97:11 The godly bask in the light;
the morally upright experience joy. 1
118:15 They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly. 2
The Lord’s right hand conquers, 3
132:16 I will protect her priests, 4
and her godly people will shout exuberantly. 5
1:2 My brothers and sisters, 8 consider it nothing but joy 9 when you fall into all sorts of trials,
1:1 From James, 10 a slave 11 of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. 12 Greetings!
1:1 From James, 14 a slave 15 of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. 16 Greetings!
1 tn Heb “Light is planted for the godly, and for the upright of heart joy.” The translation assumes an emendation of זָרַע (zara’, “planted”) to זָרַח (zara’, “shines”) which collocates more naturally with “light.” “Light” here symbolizes the joy (note the following line) that accompanies deliverance and the outpouring of divine favor.
2 tn Heb “the sound of a ringing shout and deliverance [is] in the tents of the godly.”
3 tn Heb “does valiantly.” The statement refers here to military success (see Num 24:18; 1 Sam 14:48; Pss 60:12; 108:13).
4 tn Heb “and her priests I will clothe [with] deliverance.”
5 tn Heb “[with] shouting they will shout.” The infinitive absolute is used to emphasize the verb.
6 tn Or “exult, boast.”
7 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
8 tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited). Where the plural term is used in direct address, as here, “brothers and sisters” is used; where the term is singular and not direct address (as in v. 9), “believer” is preferred.
9 tn Grk “all joy,” “full joy,” or “greatest joy.”
10 tn Grk “James.” The word “From” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
11 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
12 tn Grk “to the twelve tribes in the Diaspora.” The Greek term διασπορά (diaspora, “dispersion”) refers to Jews not living in Palestine but “dispersed” or scattered among the Gentiles.
13 tn Grk “a man of two minds,” continuing the description of the person in v. 7, giving the reason that he cannot expect to receive anything. The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person,” as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2).
14 tn Grk “James.” The word “From” is not in the Greek text, but has been supplied to indicate the sender of the letter.
15 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
16 tn Grk “to the twelve tribes in the Diaspora.” The Greek term διασπορά (diaspora, “dispersion”) refers to Jews not living in Palestine but “dispersed” or scattered among the Gentiles.