2:9a

But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But introduces a contrast. The contrast is between loving your neighbor and thus keeping the law (in 2:8) and showing favoritism and thus breaking the law (in 2:9).

if you show favoritism: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as show favoritism refers to treating some people better than others because of their wealth or position in society.

The form of the Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you show favoritism implies the person is habitually showing favoritism. This verb is from the same root as the noun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as favoritism in 2:1b. See the notes there for translation advice.

2:9b

you sin: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you sin is literally “you do a sin.” In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this using the verb sin (as the Berean Standard Bible does).

Here James wrote that when a person shows favoritism, he disobeys God and God’s law. That is a sin.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

you do what is wrong/evil
-or-
you offend/disobey God
-or-
you are doing things against God

See also the note on “sin” at 1:15b.

are convicted by the law: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as convicted means “shown or proven to be guilty.” This is a passive verb. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

are convicted by the law (NET Bible)
-or-
are shown to be guilty by the law

• Use an active verb. For example:

the Law condemns you (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Scriptures teach that you have sinned (Contemporary English Version)

the law: The phrase the law refers to the same law that was called “the royal law” in 2:8a. Notice that in this verse the law is personified. This means that James said that the law did something as if it were a person. It “convicts” somebody just as a judge or prosecutor proves that somebody disobeyed a law of the government.

In some languages, it may be more natural not to personify the word law. If this is the case in your language, you could say something like:

You are guilty of breaking the law (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
you deserve punishment for disobeying God’s commands

as transgressors: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as transgressors means “people who do things contrary to what God commanded in the law.” It refers to people who deliberately disobey the law. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate this noun as a phrase. For example:

people who disobey God’s laws
-or-
a person who does not do what God told people to do
-or-
those who violate God’s laws

In some languages, it may be possible to translate the phrase “are convicted by the law” and the phrase “as lawbreakers” as one phrase. For example:

You are guilty of not obeying the law.

© 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.