Section 4:13–17

Trust in the Lord and not in yourselves

In this section, James rebuked the merchants who made plans to get rich but did not think about God. It is not clear whether or not the people whom James was denouncing belonged to the Christian community. It may be that among the Jewish traders of the time there were some who claimed to follow Christ but were not living as they should. On the other hand, there were no doubt many rich traders and merchants outside the church (see the references to “the rich” in 2:6–7), and James’ words would have served as a warning to Christians not to desire to follow their example.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Don’t Brag About Your Plans for the Future (God’s Word)
-or-
Warning against Boasting (Good News Translation)

Paragraph 4:13–17

James described the way traders made plans to get rich (4:13). Then he explained that those who think like that are ignoring God (4:14). He told them that instead they ought to submit to the Lord’s will (4:15). He reminded them that their behavior was arrogant (4:16) and warned them that God considered it sinful (4:17).

4:13a

Come now: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Come now is an idiomatic way of getting people’s attention. This expression introduces a warning. So you should use an expression that indicates that James was about to say something that his hearers would not be happy to hear.

Some other ways to translate this expression are:

Now listen to me (Good News Translation)
-or-
Pay attention to this! (God’s Word)

Here the word now is not the time word that means “at the present time.”

you who say: Some traders and merchants were talking (or at least thinking) in the way that follows. James was addressing these people. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Some of you say (New Century Version)
-or-
anyone who says

4:13b

Today or tomorrow: The phrase Today or tomorrow means “in the future” or “soon.” The traders intended to go and buy and sell goods, but they had not decided exactly when they would start their trip. (Commentators have suggested an alternative way to understand and punctuate the Greek text:Some of you say, “Today we will go…”, others say, “Tomorrow we will go….”This understanding is supported by Hiebert, page 274; Lenski, page 639; Tasker, page 101. However, as none of the major English versions have followed this punctuation of the text, it is recommended that you punctuate in accordance with the Berean Standard Bible, as in the notes. For support for this punctuation, see Adamson (1976), page 178, and Motyer, page 160.)

we will go: The traders meant that they would leave the place where they were and begin their journey to another place. The Good News Translation translates this as:

we will travel

we: James imagined traders who were making their plans. But it is uncertain who they may have been talking to. They may been making plans among themselves. Or they may have been telling other people what they planned to do. So for languages that have inclusive and exclusive forms for “we”, probably either could be used here.

to this or that city: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this or that city refers to a city whose name was not important to James. The traders of whom James was speaking would have known the particular city they were going to. So the expression does not mean “some town or other, but we are not sure which one.” (Some commentators have not expressed themselves clearly and a number of English versions are ambiguous, but see Blass-Debrunner-Funk, §289; Liddell-Scott-Jones, 9th ed. The reference of the Greek hode is to a particular entity.)

Some languages have an expression to refer to a particular location without mentioning the name. When someone quotes another person’s words or tells a story, he can use this expression in place of a name. He does this when the exact name is not important. In English, the expressions “such and such” or “so and so” can be used for this purpose.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to a certain city (Good News Translation)
-or-
to such-and-such a city (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

4:13c

spend a year there: The phrase spend a year there means “live in that city for a year”. For example:

We will stay there a year (New Century Version)

4:13d

carry on business: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as carry on business means “work buying and selling goods for profit.” Some other ways to translate this verb are:

do business (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
trade (Revised Standard Version)

4:13e

make a profit: The phrase make a profit means to gain money.

General Comment on 4:13a–e

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in this verse. For example:

Some people are saying, 13b–e“Today or tomorrow we will go….” 13aNow, you who are saying such things, listen to me!

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

aListen to me, those of you who say that btoday or tomorrow you are going to some city cto stay a year there dto trade and emake a profit.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

4:14a–b

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life?: There are two ways to punctuate 4:14a–b. Consequently, there are two ways to interpret the clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as What is your life. They are:

(1) It is a rhetorical question and goes with what follows in 4:14c–e. According to this interpretation, James was emphasizing the shortness of life. For example, the NET Bible says:

You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like?

(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised English Bible, King James Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation, 1996 edition, New Century Version, English Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It is a statement and goes with what precedes in 4:14a. According to this interpretation, James was emphasizing that the traders were ignorant of what their life would be like tomorrow. (Martin, page 158.) For example, the Good News Translation says:

You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be!

(Good News Translation, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

It is recommended that you follow option (1). This is followed by the majority of commentators and English versions. James’ point is not about what your life will be like tomorrow, but whether you will be alive at all. This is clear from 4:15.

4:14a

There is a contrast between 4:13 and 4:14. The contrast is between the rich people’s plans, and the fact that they do not know what will happen the next day. Some ways to show this contrast are:

But (New Century Version)
-or-
You talk like that, however

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow!: The Berean Standard Bible uses even as a way of communicating the exclamation in English. The New International Version (2011 Revision) tries to show this exclamation and the contrast mentioned above by using the word “Why.”

Some ways to translate this sentence are:

• As an exclamation. For example:

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! (New Century Version)
-or-
You have no idea/clue what will happen tomorrow!

• As a rhetorical question that emphasizes that we do not know what will happen tomorrow. For example:

But do you even know what will happen tomorrow? Of course not!
-or-
What do you know about tomorrow? (Contemporary English Version)

4:14b

What is your life?: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes how uncertain life is. James responded to his own rhetorical question in the next sentence.

Some ways to translate this rhetorical question are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

What is your life after all? (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do you know how long you will live?
-or-
To what can your life be compared?

• As a statement. For example:

Think about your life.
-or-
Consider the time you have to live.

• As a phrase connected to and introducing 4:14c. For example:

Your life is…. (New Century Version)
-or-
The time you live is like

Translate this rhetorical question in a way that is natural in your language.

4:14c–e

Most English versions use no connecting word at the beginning of this sentence. In Greek, there is a connector showing that this sentence explains the reason why life is uncertain. The Revised Standard Version translates the Greek conjunction as “For.” Use a natural way of connecting this sentence to the question that came before it.

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes: This is a metaphor. In this metaphor, James compared a person’s life to a mist. The way that they are similar is that both exist for only a short time.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. (Contemporary English Version)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

For your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

• Translate the meaning without using the metaphor. For example:

You live for a brief while and then pass away.

4:14c

You are: The words You are introduce an answer to the question “What is your life?” In some languages, it may be necessary to say “Your life is….” For example:

your life is like (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

a mist: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a mist means “a vapor or smoke that goes into the air.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

puff of smoke (NET Bible)
-or-
morning fog (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
steam

4:14d

appears for a little while: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appears means “exists” or “is here.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:

it’s here a little while (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
that is seen for a moment (God’s Word)
-or-
You can see it for a short time (New Century Version)

4:14e

and then vanishes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as vanishes also means “disappear.” Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

and then disappears (Good News Translation)
-or-
then it goes away (New Century Version)

If you translate the meaning of 4:14c–e without using a metaphor, some ways to translate vanishes are:

and then you pass away
-or-
then it’s over
-or-
and then you die

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

4:15a

Instead, you ought to say: The clause Instead, you ought to say means “Rather than saying today or tomorrow we will do this and that, you ought to saywhat follows.” Some English versions do not use the word Instead. They use another construction to indicate the contrast between this verse and 4:13.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

What you should say is this: (Good News Translation)
-or-
Instead of saying that, here is what you should say
-or-
Rather than talking about your plans, what you should say is this:

4:15b

If the Lord is willing: The clause If the Lord is willing means “If the Lord wants us to live and do these things.” Some other ways to translate this clause are:

If the Lord wants
-or-
If the Lord desires it
-or-
If the Lord agrees
-or-
If the Lord God likes

the Lord: The phrase the Lord refers to God. It means “Master”, the One who has supreme authority over everyone and everything. See the note at 4:10a.

4:15c

we will live: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as we will live means “we shall continue to live.” For example:

we shall still be alive (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages, it may be necessary to add a word to indicate that this verb begins the second part of an “if” clause. For example:

then we will live (NET Bible)

4:15d

and do this or that: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this or that refers to the particular event that the traders planned to do. (See Davids (1982), page 173; Hiebert, page 278. Most commentators do not discuss this point.) They planned to do business and make money.

Some other ways to translate this expression are:

We will do these things. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
carry out our plans (God’s Word)
-or-
do so-and-so (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

James was saying that people should continue to make definite plans but should make them subject to the condition: “If it is the Lord’s will.”

