New King James Version
James 2:4
4have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
James 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
- New International Version (NIV)have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
- English Standard Version (ESV)have you not then made distinctions 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
2For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?
Read all of James 2James 2:4 word by word
καὶ οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for James 2:4
- James 1:1James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
- Job 34:19Yet He is not partial to princes, Nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands.
- Malachi 2:9“Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law.”
- Job 21:27“Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me.
- Psalms 58:1Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
- Psalms 82:2How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Psalms 109:31For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, To save him from those who condemn him.
- Matthew 7:1“Judge not, that you be not judged.
- John 7:24Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries