19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [1:20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. [1:21] Therefore, putting away all moral filth and the excess of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. [1:22] But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [1:23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror — [1:24] he looks at himself and goes away, and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. [1:25] But the one who looks intently into the complete law, the law of freedom, and persists in it — not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts — that person will be blessed in what he does. [1:26] If anyone thinks himself to be observant in religious practice while not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this one's religious practice is worthless. [1:27] Pure and undefiled religious practice before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
JAS 1:19-27
Hearing and Doing
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, public discourse and philosophical teaching often emphasized the importance of self-control and moral integrity, particularly in speech and action. The admonition to be 'swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger' aligns with Stoic ideals of temperance and self-mastery, which were widely respected. The reference to 'filthiness and excess of wickedness' would evoke Jewish purity concerns, where moral and ritual impurity were closely linked. The 'implanted word' suggests a divine or natural law deeply rooted within a person, a concept familiar in both Jewish and Hellenistic thought. The metaphor of the mirror reflects a common philosophical trope, where self-examination leads to moral improvement. The critique of being 'hearers and not doers' challenges the superficial religiosity prevalent in both Jewish and pagan contexts, where outward observance often masked inner corruption. The emphasis on 'pure and undefiled religion' caring for orphans and widows resonates with Jewish ethical teachings, particularly the prophetic call for justice and mercy.
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How other translations render this
JAS 1:19
- KJV
- Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- BSB
- My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
- Koinōnos
- Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
JAS 1:20
- KJV
- For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
- BSB
- for manʼs anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
- Koinōnos
- for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
JAS 1:21
- KJV
- Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
- BSB
- Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
- Koinōnos
- Therefore, putting away all moral filth and the excess of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
JAS 1:22
- KJV
- But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
- BSB
- Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
- Koinōnos
- But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
JAS 1:23
- KJV
- For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
- BSB
- For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,
- Koinōnos
- For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror —
JAS 1:24
- KJV
- For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
- BSB
- and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
- Koinōnos
- he looks at himself and goes away, and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.
JAS 1:25
- KJV
- But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- BSB
- But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
- Koinōnos
- But the one who looks intently into the complete law, the law of freedom, and persists in it — not being a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts — that person will be blessed in what he does.
JAS 1:26
- KJV
- If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- BSB
- If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
- Koinōnos
- If anyone thinks himself to be observant in religious practice while not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this one's religious practice is worthless.
JAS 1:27
- KJV
- Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
- BSB
- Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
- Koinōnos
- Pure and undefiled religious practice before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JAS 1:21
- filthiness:The word translated 'filthiness' here refers to moral impurity and sordidness, not just physical dirt. It describes a deep-seated corruption.
- humility:The term translated 'humility' or 'gentleness' describes a disposition of mildness and self-control, often in contrast to anger or harshness. It's a strength under control, not weakness.
- implanted:The word translated 'implanted' suggests something that is inborn or naturally inherent, deeply rooted within a person, rather than something merely learned or externally applied.
JAS 1:26
- religious:The word translated 'religious' refers to someone who is observant of religious rituals and outward practices. It can sometimes carry a connotation of being overly scrupulous or even superstitious.