SIL Translator’s Notes on James 2012 – Page 13

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:13

Section 5:13–18

Believers should praise God and pray to him in faith

In this section, James talked about how believers should interact with God in all kinds of situations. When things are going well, they should praise him. When they need help, they should ask him for it.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

The Power of Prayer (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Prayer for the Sick (NET Bible)
-or-
Think of God in all Situations
-or-
Pray to God in every Circumstance

Paragraph 5:13–16

In 5:13 James advised people to praise God or to pray to him, according to what kind of situation they are in. Then he gave them detailed instructions and encouraged them to pray for the sick (5:14–16).

5:13a

Is any one of you suffering?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to begin talking about a particular situation. It also introduces a new topic. The topic is about what to do when you are in trouble.

Some ways to introduce this new topic are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Are any among you in trouble? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

Anyone who is having troubles (New Century Version)

• As a conditional clause. For example:

If any of you are having trouble (God’s Word)

• As a temporal clause. For example:

When you(sing) are in trouble

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this new topic.

A rhetorical question with a similar function occurs in 3:13a.

Is…suffering: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Is…suffering means “faces difficulties (of any kind).” It could refer to physical suffering, but you should translate it in a way that includes other kinds of trouble as well.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

Is…in trouble (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
Are…suffering hardships (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Is having difficulties

any one of you: The phrase any one of you refers to any believer. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Anyone who (New Century Version)
-or-
you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
any person among you(plur)

5:13b

He should pray: In some languages, it will be necessary to make explicit the person to whom people should pray, that is, God. Some other ways to translate this are:

It is important that he pray to God
-or-
He should ask God to help him

He: Depending on how you have translated “anyone of you” in 5:13a, you may need to say “you” or “they” rather than “he” here.

5:13c

Is anyone cheerful?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to begin talking about a particular situation. The situation is what to do when you are happy.

Some ways to translate this are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Are any among you happy? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

Anyone who is happy (New Century Version)
-or-
Concerning people who are happy

• As a conditional clause. For example:

If you are happy (God’s Word)

• As a temporal clause. For example:

When you(sing) are happy

cheerful: Some other ways to translate this word are:

encouraged
-or-
hopeful
-or-
happy (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
feeling good (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
glad

5:13d

sing praises: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sing praises refers to praising God by singing any kind of psalm or hymn or spiritual song. It refers to expressing in words and song how much you love, respect, admire and honor God for who he is.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

sing songs of praise (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
sing praises to the Lord (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
sing words that honor the Lord

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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.

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:14

5:14a

Is any one of you sick?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to begin talking about a particular situation. The situation is what to do when you are sick.

Some ways to translate this are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Are any among you sick? (Good News Translation)

• As a statement. For example:

Anyone who is sick (New Century Version)
-or-
Suppose one of you^(plur) is sick
-or-
Concerning people who are sick

• As a conditional clause. For example:

If you are sick (God’s Word)

• As a temporal clause. For example:

When you are sick

Is…sick: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Is…sick here refers to someone who is very ill. He is so ill that he is unable to go to the elders of the church to ask them to pray for him. He has to call them to come to him. (See Mitton, page 197; Martin, page 209; and Davids (1982), page 192.)

5:14b

He should call: The verb should call means “summon,” or “ask someone to come.” Some other ways to translate this verb are:

ask (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
tell
-or-
invite
-or-
request to come

the elders of the church: The phrase the elders of the church means “the leaders of the church.” These men are not necessarily the oldest men.

The word elders also occurs in Acts 14:23, 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; and Titus 1:5.

the church: The word the church means the particular assembly of Christians of which the sick person is a member. Some other ways to translate the church are:

the community/family of God’s people
-or-
those who gather to worship God

5:14c

to pray over him: This is the first command to the elders of the church. When a sick person calls them to come, they should go and pray for him.

Some other ways to translate pray over him are:

pray to God for him
-or-
They should pray for…the person (New Century Version)
-or-
They should come/go and pray for God to heal you

5:14d

and anoint him with oil: This is the second command to the elders of the church regarding a sick person.

In the time of James, it was common to treat a sick person by anointing him with oil. The oil was used as a medicine. It was also used symbolically.

Most commentators think that here the oil was used as a symbol of the healing power of God. It was poured or dripped onto the head of the person. Since the meaning is uncertain, it is recommended that you translate the phrase in a general way.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

put olive oil on you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and pour oil on the person (New Century Version)

The structure of the Greek in 5:14 shows that praying is the important part of the whole process. The action of anointing is less important. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

let them pray over him, anointing him with oil

oil: The oil that people used was olive oil. It was the common oil of that country. You should use a term that refers to a common type of oil that people use for cooking or to put on their bodies. It should not be a term that refers to motor oil.

5:14e

in the name of the Lord: The phrase in the name of the Lord is connected to both the praying (in 5:14c) and the anointing (in 5:14d). The elders should both pray for and anoint the sick person in the name of the Lord. This means that they should pray and anoint with the authority that the Lord has given them. They should act on behalf of the Lord.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

with the Lord’s power
-or-
using the Lord’s authority

the Lord: The phrase the Lord refers to Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, healing was often done in the name of Jesus Christ. (For example, see Acts 3:6, 9:34.)

