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?
• 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 King James Version (NKJV)have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Context of James 2:4

2For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? 5Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag 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 1:1This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!
• Job 34:19He doesn’t care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.
• Malachi 2:9“So I have made you despised and humiliated in the eyes of all the people. For you have not obeyed me but have shown favoritism in the way you carry out my instructions.”
• Job 21:27“Look, I know what you’re thinking. I know the schemes you plot against me.
• Psalms 58:1Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?
• Psalms 82:2“How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? Interlude
• Psalms 109:31For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.
• Matthew 7:1“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.
• John 7:24Look beneath the surface so you can 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