New King James Version
James 1:25
25But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
- New International Version (NIV)But 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Context of James 1:25
23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 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. 27Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Read all of James 1James 1:25 word by word
ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας καὶ παραμείνας, οὐκ ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς γενόμενος ἀλλὰ ποιητὴς ἔργου, οὗτος μακάριος ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ ἔσται.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- whoso lookethπαρακύπτωparakuptō · to stoopG3879
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
- lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- of libertyἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- continuethπαραμένωparamenō · to continueG3887
- heοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- beingγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- notοὐou · noG3756
- a forgetfulἐπιλησμονήepilēsmonē · forgetfulnessG1953
- hearerἀκροατήςakroatēs · hearerG202
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- a doerποιητήςpoiētēs · doerG4163
- of the workἔργονergon · workG2041
- shall beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- blessedμακάριοςmakarios · blessedG3107
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- deedποίησιςpoiēsis · he didG4162
Cross-references for James 1:25
- Proverbs 14:15The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.
- Isaiah 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
- Hebrews 12:15looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
- James 2:12So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
- Psalms 19:7The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
- Psalms 119:32I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart.
- Romans 7:12Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
- John 8:32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
- Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
- Galatians 5:1Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
- 1 Peter 2:16as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
- 1 Samuel 12:14If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God.
- John 8:31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
- John 15:9“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
Commentaries on James 1:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law - The word , which we translate looketh into, is very emphatic, and signifies that deep and attentive consideration given to a thing or subject which a man cannot bring up to his eyes, and therefore must bend his back and neck, stooping down, that he may see it to the greater advantage. The law of liberty must mean the Gospel; it is a law, for it imposes obligations from God, and prescribes a rule of life; and it…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25But whoso looketh - ( ́ parakupsas). This word means, to stoop down near by anything; to bend forward near, so as to look at anything more closely. See the word explained in the notes at 1 Peter 1:12. The idea here is that of a close and attentive observation. The object is not to contrast the manner of looking in the glass, and in the law of liberty, implying that the former was a “careless beholding,” and the latter an attentive and careful looking, as…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. 25God's word gives us new life and salvation (1:18, 21). But it also requires us to follow its teachings (1:22–25).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. looketh into--literally, "stoopeth down to take a close look into." Peers into: stronger than "beholdeth," or "contemplated," Jas 1:24. A blessed curiosity if it be efficacious in bearing fruit [Bengel]. perfect law of liberty--the Gospel rule of life, perfect and perfecting (as shown in the Sermon on the Mount, Mt 5:48), and making us truly walk at liberty (Psa 119:32, Church of England Prayer Book Version). Christians are to aim at a higher standard…Read the comment
Topics related to James 1:25
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries