James 1:23

James 1:23 in other versions

• King James Version (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:
• New International Version (NIV)Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
• English Standard Version (ESV)For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

Context of James 1:23

21So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls. 22But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; 24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. 25But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].

James 1:23 word by word

ὅτι εἴ τις ἀκροατὴς λόγου ἐστὶν καὶ οὐ ποιητής, οὗτος ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ κατανοοῦντι τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• ifεἰei · ifG1487
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• be a hearerἀκροατήςakroatēs · hearerG202
• of the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• a doerποιητήςpoiētēs · doerG4163
• heοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• like untoεἴκωeikō · to resembleG1503
• a manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• beholdingκατανοέωkatanoeō · to observeG2657
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• naturalὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• naturalγένεσιςgenesis · originG1078
• faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• a glassἔσοπτρονesoptron · mirrorG2072

Cross-references for James 1:23

• James 2:14What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.]
• Jeremiah 44:16“As for the word (message) that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we are not going to listen to you.
• Ezekiel 33:31They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not practice them; for with their mouth they express loving devotion, but their heart goes after their (unlawful) gain.
• Matthew 7:26And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand.
• Luke 6:47Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like:

Commentaries on James 1:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Beholding his natural face in a glass - This metaphor is very simple, but very expressive. A man wishes to see his own face, and how, in its natural state, it appears; for this purpose he looks into a mirror, by which his real face, with all its blemishes and imperfections, is exhibited. He is affected with his own appearance; he sees deformities that might be remedied; spots, superfluities, and impurities, that might be removed. While he continues to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23For if any be … - The ground of the comparison in these verses is obvious. The apostle refers to what all persons experience, the fact that we do not retain a distinct impression of ourselves after we have looked in a mirror. While actually looking in the mirror, we see all our features, and can trace them distinctly; when we turn away, the image and the impression both vanish. When looking in the mirror, we can see all the defects and blemishes of our…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-25Verses 22-25 If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-23In several parts of the letter, James seems to ponder the teachings of Jesus. These verses show the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 7:24, 26; Luke 6:46, 49).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. For--the logical self-deceit (Jas 1:22) illustrated. not a doer--more literally, "a notdoer" [Alford]. The true disciple, say the rabbis, learns in order that he may do, not in order that he may merely know or teach. his natural face--literally, "the countenance of his birth": the face he was born with. As a man may behold his natural face in a mirror, so the hearer may perceive his moral visage in God's Word. This faithful portraiture of man's soul…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:23

• Doer
• Hearers
• Hypocrisy
• Mirror
• Obedience
• Parables
• Stability
• Word of God
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Entice
• Fade
• Glass
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion

Commentaries on James 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings