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

24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the 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

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• anyoneτιςtis · oneG5100
• thinksδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• himself to be religiousθρησκόςthrēskos · religiousG2357
• bridleχαλιναγωγέωchalinagōgeō · to bridleG5468
• his tongueγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• but deceivesἀπατάωapataō · to trickG538
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• religionθρησκείαthrēskeia · religionG2356
• is worthlessμάταιοςmataios · futileG3152

Cross-references for James 1:26

• Proverbs 14:12There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.
• Proverbs 16:25There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.
• Luke 8:18So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Take care that no one deceives himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
• Galatians 2:6But from those who were of considerable repute (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism)--well, those who were of repute contributed nothing to me.
• Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
• James 1:19You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to rein in the whole body as well.
• Psalms 32:9Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.
• Psalms 34:13Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit.
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will keep watch over my ways So that I do not sin with my tongue; I will keep watch over my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.”
• Psalms 141:3Set a guard, Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Proverbs 10:19When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, But one who restrains his lips is wise.
• Proverbs 13:2From the fruit of a person’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
• Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
• Proverbs 16:10A divine verdict is on the lips of the king; His mouth should not err in 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