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?
• 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?
• New Living Translation (NLT)doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Context of James 2:4

2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

James 2:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Are yeδιακρίνωdiakrinō · to judge/doubtG1252
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thenκαίkai · andG2532
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• are becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• judgesκριτήςkritēs · judgeG2923
• of evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190
• thoughtsδιαλογισμόςdialogismos · reasoningG1261

Cross-references for James 2:4

• James 1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
• Job 34:19who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?
• Malachi 2:9“So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”
• Job 21:27“I know full well what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
• Psalms 58:1Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?
• Psalms 82:2“How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?
• Psalms 109:31For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.
• Matthew 7:1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
• John 7:24Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

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