KJV: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
YLT: And before all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, and let your Yes be Yes, and the No, No; that under judgment ye may not fall.
Darby: But before all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay, that ye do not fall under judgment.
ASV: But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.
Πρὸ | Before |
Parse: Preposition Root: πρό Sense: before. |
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πάντων | all things |
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Neuter Plural Root: πᾶς Sense: individually. |
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δέ | however |
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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ἀδελφοί | brothers |
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural Root: ἀδελφός Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother. |
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μου | of me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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ὀμνύετε | swear |
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: ὄμνυμι Sense: to swear. |
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μήτε | neither [by] |
Parse: Conjunction Root: μήτε Sense: and not, neither … nor, not so. |
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τὸν | - |
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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οὐρανὸν | heaven |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: οὐρανός Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it. |
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μήτε | nor |
Parse: Conjunction Root: μήτε Sense: and not, neither … nor, not so. |
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γῆν | earth |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: γῆ Sense: arable land. |
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ἄλλον | other |
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ἄλλος Sense: another, other. |
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τινὰ | any |
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: τὶς Sense: a certain, a certain one. |
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ὅρκον | oath |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὅρκος Sense: that which has been pledged or promised with an oath. |
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δὲ | however |
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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ὑμῶν | of you |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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Ναὶ | Yes |
Parse: Particle Root: ναί Sense: yea, verily, truly, assuredly, even so. |
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ναί | yes |
Parse: Particle Root: ναί Sense: yea, verily, truly, assuredly, even so. |
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Οὒ | No |
Parse: Adverb Root: οὐ Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. |
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οὔ | no |
Parse: Adverb Root: οὐ Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer. |
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ἵνα | so that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
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ὑπὸ | under |
Parse: Preposition Root: ὑπό Sense: by, under. |
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κρίσιν | judgment |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: κρίσις Sense: a separating, sundering, separation. |
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πέσητε | you might fall |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: πίπτω Sense: to descend from a higher place to a lower. |
Greek Commentary for James 5:12
No connection with what immediately precedes. Probably an allusion to the words of Jesus (Matthew 5:34-37). It is not out of place here. See the same phrase in 1 Peter 4:8. Robinson (Ephesians, p. 279) cites like examples from the papyri at the close of letters. Here it means “But especially” (Ropes). [source]
Prohibition of the habit (or to quit doing it if guilty) with μη mē and the present active imperative of ομνυω omnuō The various oaths (profanity) forbidden The Jews were wont to split hairs in their use of profanity, and by avoiding God‘s name imagine that they were not really guilty of this sin, just as professing Christians today use “pious oaths” which violate the prohibition of Jesus.Let be (εστω ētō). Imperative active third singular of ινα μη υπο κρισιν πεσητε eimi late form (1 Corinthians 16:22) for ινα μη estō “Your yea be yea” (and no more). A different form from that in Matthew 5:37.That ye fall not under judgment Negative purpose with ινα μη κριτητε hina mē and the second aorist active subjunctive of Κρισις piptō to fall. See κρινω hina mē krithēte in James 5:9. κριμα Krisis (from krinō) is the act of judging rather than the judgment rendered (krima James 3:1). [source]
Imperative active third singular of ινα μη υπο κρισιν πεσητε eimi late form (1 Corinthians 16:22) for ινα μη estō “Your yea be yea” (and no more). A different form from that in Matthew 5:37. [source]
Negative purpose with ινα μη κριτητε hina mē and the second aorist active subjunctive of Κρισις piptō to fall. See κρινω hina mē krithēte in James 5:9. κριμα Krisis (from krinō) is the act of judging rather than the judgment rendered (krima James 3:1). [source]
See the common formulas of swearing, Matthew 5:35, Matthew 5:36. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 5:12
Paul raises the question of fickleness about any of his plans. Yea yea (Ναι ναι Nai nai) - nay nay See a similar repetition in Matthew 5:37. It is plain in James 5:12 where “the yea” is “yea” and “the nay” is “nay.” That seems to be Paul‘s meaning here, “that the Yea may be yea and the Nay may be nay.” [source]
See a similar repetition in Matthew 5:37. It is plain in James 5:12 where “the yea” is “yea” and “the nay” is “nay.” That seems to be Paul‘s meaning here, “that the Yea may be yea and the Nay may be nay.” [source]
Prohibition against such a habit or a command to quit doing it, with μη mē and the present imperative of καταλαλεω katalaleō old compound usually with the accusative in ancient Greek, in N.T. only with the genitive (here, 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16). Often harsh words about the absent. James returns to the subject of the tongue as he does again in James 5:12 (twice before, James 1:26; James 3:1-12). [source]
Negative purpose clause with ινα μη hina mē and the first aorist passive subjunctive of κρινω krinō As already indicated (James 2:12.; James 4:12) and repeated in James 5:12. Reminiscence of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1.Standeth before the doors (προ των τυρων εστηκεν pro tōn thurōn hestēken). Perfect active indicative of ιστημι histēmi “is standing now.” Again like the language of Jesus in Matthew 24:33 (επι τυραις epi thurais) and Mark 13:29. Jesus the Judge is pictured as ready to enter for the judgment. [source]
As in James 3:13.Let him pray (προσευχεστω proseuchesthō). Present middle imperative, “let him keep on praying” (instead of cursing as in James 5:12).Is any cheerful Present active indicative of ευτυμεω euthumeō old verb from ευτυμος euthumos (Acts 27:36), in N.T. only here and Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25.Let him sing praise (πσαλλετω psalletō). Present active imperative of πσαλλω psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
Present middle imperative, “let him keep on praying” (instead of cursing as in James 5:12). [source]
See this phrase in James 5:12. [source]
This use of εν en after ομνυω omnuō instead of the usual accusative (James 5:12) is like the Hebrew (Matthew 5:34, Matthew 5:36). “The living one for ages of ages” is a common phrase in the Apocalypse for God as eternally existing (Revelation 1:18; Revelation 4:9, Revelation 4:10; Revelation 15:7). This oath proves that this angel is not Christ.Who created (ος εκτισεν hos ektisen). First aorist active indicative of κτιζω ktizō a reference to God‘s creative activity as seen in Genesis 1:1.; Exodus 20:11; Isaiah 37:16; Isaiah 42:5; Psalm 33:6; Psalm 145:6, etc.That there shall be time no longer Future indicative indirect discourse with οτι hoti But this does not mean that χρονος chronos (time), Einstein‘s “fourth dimension” (added to length, breadth, height), will cease to exist, but only that there will be no more delay in the fulfillment of the seventh trumpet (Revelation 10:7), in answer to the question, “How long?” (Psalm 6:10). [source]