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

22Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves. 23If someone listens to God’s word but doesn’t do what it says, he is like a person who looks at his face in a mirror, studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25However, the person who continues to study God’s perfect laws that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don’t merely listen and forget; they actually do what God’s laws say. 26If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless.

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 8:18He asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” They answered, “They were like you. Each one looked like a king’s son.”
• Matthew 8:27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
• Luke 1:66Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, “What does the future hold for this child?” It was clear that the Lord was with him.
• Luke 7:39The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner.”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:5We know this because the Good News we brought came to you not only with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with complete certainty. In the same way you know what kind of people we were while we were with you and the good things we did for you.
• 2 Peter 3:11All these things will be destroyed in this way. So think of the kind of holy and godly lives you must live

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