General Comment on 4:15b–d

In some languages, it will be necessary to include parts of 4:15c–d in the “If” clause of 4:15c. For example:

bIf the Lord wants us cto live dand do this or that, it will happen.
-or-
If the Lord wants us to live, we will live. If he wants us to do this or that, we will do it.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

4:16a

As it is: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As it is is more literally “But now” (as in the Good News Translation). This phrase introduces a description of how the traders usually behave. It also indicates a contrast. They should be saying, “If the Lord wills.” But instead of saying that, they are boasting.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

But now (Good News Translation)
-or-
But instead (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But in reality
-or-
But your words are not like that

you boast in your proud intentions: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you boast in your proud intentions is literally “you boast in your arrogances.” There are at least two ways to interpret the phrase “in your arrogances”:

(1) It is the object or content of the traders’ boasting. In other words, it is what the traders were boasting about. They were boasting about the certainty of their plans. They were boasting in their own ability to do things without any help from God. For example, the New International Version, 2011 edition says:

you boast in your arrogant schemes

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, 2011 edition, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English (Commentators that support this interpretation are Ropes, page 280; Moo (1985), page 157; Martin, pages 167–168.))

(2) It is the second description of the traders and is parallel to boast. The traders were boasting and they were bragging. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

you boast and brag

(New International Version (1984 Revision), Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version (Commentators that support this interpretation are Alford, page 319; Huther, page 196; Adamson (1976), page 181; Laws, page 192; Davids (1982), page 173.))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). There are two reasons for this choice:

(a) The word “boast” occurs with the preposition “in” sixteen other places in the New Testament. In all these cases, the phrase that follows is the object of boasting. (As in ‘boast in/about one’s high position’ in James 1:9.)

(b) The noun “arrogances” is plural. This indicates that James was referring to the traders’ plans in 4:13b–e.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

you^(plur) boast about the plans that you think are so good
-or-
you speak so proudly of what you consider to be wise plans
-or-
you are bragging about what you will do

boast: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as boast refers to the traders proudly talking of their plans. They talked as if they did everything without God’s help. This word indicates how people talk when they are proud.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

are proud (Good News Translation)
-or-
brag (God’s Word)

4:16b

All such boasting is evil: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as All such boasting is evil refers to boasting about your plans. Boasting about your ability to do things without God’s help is evil.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and it is wrong to be so proud (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
When people boast like that, it is wrong/bad.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin: In this sentence, James warned people to behave properly. He stated the warning in general terms, but he was probably warning people against making plans with a boastful attitude (4:13–16). He wanted people to be humble when they made plans for the future. (Commentators disagree on what James is talking about. There are three interpretations:(1) The verse refers to the topic of making plans with a boastful attitude (4:13–16). In this context doing the good he ought to do means being humble when making plans, as James recommended in 4:15. (Interpretation (1) is followed by Alford, page 319; Adamson (1976), page 181; Hiebert, page 280; Moo (1985), page 158.(2) In the good he ought to do the idea of “doing good” means doing good deeds (see chapter 2). The traders were guilty of trying to make a profit for themselves instead of sharing it with the poor. (Interpretation (2) is followed by Laws, page 193.)(3) The statement does not refer particularly to this paragraph, but to all the teaching that James has given so far. (Interpretation (3) is followed by Mayor, page 147; Mitton, page 172; and apparently by Revised Standard Version since that version omits the connecting word then.)All three of these interpretations are supported by different commentators. However, three points show that James meant this verse to be understood together with the verses before it (4:13–16), as in interpretation (1).First, the verse has a connecting word in the Greek, translated then. Secondly, the word good is the opposite of the word “evil” in 4:16. Thirdly, if James wanted this statement to apply to all his teaching, he would have put it near the end of chapter 5.Interpretation (1) is recommended because it is the only interpretation in which this verse is understood together with 4:13–16.)

Some other ways to translate this verse are:

Therefore, the person who knows the good thing to do in this situation, but he does not do it, he has sinned.
-or-
You know what is the right thing to do in this matter. So if you do not do it, you have sinned.

