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 King James Version (NKJV)So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

Context of James 1:19

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18Of his own will he hath begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21Therefore put away all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted 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

• Thereforeὥστεhōste · soG5620
• myμοῦmou · of meG3450
• belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• letἔστωestō estōsan · to beG2077
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• swiftταχύςtachus · quickG5036
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• hearἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• slowβραδύςbradus · slowG1021
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709

Cross-references for James 1:19

• Nehemiah 8:2And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
• Nehemiah 9:3And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
• Proverbs 8:32Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
• Ecclesiastes 5:1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
• Mark 2:2And immediately many were gathered together, so that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word to them.
• Mark 12:37David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and how is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
• Luke 15:1Then drew near to him all the tax collectors and sinners to hear him.
• Luke 19:48And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
• Acts 2:42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
• Acts 10:33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou hast come. Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee from God.
• Acts 13:42And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
• Acts 17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also we thank God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
• James 1:26If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
• James 3:1My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgment.
• Proverbs 10:19In the multitude of words there lacketh not sin: but he that holdeth 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