 1:13d and 1:13e. For example:

^13aWhen tempted, ^13bno one should say, ^13c“God is tempting me.” ^13eFor God does not tempt anyone, ^13dnor can he be tempted by evil.

© 2012 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.