4:17a

Anyone…who knows: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Anyone who knows refers to people in general. Use whichever word is appropriate when warning people in your language. For example:

Whoever knows (God’s Word)
-or-
we know (Good News Translation)
-or-
you know (Contemporary English Version)

then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then here introduces the conclusion of all that James wrote in 4:13–16. Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:

So then (Good News Translation)
-or-
So (NET Bible)
-or-
Therefore

knows the right thing to do: The phrase the right thing to do refers to doing what is right. It probably refers to acting in a humble way when planning for the future.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

knows what is right to do (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the good he ought to do (New International Version (2011 Revision))

4:17c

is guilty of sin: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is guilty of sin is literally “to him it is sin.” This is an Old Testament expression. (Deuteronomy 15:9; 23:21–22; 24:15.) The meaning is “it is counted against him by God as sin.” In other words, God considers him guilty of committing a sin.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

sins (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
commits sin (New Revised Standard Version)

This word also occurs in 1:15b. See the note there for more details.

Paragraph 5:1–6

5:1a

Come now: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as Come now is an idiomatic way of getting people’s attention. This expression introduces a warning. So you should use words or an expression that are natural in your language to indicate that the next words are a serious matter. James was about to say something that his hearers would not be happy to hear.

Some other ways to translate this expression are:

And now…listen to me (Good News Translation)
-or-
Pay attention to this (God’s Word)
-or-
Think carefully about what I am going to say

Here the word now is not the time word that means “at the present time.”

you who are rich: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you who are rich is literally “the rich men.” James was probably referring to rich landowners who were not Christians.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

you rich (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
if you’re rich (God’s Word)
-or-
you^(plur) who are rich

As mentioned above, in some languages it may be more natural to translate this section without using the pronouns “you.” For example:

rich people

5:1b

weep and wail: The two Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weep and wail are a doublet. This means that these two words mean almost the same thing. In some languages, both words can be translated by emphasizing one action. For example:

cry loudly

weep: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weep means to “cry.” For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

cry

This same Greek word occurs in 4:9a.

wail: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wail means to make a loud screaming noise that expresses great emotion. It generally includes “crying.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

howl (English Standard Version)
-or-
cry aloud (NET Bible)

5:1c

over the misery to come upon you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as over is a preposition. It also means “on.” For example:

over the miseries that are coming upon you (Good News Translation)
-or-
about the misery that is coming to you (God’s Word)

It is also possible to start a new sentence here. For example:

Terrible things are going to happen to you. (Contemporary English Version)

misery: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as misery is plural. For example:

miseries (Good News Translation)

This word means “great pains/ sufferings.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

terrible troubles (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
hardships
-or-
great suffering

to come: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to come means that rich people had not yet experienced this trouble. It would happen to them in the future.

In some languages, it is not natural to say that “misery” is to come. If that is true in your language, you may need to say something like:

because of the miseries that God will send/give you(plur)
-or-
because you are going to be miserable
-or-
Terrible things are going to happen to you. (Contemporary English Version)

upon you: Some other ways to translate upon you are:

on you
-or-
to you

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

5:2a

Your riches have rotted: The clause Your riches have rotted is a general statement that all the possessions of the rich people will “spoil” (Some commentators suggest that the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as riches refers specifically to grain (wheat). See Mayor, pages 148–149; Hiebert, page 285; Mitton, page 176; Tasker, page 110; Manton, page 403. They point out that there is evidence that the word translated riches originally referred in the ancient world to having plenty of grain stored in the granaries. Also, the word translated rotted usually means actual rotting, although it can mean decay in general. Thirdly, since 5:2a is connected by “and” to a clause that mentions a specific kind of possessions (5:2b), it seems likely that 5:2a also refers to a specific kind of possessions. Note also that Palestine was primarily an agricultural society, and see Luke 12:16–21. However, none of the major English versions translate this word as “grain.”) or “be ruined.” In 5:2b and 5:3a James went on to mention which possessions in particular had spoiled. Use a word for rotted that goes well with riches. For example:

Your riches have decayed (God’s Word)
-or-
Your richest goods are ruined (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

This future event is so certain that James spoke of it as something that had already happened. This is typical prophetic style. In some languages, it is more natural to use the future tense here. For example:

Your^(plur) wealth will surely become worthless.
-or-
All the things that you have accumulated for yourselves will be destroyed.

5:2b

moths have eaten your clothes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as clothes refers to outer garments such as robes. In the biblical world, beautiful garments were very expensive, and people considered them as part of their wealth. (See Judges 14:12; 2 Kings 5:5; Acts 20:33). The larvae of moths could eat the cloth and make holes in it while the garment was stored.

