James 1:24

James 1:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
• New International Version (NIV)and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Context of James 1:24

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]. 23For 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; for 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]. 26If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).

James 1:24 word by word

κατενόησεν γὰρ ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν καὶ εὐθέως ἐπελάθετο ὁποῖος ἦν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• he beholdethκατανοέωkatanoeō · to observeG2657
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• goeth his wayἀπέρχομαιaperchomai · to go awayG565
• straightwayεὐθέωςeutheōs · immediatelyG2112
• forgettethἐπιλανθάνωepilanthanomai · to forgetG1950
• what manner of manὁποῖοςhopoios · what sort?G3697
• he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for James 1:24

• Judges 8:18Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men were they whom you killed at Tabor?” And they replied, “They were like you, each one of them resembled the son of a king.”
• Matthew 8:27The men wondered in amazement, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
• Luke 1:66All who heard these things kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this little boy turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him [to bring about his birth].
• Luke 7:39Now when [Simon] the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, that she is a [notorious] sinner [an outcast, devoted to sin].”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:5for our good news [regarding salvation] came to you not only in word, but also in [its inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your benefit.
• 2 Peter 3:11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God],

Commentaries on James 1:24

• 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. 24forgets what he looks like: The issue is not the poor quality of an ancient mirror, but the viewer's lack of attention (see Matthew 7:24–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. beholdeth--more literally, "he contemplated himself and hath gone his way," that is, no sooner has he contemplated his image than he is gone his way (Jas 1:11). "Contemplate" answers to hearing the word: "goeth his way," to relaxing the attention after hearing--letting the mind go elsewhere, and the interest of the thing heard pass away: then forgetfulness follows [Alford] (Compare Eze 33:31). "Contemplate" here, and in Jas 1:23, implies that, though…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:24

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

In the dictionaries

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

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