5:20a

consider this: There is a textual issue in this verse:

(1) Some Greek texts have “He should know.” (Huther, page 226; Ropes, page 315; Hiebert, pages 334–335; Mitton, page 212; Adamson (1976), page 203; Laws, pages 239–240; Davids (1982), page 199; Martin, page 217. This is the reading of most editions of the Greek text, including the UBS Handbook 3rd ed. and 4th ed.) For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

let him know that

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, NET Bible)

(2) Other Greek texts have “You^(plur) should know.” (Alford, page 329; Mayor, page 176. This is the reading of Nestle’s 25th ed. and the UBS Handbook 1st ed. Greek texts.) For example, the Good News Translation says:

remember this

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Century Version)

The evidence shows that option (1) is more likely to be the original text. It means that the person who brings his Christian brother back to believing and obeying God’s truth should know that he has done a good thing. To reflect this meaning, the NET Bible translation is used as the source line in the Display.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

may he realize that
-or-
he can be sure that

5:20b

In 5:20b, James continued to use the same figures of speech about wandering away and someone bringing the person back.

Whoever turns: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible here translates as turns is the same as the word translated as “bring back” in 5:19b. For example:

whoever brings a sinner back (God’s Word)

a sinner: The word sinner refers to a person who habitually disobeys God. Some other ways to translate this word are:

a sinful person
-or-
someone who disobeys God
-or-
a person who does evil

See the note at 4:8c for more information.

from the error of his way: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as error is the noun form of the verb translated “wander” in 5:19a. The phrase his way refers to the path that he has taken. It means the kind of life he has been living. So the whole phrase refers to returning the sinner back “from the wandering/straying path.” It means to help the sinner repent from his life or behavior that no longer pleases God.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

from his wandering path (NET Bible)
-or-
from his wandering (English Standard Version)
-or-
from the wrong way (New Century Version)
-or-
from his wrong living
-or-
from doing bad things

In some languages, it may be possible to leave this phrase implicit. For example:

^20bwhoever brings the sinner back ^20cwill save that person (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

5:20c

will save his soul from death: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as will save his soul from death means that the person whose words and prayers help the sinner stop sinning and return to obeying God “will save the sinner from dying.” In this context of “saving his soul,” death refers to spiritual death. It is being eternally separated from God.

Some ways to make it clear that this refers to spiritual death are:

will save that sinner’s soul from death (New Century Version)
-or-
will save the soul of that sinner so that he does not go to hell
-or-
will rescue from eternal death the one who has been doing evil

In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun death with a verb. For example:

will keep him from dying spiritually
-or-
save him from being punished eternally

save: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as save here means “rescue” or “deliver.” The righteous person will be the means that God uses to save from spiritual death the person who went astray.

his soul: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as his soul means his real inner self, in contrast to his body. This is the part of the person that is eternal. Here his soul refers to the soul of the sinner who has turned from the error of his ways.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

him

5:20d

cover over: This is a figure of speech. The righteous person covers over the sins of the person who has wandered from the path of God’s way to live. This implies that God decides not to look at those sins anymore. It means that God forgives the sins. It does not mean that the righteous person has hidden the other person’s sins from God.

There are at least two ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

and will cover a multitude of sins (New Revised Standard Version)

• Translate the meaning. For example:

and will cause many sins to be forgiven. (New Century Version)
-or-
and God will forgive his many sins.

a multitude of sins: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a multitude of sins means “very many sins.” Make sure that in your language this expression does not mean “most but not all.” James did not mean that some sins would not be covered. All will be forgiven.

General Comment on 5:19–20

In some languages, it may be natural to break up this long sentence into two or more smaller sentences. For example:

^19aMy brothers, perhaps one of you will wander from the truth. ^19bIf that happens, someone can bring that person back. ^20aHe should know that ^20bwhoever brings a sinner back from the error of his ways ^20cwill save him from death. ^20dAlso, his many sins will be forgiven.

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