Darby Bible
James 2:4
4have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts?
James 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
- New International Version (NIV)have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
- English Standard Version (ESV)have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
- New King James Version (NKJV)have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Context of James 2:4
2for if there come unto your synagogue a man with a gold ring in splendid apparel, and a poor man also come in in vile apparel, 3and 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: have ye not made a difference among yourselves, and become judges having evil thoughts? 5Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him? 6But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals?
Read all of James 2James 2:4 word by word
καὶ οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;¶Read the interlinear
Cross-references for James 2:4
- James 1:1James, bondman of God and of [the] Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which [are] in the dispersion, greeting.
- Job 34:19[How then to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich man more than the poor? for they are all the work of his hands.
- Malachi 2:9And I also have made you contemptible and base before all the people, because ye have not kept my ways, but have respect of persons in [administering] the law.
- Job 21:27Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
- Psalms 58:1Is righteousness indeed silent? Do ye speak it? Do ye judge with equity, ye sons of men?
- Psalms 82:2How long will ye judge unrighteously, and accept the person of the wicked? Selah.
- Psalms 109:31For he standeth at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those that judge his soul.
- Matthew 7:1Judge not, that ye may not be judged;
- John 7:24Judge not according to sight, but judge righteous judgment.
Commentaries on James 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Are ye not then partial - · Do ye not make a distinction, though the case has not been heard, and the law has not decided? Judges of evil thoughts? - · Judges of evil reasonings; that is, judges who reason wickedly; who, in effect, say in your hearts, we will espouse the cause of the rich, because they can befriend us; we will neglect that of the poor, because they cannot help us, nor have they power to hurt us.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Are ye not then partial in yourselves? - Among yourselves. Do you not show that you are partial? And are become judges of evil thoughts - There has been considerable difference of opinion respecting this passage, yet the sense seems not to be difficult. There are two ideas in it: one is, that they showed by this conduct that they took it upon themselves to be judges, to pronounce on the character of men who were strangers, and on their claims to respect…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4People often focus on wealthy individuals due to their social status, political power, and potential generosity. By serving and publicly honoring the wealthy, the church could receive economic benefits. James warns that this favoritism shows evil motives, creating a divide between loyalty to God and a desire for worldly wealth (1:6; 4:4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Are ye not ... partial--literally, "Have ye not made distinctions" or "differences" (so as to prefer one to another)? So in Jude 22. in yourselves--in your minds, that is, according to your carnal inclination [Grotius]. are become judges of evil thoughts--The Greek words for "judges" and for "partial," are akin in sound and meaning. A similar translation ought therefore to be given to both. Thus, either for "judges," &c. translate, "distinguishers of…Read the comment
Topics related to James 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on James 2
- 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
- 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
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