If you feel that it would be helpful to make clear that Lord refers to Jesus here, you could say:

the Lord Jesus Christ
-or-
Jesus, our Lord

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:15

5:15a–b

the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick: This sentence is a figure of speech called personification. In this personification, the prayer itself is said to heal the sick person. James meant that when the elders pray to the Lord, the Lord would heal the sick man.

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

• Keep the personification. For example:

This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; (Good News Translation)

• Translate the meaning. For example:

When they pray in faith, the Lord will heal the sick person.

5:15a

And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And here introduces the result of the elders’ praying. Some other ways to translate this conjunction are:

So then
-or-
As a result
-or-
And so

In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here.

the prayer offered in faith: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the prayer offered in faith is literally “the prayer of faith” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This means that the elders who were praying needed to have faith or trust in God. James did not say what they should be trusting God for, but it is implied that they should trust him to heal the sick person. (There are at least three ways to interpret the word faith here. (1) Some commentators say that faith here is faith that God will heal the sick person. (2) Other commentators say that faith here is a more general faith. It is a belief that God is good, that he can be trusted, that he delights in answering prayer, and that he can answer prayer. (3) Other commentators say that faith here is an unwavering commitment to God and Jesus as the Messiah.) For example:

when they pray to God and they trust that he will make the sick one well

the prayer: The phrase the prayer refers back to the prayer mentioned in 5:14. In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun prayer with a verb. For instance:

When they pray to God

offered: The word offered has been supplied by the Berean Standard Bible. It is formal language and simply means that the prayer is prayed or spoken to God. Another way to translate this is:

that is said (New Century Version)

If you translate the phrase “the prayer” with a verb, you do not need to translate the word offered.

in faith: The phrase in faith means “while believing.” Here it refers to the faith of those who are praying. In some languages, it is more natural to translate faith with a verb or clause. For example:

pray believing that the Lord will heal
-or-
trusting the Lord to heal the sick person

5:15b

will restore: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will restore is literally “will save” (as in the Revised Standard Version). In the context of a very sick person, it means “will heal,” or “will make well.” For example:

will heal (Good News Translation)
-or-
will cure (God’s Word)
-or-
will cause…to become well

5:15c

The Lord will raise him up: This clause explains the clause “will…make well” (in 5:15b). The elders’ prayer heals the sick person in the sense that the Lord Jesus responds to the prayer by healing the sick person.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and the Lord will make you well (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
the Lord will heal that person (New Century Version)

The Lord: The phrase the Lord probably refers to Jesus Christ, as in 5:14e. Another way to translate this phrase is:

the Lord Jesus

5:15d

If he has sinned: The clause If he has sinned indicates that there was a possibility that the person had sinned and had not yet asked God to forgive him. It is implied that this sin may have something to do with his sickness. But do not translate this in such a way as to suggest that everyone who is sick has sinned.

sinned: The word sinned refers to doing something that is against God’s will and God’s law. This includes acts, thoughts, and attitudes. In other words, sin means to do anything that violates God’s standard of what is right or good.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

disobeyed God
-or-
done wrong
-or-
done something against God’s will

The noun sin occurs in 1:15b.

5:15e

he will be forgiven: This is a passive clause. James implied that the person would be forgiven by the Lord. So there are at least two ways to translate this:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

you will be forgiven (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

• Use an active verb. For example:

the Lord will forgive him/you(sing)

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:16

5:16a

Therefore: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Therefore here introduces a command to do something based on what James had just written. God heals sick people in answer to prayer, even if they have sinned (5:15). So people who are sick should seek to be healed by confessing their sins. For example:

So (God’s Word)
-or-
For this reason
-or-
Because of that
-or-
On the basis of what I have just said

confess: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as confess means “openly admit” to another person that one has disobeyed God. In this context, it does not mean praying silently to God.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

admit (God’s Word)
-or-
you should tell each other what you have done (Contemporary English Version)

your sins: The word sins here refers to anything that a person has done that is contrary to God’s will and desire for his people. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the things that you have done wrong
-or-
your evil thoughts and deeds
-or-
your wrongs

to each other: The phrase to each other refers to other members of the church. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to one another
-or-
to your fellow believers

5:16b

and pray for each other: The word pray means “ask God.” In this context of a person confessing that he has sinned, the topic of the prayer is clear. Here pray for implies that they will ask God to forgive and heal this member of the church. Some other ways to translate this are:

and pray to God for one another
-or-
and ask God to heal and forgive you and your fellow believers

5:16c

so that you may be healed: The purpose of the prayer is so that you may be healed. It is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

so that you will be healed (Good News Translation)

• Use an active verb. For example:

so God can heal you (New Century Version)
-or-
so that the Lord may heal you

5:16d

The prayer: In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun prayer as a verb. For example:

When a believing person prays (New Century Version)

a righteous man: The phrase a righteous man means “a person who lives in the way that God requires.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

a person who does what is right/just
-or-
a person who follows/keeps God’s laws
-or-
a straight person

This same word occurs in 5:6a where the New International Version (2011 Revision) translates it as “innocent men.”

