Paragraph 4:11–12
In this paragraph, James wrote about not saying cruel words about one’s fellow Christians. If a person says cruel words about others, it means he is setting himself up as a judge over them.
4:11a
Brothers: James switched from calling his readers “adulterous people” to Brothers. This indicates that he wanted to:
(a) introduce a new subject, and
(b) show his love for his readers. He did this so that he could more strongly ask them to change their behavior.
The word Brothers means “Fellow believers.” Some other ways to translate this word are:
My friends (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Brothers and sisters (God’s Word)
This word also occurs in 1:2a and 3:12a–b.
do not slander one another: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as slander is more literally “speak against.” For example:
Do not speak against one another (NET Bible)
To “speak against” someone means “speak evil of someone” or “say cruel words about someone when he is not present.” It means “criticize someone in order to destroy that person’s reputation.”
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
don’t say cruel things about others (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
do not tell evil lies about each other (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not criticize one another (Good News Translation)
4:11b–e
In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 4:11b–e. For example:
11bAnyone who speaks against his brother, 11dspeaks against the law. 11cAnyone who judges his brother, 11ejudges the law.
-or-
11bIf anyone speaks against his brother, 11dhe speaks against the law. 11cIf anyone judges his brother, 11ehe judges the law.
4:11b
speaks against: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speaks against is the same verb that is translated as “slander” in 4:11a.
Some ways to translate this verb are:
• Use the same verb as in 4:11a. For example:
11astop slandering each other. 11bThose who slander (God’s Word)
• Use a synonym: For example:
11aDon’t speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. 11bIf you criticize each other (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
• Use a general verb. For example:
11aMy friends, don’t say cruel things about others! 11bIf you do… (Contemporary English Version)
his brother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his brother is literally “brother.” The pronoun his is not in Greek. Some ways to translate this word are:
another Christian (Good News Translation)
-or-
a fellow believer (NET Bible)
-or-
each other (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
4:11c
or judges him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judges means “criticize/ accuse others of doing wrong in a mean or severe manner.” This does not refer to the kind of judging that a judge does in court. Nor does it imply that people are never to judge whether something is right or wrong.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
or if you condemn others (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
or harshly/severely accuses him of doing wrong
-or-
or criticizes/rebukes him in a mean/unkind manner
The same word and same idea occur in Matthew 7:1.
4:11d
speaks against the law: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speaks against is the same as the word translated “slander” in 4:11a. Some ways to translate this phrase are:
speaks evil of the law
-or-
says evil words against the law
-or-
criticizes the law
The law demands that Christians love one another (2:8). If someone criticizes his fellow believer, he is not loving him. So he is not doing what the law demands. When someone does not do what the law says, he communicates by his actions that the law is not worthy of his respect and obedience. So it is as if he is speaking against the law. You may want to make this clear in your translation. For example:
it is as if he speaks evil of the law
the law: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the law refers to God’s law. In other words, it refers to everything that God has commanded his people to do in their lives.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
God’s Law (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
God’s teachings (God’s Word)
-or-
God’s rules
This word also occurs in 1:25a.
4:11e
judges it: The phrase judges it indicates that whenever you judge a brother, it is as if you are judging the law. This means that you are “finding fault” with certain laws and are deciding that you do not have to obey them. Specifically, you are not obeying the law that says that you should love your brother.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
it is as though he judges it
-or-
condemning God’s law (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
acts like the judge of the law
The same Greek word meaning judges occurs in 4:11c.
General Comment on 4:11b–e
In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit how judging one’s brother is the same as judging the law. For example:
11bAnyone who speaks against his brother 11cor judges him 11dspeaks against the law 11eand judges it because he has not kept the Scripture that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
4:11f
And: In Greek, this sentence has a conjunction that commonly indicates a change or contrast. Here James uses it to introduce a further stage in his discussion. One way to translate this conjunction is:
And (Contemporary English Version)
In some languages, it is natural to use a conjunction here. In other languages, no conjunction is necessary.
if you judge the law: In this verse and the following verse, the pronoun you is singular. By using the singular form, James addresses every person individually, and therefore very forcefully. Consider whether in your language a command spoken to every individual should be in the singular or plural form.
4:11g
you are not a practitioner of the law: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you are not a practitioner of the law literally says “you are not a doer of the law” (as in the Revised Standard Version). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
then you are no longer one who obeys the Law (Good News Translation)
-or-
you are no longer a follower of the law (New Century Version)
4:11h
but a judge of it: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but a judge of it is literally “but a judge.” Being a “judge of the law” contrasts with being a “doer of the law” in 4:11g. A “judge of the law” is someone who has authority over the law. He decides which part of the law is worthy or necessary to obey and which part is not necessary.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
become a judge over it (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
but you are condemning it as if you were its judge
-or-
but you are acting as if you have the right to say/choose which laws should be obeyed
General Comment on 4:11f–h
In some languages, it is more natural to translate the three clauses of 4:11f–h as two clauses. For example:
But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
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