As in 5:2a, this future event is so certain that James spoke of it as something that had already happened. In some languages, it is more natural to use the future tense here. For example:

moths will eat your clothes

If moths that eat clothes are not known in your area, you can use:

• a more generic name. For example:

insects

• an explanatory phrase

bugs that eat clothes

• another insect that destroys clothes. For example:

termites
-or-
ants
-or-
cockroaches

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

5:3a

gold and silver: The words gold and silver may refer here to coins made of gold and silver. But the phrase may also include jewelry and drinking cups or bowls made of gold and silver.

If your language does not have words for both gold and silver, it may be possible to say:

gold and other fine metal
-or-
money (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
precious/expensive metals

corroded: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as corroded literally means “rusted.” It is the process that forms a reddish coating on metals such as iron when they get damp. The word implies that the metal is being spoiled or destroyed.

Pure gold and silver do not rust. But the gold and silver that most people have is not 100% pure, so it can rust. In addition, silver can tarnish (become blackened).

Some other ways to translate this word are:

rusted (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
tarnished/blackened

5:3b

Their corrosion will testify against you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Their corrosion will testify against you is literally “Their corrosion will be a witness to/for you.” For example:

their rust will be a witness against you (NET Bible)

This sentence is a figure of speech called personification. In this personification, James speaks of corrosion as if it were a person who will testify in court. James meant that on the day when God will judge all people, the corrosion of the gold and silver will be evidence that rich people had misused their possessions. They misused their possessions by hoarding them. (An alternate understanding of the sense in which the rust “will testify against them” is that the rust is evidence of the temporary and perishable (and therefore worthless) nature of riches. However, if this is the meaning, then the rust is less a condemning testimony in court and more a “teaching witness” that reveals the true nature and value of riches. But this is less in keeping with the context of judgment coming upon them in the last days.) Rich people had more possessions than they needed, but they did not give them to help others.

There are at least two ways to translate this:

• Keep the personification. For example:

their rust will be a witness against you (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
their rust will speak against you^(plur) in court

• Translate the meaning. For example:

the rust will be evidence against you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the rust will be evidence to accuse you^(plur) on the day of judgment.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

that rust will be a proof that you were wrong (New Century Version)
-or-
their very tarnish will be the evidence of your wicked hoarding (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
the rust will be the sign of your^(plur) sin of being greedy
-or-
that rust will make it clear that you^(plur) have been selfish with your wealth

Their corrosion: The phrase Their corrosion refers to the corrosion or rust of the gold and silver in 5:3a. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the same corrosion (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
their rust (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
that rust (New Century Version)
-or-
this will be evidence

5:3c

and consume your flesh: The subject of this clause is “their corrosion” from 5:3b. The corrosion will consume your flesh. James connected the idea that their wealth is being destroyed by rust with the idea that they too will be destroyed. That is, they will be judged guilty by God and punished.

This whole expression is figurative language. Here “corrosion” (rust) refers to God’s judging and punishing rich people based on the evidence of their greed. The verb consume is used in an extended sense to mean “destroy.” The noun flesh refers to the entire “body.” (It does not refer to just the skin.) So this clause refers to God punishing (the bodies of) these rich people.

Some ways to translate this clause are:

• Keep the figurative language. For example:

It will eat your bodies (New Century Version)

• Keep some of the figurative language. For example:

it burns your body (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
it will destroy your body (God’s Word)
-or-
and that same rust that destroys your^(plur) wealth will destroy you^(plur) too

• Translate the meaning without the figurative language. For example:

and because of this your^(plur) bodies will be consumed
-or-
and it will cause you^(plur) to be destroyed in hell
-or-
That rust will so certainly condemn you that it will be as if the rust itself destroys you
-or-
and God will punish you

like fire: The phrase like fire is a comparison called a simile. In this simile, rust is compared to fire. One way that they are similar is that both destroy or consume things. Fire is a common image of God’s judgment in both the Old Testament scriptures (see, for example, Isaiah 30:27, 33) and in Jesus’ teaching (see, for example, Matthew 25:41).

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Keep the simile. For example:

like fire consumes/burns things
-or-
like the fire of God’s judgment
-or-
like the fire of hell

• Translate the meaning without the simile. One way to do this is to translate the word fire with an adverb that strengthens your translation of the expression “will eat your flesh.” For example:

you^(plur) will be severely punished
-or-
God will harshly punish you

5:3d

You have hoarded treasure: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as You have hoarded treasure means “you have stored, gathered, or saved treasure.” This refers to all the possessions the rich people had gathered (in 5:2–3a).

