James 2:4

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 a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and is dressed in bright clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the bright clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters: did God not choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court?

James 2:4 word by word

καὶ οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;¶Read the interlinear

• have you not madeδιακρίνωdiakrinō · to judge/doubtG1252
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• and becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• judgesκριτήςkritēs · judgeG2923
• with evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• motivesδιαλογισμόςdialogismos · reasoningG1261

Cross-references for James 2:4

• James 1:1James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.
• Job 34:19Who shows no partiality to the prominent, Nor regards the rich as above the poor, Since they are all the work of His hands?
• Malachi 2:9“So I also have made you despised and of low reputation in the view of all the people, since you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.”
• Job 21:27“Behold, I know your thoughts, And the plots you devise against me.
• Psalms 58:1Do you indeed speak righteousness, you gods? Do you judge fairly, you sons of mankind?
• Psalms 82:2How long will you judge unjustly And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
• Psalms 109:31For He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.
• Matthew 7:1“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.
• John 7:24Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with 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

• Commandments
• Faith
• Poor
• Respect of Persons
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Convince
• Dead
• Draw
• Justify
• Offend
• Respect
• Rich
• Sister
• Papyrus
• Romans, Epistle to the

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