Discovery BoxJames 2:2 
Context2:2 For if someone 1 comes into your assembly 2 wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes,
James 4:14
Context4:14 You 3 do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? 4 For you are a puff of smoke 5 that appears for a short time and then vanishes.
1 tn The word for “man” or “individual” here is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But as BDAG 79 s.v. 2 says, “equivalent to τὶς someone.”
2 tn Grk “synagogue.” Usually συναγωγή refers to Jewish places of worship (e.g., Matt 4:23, Mark 1:21, Luke 4:15, John 6:59). The word can be used generally to refer to a place of assembly, and here it refers specifically to a Christian assembly (BDAG 963 s.v. 2.b.).
3 tn Grk “who” (continuing the description of the people of v. 13). Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
4 tn Or “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.”
5 tn Or “a vapor.” The Greek word ἀτμίς (atmis) denotes a swirl of smoke arising from a fire (cf. Gen 19:28; Lev 16:13; Joel 2:30 [Acts 2:19]; Ezek 8:11).
