James 1:26

James 1:26 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Context of James 1:26

24studies 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. If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless. 27Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father, is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.

James 1:26 word by word

Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ ἀλλ᾽ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• seemδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• religiousθρησκόςthrēskos · religiousG2357
• and bridlethχαλιναγωγέωchalinagōgeō · to bridleG5468
• notμήmē · notG3361
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• tongueγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• deceivethἀπατάωapataō · to trickG538
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• this man’sοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• religionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• religionθρησκείαthrēskeia · religionG2356
• vainμάταιοςmataios · futileG3152

Cross-references for James 1:26

• Proverbs 14:12There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.
• Proverbs 16:25There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.
• Luke 8:18“So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand ⌞these mysteries⌟ will be given ⌞more knowledge⌟. However, some people don’t understand ⌞these mysteries⌟. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Don’t deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise in the ways of this world, you should give up that wisdom in order to become really wise.
• Galatians 2:6Those who were recognized as important people didn’t add a single thing to my message. (What sort of people they were makes no difference to me, since God doesn’t play favorites.)
• Galatians 6:3So if any one of you thinks you’re important when you’re really not, you’re only fooling yourself.
• James 1:19Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily.
• James 3:2All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does.
• Psalms 32:9Don’t be stubborn like a horse or mule. ⌞They need⌟ a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them, or they will not come near you.”
• Psalms 34:13Keep your tongue from saying evil things and your lips from speaking deceitful things.
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will bridle my mouth while wicked people are in my presence.”
• Psalms 141:3O Lord, set a guard at my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Proverbs 10:19Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.
• Proverbs 13:2A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability, but the appetite of treacherous people ⌞craves⌟ violence.
• Proverbs 15:2The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
• Proverbs 16:10When a divine revelation is on a king’s lips, he cannot voice a wrong judgment.

Commentaries on James 1:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Seem to be religious - The words and , which we translate religious and religion, (see the next verse), are of very uncertain etymology. Suidas, under the word , which he translates , ̔ , he worships or serves the gods, accounts for the derivation thus: "It is said that Orpheus, a Thracian, instituted the mysteries (or religious rites) of the Greeks, and called the worshipping of God threskeuein, as being a Thracian invention." Whatever its derivation may…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26If any man among you seem to be religious - Pious, or devout. That is, if he does not restrain his tongue, his other evidences of religion are worthless. A man may undoubtedly have many things in his character which seem to be evidences of the existence of religion in his heart, and yet there may be some one thing that shall show that all those evidences are false. Religion is designed to produce an effect on our whole conduct; and if there is any one…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-27Verses 26-27 When men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-27bridle his tongue: James uses this image to show that controlling your tongue reflects the condition of your heart and direction of life (compare 3:1–13). orphans and widows were the most vulnerable people in ancient society. They relied on others for support because the husband and father provided economic help and social connections (Exodus 22:22–24; Deuteronomy 10:18). God calls Christians to especially care for those who are helpless (compare 1…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2726-27. An example of doing work. religious ... religion--The Greek expresses the external service or exercise of religion, "godliness" being the internal soul of it. "If any man think himself to be (so the Greek) religious, that is, observant of the offices of religion, let him know these consist not so much in outward observances, as in such acts of mercy and humble piety (Mi 6:7, 8) as visiting the fatherless, &c., and keeping one's self unspotted from…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:26

• Bridle
• Doer
• Hypocrisy
• Self-Deception
• Speaking
• Vanity
• 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