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 Living Translation (NLT)Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Context of James 1:19

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, 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 of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month.
• Nehemiah 9:3And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for one–fourth of the day; and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the Lord their God.
• Proverbs 8:32“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
• Ecclesiastes 5:1Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
• Mark 2:2Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
• Mark 12:37Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly.
• Luke 15:1Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.
• Luke 19:48and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.
• Acts 2:42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
• Acts 10:33So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
• Acts 13:42So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
• Acts 17:11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
• James 1:26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
• James 3:1My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
• Proverbs 10:19In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips 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