James 1:22

James 1:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
• New International Version (NIV)Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Context of James 1:22

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. But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. 23For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. 24For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.

James 1:22 word by word

Γίνεσθε δὲ ποιηταὶ λόγου καὶ μὴ μόνον ἀκροαταὶ παραλογιζόμενοι ἑαυτούς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• ye doersποιητήςpoiētēs · doerG4163
• of the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• notμήmē · notG3361
• hearersἀκροατήςakroatēs · hearerG202
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• deceivingπαραλογίζομαιparalogizomai · to deceiveG3884
• your own selvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438

Cross-references for James 1:22

• James 4:17So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.
• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
• Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
• Matthew 28:20teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
• Luke 6:46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?
• Luke 11:28But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
• Luke 12:47That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.
• John 13:17If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Romans 2:13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.
• Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.
• Colossians 3:17And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• 1 John 2:3Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments.
• 1 John 3:7Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.
• 3 John 1:11Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.
• Revelation 22:7(Look! I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)
• James 1:26If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

Commentaries on James 1:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22But be ye doers of the word - They had heard this doctrine; they had believed it; but they had put it to no practical use. They were downright Antinomians, who put a sort of stupid, inactive faith in the place of all moral righteousness. This is sufficiently evident from the second chapter. Deceiving your own selves - ̔· Imposing on your own selves by sophistical arguments; this is the meaning of the words. They had reasoned themselves into a state of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only - Obey the gospel, and do not merely listen to it. Compare Matthew 7:21. Deceiving your own selves - It is implied here, that by merely hearing the word but not doing it, they would deceive their own souls. The nature of this deception was this, that they would imagine that that was all which was required, whereas the main thing was that they should be obedient. If a man supposes that by a mere punctual…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-25Verses 22-25 If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22Reading the scriptures was an important part of worship (Luke 4:16–17; Acts 13:13–16; Colossians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:13). Most people could not read and there were very few copies available. So, they listened to the scriptures being read aloud during public worship.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. Qualification of the precept, "Be swift to hear": "Be ye doers ... not hearers only"; not merely "Do the word," but "Be doers" systematically and continually, as if this was your regular business. James here again refers to the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 7:21-29). deceiving your own selves--by the logical fallacy (the Greek implies this) that the mere hearing is all that is needed.Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:22

• Commandments
• Doer
• Hearers
• Hypocrisy
• Obedience
• Word of God
• 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