2:2–4

Verses 2:2–4 contain a specific example of showing favoritism. James gave this example to reinforce the command he gave in 2:1.

2:2a

Suppose: The word Suppose introduces an example of showing favoritism. Consider how your language naturally introduces an example.

Some other ways to begin this example are:

For example (God’s Word)
-or-
For instance (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Let us say

your meeting: The phrase your meeting refers to a gathering of Christians to worship the Lord. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

your assembly (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
your church meeting (New Century Version)
-or-
your worship service

wearing a gold ring: The Greek adjective that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wearing a gold ring is literally “gold-fingered.” Notice that the word ring is not actually in the Greek. But many versions add the word ring to make the sense clear. This word indicates that the man was rich.

The Greek does not specify whether the man was wearing one ring or many rings. However, at the time when James wrote, it was customary for very rich people to wear many rings on their fingers. (See Hiebert, pages 151–152 for more information on this point; also Martin, page 61.) So it is good to use “rings.” For example:

wearing gold rings (God’s Word)

If rings do not signify wealth in your culture, use another phrase to show that the man was rich. For example:

wearing gold
-or-
wearing expensive gold rings
-or-
expensive jewelry (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
wearing things that rich people wear

fine clothes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fine literally means “bright, shining.” This word was especially used for clothes that were pure white (as in Acts 10:30). Wealthy men in James’ day often wore white clothes. So this word also shows that the man in this example was rich.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

well-dressed (Revised English Bible)
-or-
glamorous/splendid clothes
-or-
expensive clothes
-or-
elegantly bright clothes

2:2b

shabby clothes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shabby means “dirty.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

grimy clothes (Revised English Bible)
-or-
filthy clothes (NET Bible)
-or-
worn-out clothes (Contemporary English Version)

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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.