James 1:19

James 1:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
• New International Version (NIV)My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
• New King James Version (NKJV)So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Context of James 1:19

17All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. 18By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 20For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:19 word by word

Ἴστε, ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί· ἔστω δὲ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ταχὺς εἰς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι, βραδὺς εἰς τὸ λαλῆσαι, βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Whereforeὥστεhōste · soG5620
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• let everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• swiftταχύςtachus · quickG5036
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• slowβραδύςbradus · slowG1021
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709

Cross-references for James 1:19

• Nehemiah 8:2So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)
• Nehemiah 9:3For one-fourth of the day they stood in their place and read from the book of the law of the lord their God, and for another fourth they were confessing their sins and worshiping the lord their God.
• Proverbs 8:32“So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
• Ecclesiastes 5:1Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.
• Mark 2:2So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them.
• Mark 12:37If David himself calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.
• Luke 15:1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him.
• Luke 19:48but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.
• Acts 2:42They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
• Acts 10:33Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to say to us.”
• Acts 13:42As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath.
• Acts 17:11These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.
• James 1:26If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
• James 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.
• Proverbs 10:19When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

Commentaries on James 1:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Swift to hear - Talk little and work much, is a rabbinical adage. - Pirkey Aboth, cap. i. 15. The righteous speak little, and do much; the wicked speak much, and do nothing. - Bava Metzia, fol. 87. The son of Sirach says, cap. v. 11: ͅ , ͅ . "Be swift to hear, and with deep consideration give answer." Slow to wrath - "There are four kinds of dispositions," says the Midrash hanaalam, cap. v. 11: "First, Those who are easily incensed, and easily pacified…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Wherefore, my beloved brethren - The connection is this: “since God is the only source of good; since he tempts no man; and since by his mere sovereign goodness, without any claim on our part, we have had the high honor conferred on us of being made the first-fruits of his creatures, we ought to be ready to hear his voice, to subdue all our evil passions, and to bring our souls to entire practical obedience.” The necessity of obedience, or the doctrine…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-21Verses 19-21 Instead of blaming God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to learn what he teaches by them. And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger. Here is an exhortation to lay apart, and to cast off as a filthy garment, all sinful practices. This must reach to sins of thought and affection, as well as of speech and practice; to every thing corrupt and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-27James discusses three topics from 1:2–11 and adds new insights to each. External challenges (in 1:2–4) become internal temptations (in 1:11–18). The need for wisdom (in 1:5–8) connects to controlling angry speech (in 1:19–21). Poverty and wealth relate to acting on God's word (1:22–25). This section then summarizes these ideas (1:26–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Wherefore--as your evil is of yourselves, but your good from God. However, the oldest manuscripts and versions read thus: "Ye know it (so Ep 5:5; He 12:17), my beloved brethren; BUT (consequently) let every man be swift to hear," that is, docile in receiving "the word of truth" (Jas 1:18, 21). The true method of hearing is treated in Jas 1:21-27, and Jas 2:1-26. slow to speak--(Pr 10:19; 17:27, 28; Ec 5:2). A good way of escaping one kind of…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:19

• Anger
• Commandments
• Hearers
• Humility
• Meekness
• Patience
• Prudence
• Speaking
• Word of God

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