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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

Context of James 1:26

24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• seemδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• religiousθρησκόςthrēskos · religiousG2357
• and bridlethχαλιναγωγέωchalinagōgeō · to bridleG5468
• notμήmē · notG3361
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• tongueγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• deceivethἀπατάωapataō · to trickG538
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• this man’sοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• religionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• religionθρησκείαthrēskeia · religionG2356
• vainμάταιοςmataios · futileG3152

Cross-references for James 1:26

• Proverbs 14:12There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
• Proverbs 16:25There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
• Luke 8:18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
• Galatians 2:6As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message.
• Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
• James 1:19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
• James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
• Psalms 32:9Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
• Psalms 34:13keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
• Psalms 39:1I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.”
• Psalms 141:3Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Proverbs 10:19Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
• Proverbs 13:2From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
• Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
• Proverbs 16:10The lips of a king speak as an oracle, and his mouth does not betray justice.

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