Some other ways to translate this word are:

You have piled up riches (Good News Translation)
-or-
You have stored up riches (God’s Word)
-or-
you keep on storing up wealth (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
You^(plur) have accumulated many things for yourselves

in the last days: There are two ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the last days:

(1) It means in the time of the last days. James believed that he was already living in the final days before the end of the world. He was implying that it was foolish for rich people to continue gathering more and more possessions. They ought to realize that God would soon judge everyone in the world. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

in an age that is near its close

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

(2) It means in preparation for the last days. According to this interpretation, the rich were hoarding wealth to prepare for the difficult times in the last days. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

for the last days

(Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The Greek preposition normally means “in” rather than “for.” Also, the expression “the last days” normally refers to all of the present age since the Day of Pentecost. James was implying that the days we live in will soon end with God’s Day of Judgment.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

during these last days
-or-
in this last period of time before God judges people

General Comment on 5:3d

James rebuked these rich people for hoarding wealth in the last days. This was a foolish thing to do. People hoard wealth in order to have it for the future. But if it is the last days, the world as they knew it would soon come to an end and judgment would follow. In your translation, you may want to show that hoarding wealth is not the wise or logical thing to do in the last days. For example:

You have foolishly hoarded wealth in the last days.
-or-
The world is about to end, but/yet you are storing up wealth.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

5:4a–b

In this verse, James condemned another sin of rich men. They cheated their workers by refusing to pay them what they had agreed to pay.

Look: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as Look calls attention to something surprising or shocking. It does not necessarily refer to something that can be seen with the eyes. Since the main event in this verse is “crying out,” it may be better to start with “Listen!” rather than with “look!” For example:

Listen! (New Revised Standard Version)

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Pay attention to
-or-
Notice
-or-
Listen to me

Many English versions do not translate this word. Use a natural way in your language to call attention to what James said immediately following this word.

the wages you withheld from the workmen: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as withheld also means “cheated,” “defrauded,” or “refused to pay.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You refused to pay the people who worked (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
the pay you have held back from the workers (NET Bible)

who mowed your fields: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as mowed here refers to cutting the stalks of grain. This is the first process in harvesting grain.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

who harvested your fields (God’s Word)
-or-
who worked in your fields (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
who cut your grain

are crying out against you: This is a figure of speech called personification. In this personification, James speaks of the unpaid wages as if they were people who cry out. The wages were crying out that they should be paid to the workmen.

The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as crying out implies that the wages were:

(a) complaining to the rich men who cheated. For example:

Listen to their complaints! (Good News Translation)

(b) asking God for help. For example:

shout to God against you (God’s Word)

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

• Keep the personification. For example:

The pay you did not give the workers…cries out against you. (New Century Version)

• Translate the meaning. For example:

Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

General Comment on 5:4a–b

There is a lot of new information in these verse parts. In many languages, it may be helpful to divide the long sentence into two or more separate clauses or sentences. For example:

^4a–bYou refused to pay the people who worked in your fields, and now their unpaid wages are shouting out against you. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
^4a–bYou failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields. Look! Their wages are crying out against you!

5:4c

The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts: The harvesters are the same men as the “workmen” in 5:4a. James said that their cries had reached God’s ears. This means that God had heard the workers’ complaints. James implied that God would soon punish the rich men for their sin.

Some other ways to translate this sentence are:

the cries of the workers have been heard by the Lord All-Powerful. (New Century Version)
-or-
The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops. (God’s Word)

the harvesters: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the harvesters refers to workers who cut the grain and gather it together to remove it from the field. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the reapers (NET Bible)
-or-
workers who harvested your crops (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the workers (New Century Version)

the Lord of Hosts: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Lord of Hosts is taken from the Old Testament. It is a title for God that is literally “Lord of armies.” Even in the Old Testament, this title had come to mean “the supreme God” or “the Almighty God.” This means that God is the ruler of every power in the spiritual world.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
God, the Lord Almighty (Good News Translation)
-or-
the Supreme Chief/Ruler of all heavenly beings
-or-
the Lord All-Powerful (Contemporary English Version)

This title also occurs in Romans 9:29; Psalm 89:8; and Isaiah 6:3.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.