brother (fellow believer)

The Greek that is translated in English as “brother” (in the sense of a fellow believer), is translated with a specifically coined word in Kachin: “There are two terms for brother in Kachin. One is used to refer to a Christian brother. This term combines ‘older and younger brother.’ The other term is used specifically for addressing siblings. When one uses this term, one must specify if the older or younger person is involved. A parallel system exists for ‘sister’ as well. In [these verses], the term for ‘a Christian brother’ is used.” (Source: Gam Seng Shae)

In Martu Wangka it is translated as “relative” (this is also the term that is used for “follower.”) (Source: Carl Gross)

See also brothers.

complete verse (James 1:16)

Following are a number of back-translations of James 1:16:

  • Uma: “My relatives whom I love! Let’s not be able to be deceived: God does not tempt us.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore my beloved brothers, you are really mistaken/at fault if you say that God is the one tempting you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “My dear Brothers, do not believe what is not true. God does not tempt.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore brothers whom I love, don’t deceive yourselves in saying that God is the one who is tempting you,” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “My dear siblings in believing, don’t lie to yourselves.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Listen, my dear brethren, don’t say that God brings to mind the evil you want to do.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on James 1:16

This verse serves as a transition that links verses 12-15 and verses 17-18. It is sometimes taken as the conclusion of the previous paragraph, as Phillips and New Revised Standard Version have done, but most commentators and translations have taken it as a transition introducing a new argument.

Do not be deceived: it is not the tempter but God who is the giver of all good gifts. James does not want his readers to have any mistake about this. The expression Do not be deceived is often used as a rhetorical device in an argument (compare 1 Cor 6.9; 15.33; Gal 6.7) and can be rendered idiomatically as “Make no mistake about this” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “Do not be fooled” (the Good News Translation rendering of the same expression in 1 Cor 15.33). We may also translate this expression as “I want you to be very sure of this.” The word “this,” of course, will refer to the information in the following verses.

James often addresses the people who will receive the letter as brethren, and occasionally adds an adjective “beloved,” as here and at 1.19 and 2.5. Here brethren is obviously general and inclusive, and therefore may be rendered as “my dear friends” (Revised English Bible), or even better, “my dear brothers and sisters.”

Quoted with permission from Loh, I-Jin and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Letter from James. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .