James 2:3

Mace New Testament

if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet:

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You show special attention to the person wearing nice clothes. You say, "Sit here in this good seat." But you say to the poor person, "Stand there!" or "Sit on the floor by our feet!"

Revised Standard Version
and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "Have a seat here, please," while you say to the poor man, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet,"

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and ye have a respecte to him that weareth the gaye clothynge and saye vnto him. Sit thou here in a good place: and saye vnto the poore stonde thou there or sit here vnder my fotestole:

Hebrew Names Version
and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;"

New American Standard Bible
and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"

New Century Version
You show special attention to the one wearing nice clothes and say, "Please, sit here in this good seat." But you say to the poor person, "Stand over there," or, "Sit on the floor by my feet."

Update Bible Version
and you have regard to him that wears the fine clothing, and say, You sit here in a good place; and you say to the poor man, You stand there, or sit under my footstool;

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say to him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

English Standard Version
and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet,"

World English Bible
and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And ye look upon him that weareth the fine apparel, and say to him, Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor man,

Weymouth's New Testament
and you pay court to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say, "Sit here; this is a good place;" while to the poor man you say, "Stand there, or sit on the floor at my feet;"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and if ye biholden in to hym that is clothid with clere clothing, and if ye seie to hym, Sitte thou here wel; but to the pore man ye seien, Stonde thou there, ethir sitte vndur the stool of my feet; whether ye demen not anentis you silf,

English Revised Version
and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

Berean Standard Bible
If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, "Here is a seat of honor," but say to the poor man "You must stand," or, "Sit at my feet,"

Contemporary English Version
You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor.

Amplified Bible
and you pay special attention to the one who wears the fine clothes, and say to him, "You sit here in this good seat," and you tell the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down [on the floor] by my footstool,"

American Standard Version
and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;

Bible in Basic English
And you do honour to the man in fair clothing and say, Come here and take this good place; and you say to the poor man, Take up your position there, or be seated at my feet;

Complete Jewish Bible
If you show more respect to the man wearing the fancy clothes and say to him, "Have this good seat here," while to the poor man you say, "You, stand over there," or, "Sit down on the floor by my feet,"

Darby Translation
and ye look upon him who wears the splendid apparel, and say, Do thou sit here well, and say to the poor, Do thou stand there, or sit here under my footstool:

International Standard Version
If you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Please take this seat," but you say to the poor man, "Stand over there" or "Sit on the floor at my feet,"Sit at my footstool">[fn]

Etheridge Translation
and you look upon him who clothed in beautiful vestments, and say to him, Sit is here well; and you say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or, Sit thou here before the stool of our feet;

Murdock Translation
and ye show respect to him who is clothed in splendid garments, and say to him, Seat thyself here, conspicuously; while to the poor man, ye say, Stand thou there, or sit thou here before my footstool;

King James Version (1611)
And yee haue respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say vnto him, Sit thou here in a good place: and say to the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footstoole:

New Living Translation
If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"—well,

New Life Bible
What if you show respect to the man in good clothes and say, "Come and sit in this good place"? But if you say to the poor man, "Stand up over there," or "Sit on the floor by my feet,"

New Revised Standard
and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet,"

Geneva Bible (1587)
And ye haue a respect to him that weareth the gaie clothing; and say vnto him, Sit thou here in a goodly place, and say vnto the poore, Stand thou there, or sit here vnder my footestoole,

George Lamsa Translation
And you should attend to the one who wears the beautiful clothing, and say to him, Sit here in a good place; and say to the poor man, Stand up there, or sit here before our footstool;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And ye eye him that hath on the gay clothing, and say, Thou, be sitting here, pleasantly, - and, unto the destitute man, say - Thou, stand, or sit there under my footstool,

Douay-Rheims Bible
And you have respect to him that is clothed with the fine apparel and shall say to him: Sit thou here well: but say to the poor man: Stand thou there, or: Sit under my footstool:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And ye haue a respect to hym that weareth the gay clothyng, and say vnto hym, sitte thou here in a good place: & say vnto the poore, stande thou there, or sitte here vnder my footestoole:

Good News Translation
If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, "Have this best seat here," but say to the poor man, "Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,"

Christian Standard Bible®
if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,”

King James Version
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Lexham English Bible
and you look favorably on the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, "Be seated here in a good place," and to the poor person you say, "You stand or be seated there by my footstool,"

Literal Translation
and you look on the one wearing the splendid clothing, and say to him, You sit here comfortably; and to the poor one you say, You stand there, or, Sit here under my footstool;

Young's Literal Translation
and ye may look upon him bearing the gay raiment, and may say to him, `Thou -- sit thou here well,' and to the poor man may say, `Thou -- stand thou there, or, Sit thou here under my footstool,' --

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& ye haue a respecte to him yt weareth the gaye clothinge & saye vnto hi: Sit thou here i a good place, & saye vnto ye poore, stonde thou there or sit here vnder my fote stole:

New English Translation
do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, "You sit here in a good place," and to the poor person, "You stand over there," or "Sit on the floor"?

New King James Version
and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool,"

Simplified Cowboy Version
do you shake the cowboy's hand and ignore the other guy?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,"

Contextual Overview

¹ My brethren, let not your christian profession be accompanied with partiality. ² when any one, adorn'd with a gold ring, and a splendid dress, enters into your assembly; and a poor man comes in meanly habited: ³ if you should respectfully say to the suit of fine cloths, sit you there, that's for quality; and to the poor man, stand thou there, or place your self at my feet: ⁴ have not you made an arbitrary distinction, don't your judgments flow from a vicious principle? ⁵ consider, my dear brethren, has not God chose the poor of this world to be rich by faith, and to inherit the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? ⁶ but you, who despise the poor, are not you oppress'd by the rich? is it not they who drag you to their tribunals? ⁷ they who blaspheme that sacred name by which you are distinguish'd?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ye: Jude 1:16

in a good place: or well, or, seemly

to the: James 2:6, Isaiah 65:5, Luke 7:44-46, 2 Corinthians 8:9

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 1:17 - shall not Deuteronomy 25:3 - vile unto thee Psalms 84:10 - I had Proverbs 18:23 - rich Ecclesiastes 10:6 - the rich Mark 12:39 - General James 2:1 - with

Cross-References

Mark 2:27
adding this observation, "the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."

Luke 23:56
then they went home, and provided spices and perfumes: after which they rested the sabbath-day, as the law appointed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing,.... Take notice of him, and show favour to him, to the neglect and contempt of the other. This is an instance of respect of persons condemned and dissuaded from:

and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; the best place; whether it be in a religious assembly, or in a civil court of judicature:

and say to the poor, stand thou there; or in a lower and meaner place:

or sit thou here under my footstool; this also was contrary to the Jewish canons t, that one should sit, and another stand, while their cause was trying; the law runs thus:

"one shall not sit, and another stand, but both shall stand; but if the sanhedrim, or court, please to let them sit, they sit; but one does not sit above, and the other below; but one by the side of the other.''

t Maimon. ib. sect. 3. vid. T. Bab. Shebuot, fol. 30. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing - If you show him superior attention on account of his rich and gay apparel, giving him a seat by himself, and treating others with neglect or contempt. Religion does not forbid proper respect to rank, to office, to age, or to distinguished talents and services, though even in such cases it does not require that we should feel that such persons have any peculiar claims to salvation, or that they are not on a level with all others, as sinners before God; it does not forbid that a man who has the means of procuring for himself an eligible pew in a church should be permitted to do so; but it requires that men shall be regarded and treated according to their moral worth, and not according to their external adorning; that all shall be considered as in fact on a level before God, and entitled to the privileges which grow out of the worship of the Creator. A stranger coming into any place of worship, no matter what his rank, dress, or complexion, should be treated with respect, and everything should be done that can be to win his heart to the service of God.

And say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place - Margin, as in Greek, “well” or “seemly;” that is, in an honorable place near the pulpit; or in some elevated place where he would be conspicuous. The meaning is, you treat him with distinguished marks of respect on the first appearance, merely from the indications that he is a rich man, without knowing any thing about his character.

And say to the poor, Stand thou there - Without even the civility of offering him a seat at all. This may be presumed not often to occur in a Christian church; yet it practically does sometimes, when no disposition is evinced to furnish a stranger with a seat.

Or sit here under my footstool - Perhaps some seats in the places of worship were raised, so that even the footstool would be elevated above a lower seat. The meaning is, that he would be treated as if he were not worth the least attention.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse James 2:3. Sit here under my footstool — Thus evidently prejudging the cause, and giving the poor man to see that he was to expect no impartial administration of justice in his cause.