5:16e

has great power to prevail: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as power to prevail indicates that when a righteous person prays, it causes great things to happen.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

has great power and produces wonderful results (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
is powerful, and it can help a lot (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages, it will be natural to translate power to prevail as one phrase that is emphasized. For example:

has great effectiveness (NET Bible)
-or-
does great things
-or-
accomplishes a lot
-or-
is very powerful

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:17

Paragraph 5:17–18

James supported his advice to pray by giving the example of Elijah. Elijah received miracles in answer to his prayers.

5:17

As an example of powerful prayer, James used the story of the prophet Elijah. (See 1 Kings chapters 17–18.) This story was well known to James’ readers. Elijah saw how the people of his country had turned to evil, and so he prayed that God would punish them by sending no rain on their land.

5:17a

Elijah: Elijah was a prophet who lived 900 years before James. In some languages, it may be more natural to make some of this information explicit. For example:

Elijah the prophet
-or-
Elijah the prophet of long ago

was a man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man here means “human being.” For example:

was a human being (New Century Version)
-or-
was a mere human

just like us: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just like us means “has the same kind of desires and feelings as we do.” The Jews thought of Elijah as an extraordinary person, so James reminded them that he was a normal human being.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

as we are (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
with a nature like ours (English Standard Version)
-or-
the same kind of person as we are (Good News Translation)

This word also occurs in Acts 14:15.

5:17b

He prayed earnestly: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He prayed earnestly is literally “He prayed with prayer.” This double use of the word “pray” intensifies what James was saying. He meant that when Elijah prayed, he was sincere, serious, and eager to receive an answer. Use what is natural in your language to indicate this intensity of prayer. Use an idiom if that is appropriate. For example, some English idioms for this are:

He prayed hard
-or-
He prayed with his whole heart

5:17d

it did not rain on the land: The phrase on the land refers to the land of Israel. The drought that God sent did not affect the whole world, but only the land of Israel.

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:18

5:18b

the heavens gave rain: The phrase the heavens may refer to:

(a) the clouds and the sky. For example:

rain came down from the sky (New Century Version)

(b) God, who sent the rain. It did not just come automatically. (See 1 Samuel 12:17; 1 Kings 18:1; and Acts 14:17 for the idea of God giving rain.) For example:

God caused rain to fall
-or-
God again brought the rains to the land

In some languages, it may be natural to combine (a) and (b). For example:

God caused rain to fall from the sky

5:18c

the earth yielded its crops: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the earth here means “the ground,” “the soil,” or “the land.” After the rains came again, in due course the ground produced the crops that it normally produced.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and the land produced crops again (New Century Version)
-or-
and the fields/farms grew plants
-or-
and the crops grew well in the fields

In some languages, it is not necessary to translate the phrase the earth. For example:

and the crops began to grow again (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:19

Section 5:19–20

James encouraged believers to help the person who is no longer obeying God to obey him again

In this final section of James’ epistle, he encouraged his readers to help any fellow Christians who had stopped obeying God to begin to obey him again.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Help Those Who Have Wandered Away from the Truth (God’s Word)
-or-
Restore Wandering Believers (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Help people return to obeying God

Paragraph 5:19–20

The two verses of this paragraph are all one sentence in the Greek text. In 5:19 James described figuratively something that may happen to a Christian: a person strays away from God, and someone brings him back. In 5:20 James commented that bringing this person back into a relationship with God is a worthwhile thing to do.

5:19a

My brothers: Here James used the phrase My brothers to emphasize the following point and to introduce a new topic.

This phrase also occurs in 5:12a.

if one of you should wander from the truth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wander means that a person “strays from,” “leaves” or “abandons” the correct path. This is a figure of speech meaning that a person is no longer following God nor living a life that pleases him.

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

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

if one of you strays from the truth (Revised English Bible)
-or-
if one of you leaves the path of truth

• Translate the meaning. For example:

If one of you believers no longer obeys the true teachings about/ from God

one of you: The phrase one of you refers to a member of the Christian community.

the truth: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the truth here refers to the true way of life. This is the way that is taught in God’s word. It is the true teaching of God.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

true/straight teaching
-or-
God’s ways
-or-
the way that God wants us to live
-or-
following what God teaches us to believe and do

This word also occurs in 3:14d.

5:19b

and someone should bring him back: This clause is a second part of the condition. In other words, the word “if” is implied. For example:

and if someone should bring him back

James continued to use figurative language. He spoke of someone helping another person to find the right path again. He meant helping this other person to recognize that he was no longer living as a Christian should. This person helps the other to repent and again live the way a true Christian should live.

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

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

you should try to lead them back. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and if someone helps him follow God’s path again

• Translate the meaning. For example:

and if someone helps him to repent
-or-
if someone encourages him to obey the truth again

(See the General Comment on 5:19–20 at the end of 5:20d for a way to make this a separate sentence.)

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:20

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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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on James 2012

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:13

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:14

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:15

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:16

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:17

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:18

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:19

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:20

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