God’s Word Translation
James 2:4
4Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments?
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 example, two men come to your worship service. One man is wearing gold rings and fine clothes; the other man, who is poor, is wearing shabby clothes. 3Suppose you give special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say to him, “Please have a seat.” But you say to the poor man, “Stand over there,” or “Sit on the floor at my feet.” Aren’t you discriminating against people and using a corrupt standard to make judgments? 5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Didn’t God choose poor people in the world to become rich in faith and to receive the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? 6Yet, you show no respect to poor people. Don’t rich people oppress you and drag you into court?
Read all of James 2James 2:4 word by word
καὶ οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for James 2:4
- James 1:1From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To God’s faithful people who have been scattered. Greetings.
- Job 34:19The one who is righteous and mighty does not grant special favors to princes or prefer important people over poor people because his hands made them all.
- Malachi 2:9“So I have made you disgusting, and I have humiliated you in front of all the people, because you have not followed my ways. You have been unfair when ⌞applying⌟ my teachings.”
- Job 21:27“You see, I know your thoughts and the schemes you plot against me
- Psalms 58:1Do you rulers really give fair verdicts? Do you judge Adam’s descendants fairly?
- Psalms 82:2“How long are you going to judge unfairly? How long are you going to side with wicked people?” Selah
- Psalms 109:31because he stands beside needy people to save them from those who would condemn them to death.
- Matthew 7:1“Stop judging so that you will not be judged.
- John 7:24Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly.”
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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