Article February 27, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not" (James 1:5)—The word rendered "upbraid" also means "to reproach or revile," or "to cast (favours received) in one's teeth" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 446). Consequently Goodspeed renders: "God who gives generously to everyone, and does not reproach one with it afterward;" the Twentieth Century New Testament: "God who gives freely to everyone without reproaches;" and Moffatt: "God who gives to all men without question or reproach;" though Weymouth (5th Edition) prefers: "God, who gives with open hand to all men and without unbraiding."

"When he is tried" (James 1:12)—The word "dokimos," here rendered "tried," means literally "accepted," and was originally used with reference to metals or coins which had been assayed and had passed the test. In short, it would appear to refer to the result of the trial, rather than to the trial itself. Hence the rendering of the Revised Version: "when he has been approved." Both Weymouth and Moffatt translate: "when he has stood the test;" though we find that Goodspeed prefers: "When he stands the test."

"Beholding his natural face in a glass" (James 1:23)—Literally, this means "beholding the face of his birth." Goodspeed translates: "(He) is like a man who looks in a mirror at the face that nature gave him;" and Weymouth: "He is like a man who carefully looks at his own face in a mirror;" while Moffatt has: "is like a man who glances at his natural face in a mirror."

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