James 1:26

James 1:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
• New International Version (NIV)Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Context of James 1:26

24for once he looks at himself and goes away, he immediately forgets what sort of person he was. 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect Torah, the Torah that gives freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts—he shall be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks he is religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is futile. 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:26 word by word

Εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ ἀλλ᾽ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• seemδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• religiousθρησκόςthrēskos · religiousG2357
• and bridlethχαλιναγωγέωchalinagōgeō · to bridleG5468
• notμήmē · notG3361
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• tongueγλῶσσαglōssa · tongueG1100
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• deceivethἀπατάωapataō · to trickG538
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• this man’sοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• religionὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• religionθρησκείαthrēskeia · religionG2356
• vainμάταιοςmataios · futileG3152

Cross-references for James 1:26

• Proverbs 14:12There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
• Proverbs 16:25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
• Luke 8:18So pay attention how you listen. For whoever has, to him more will be given. And whoever does not have, even what he supposes he has will be taken away from him.”
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so he may become wise.
• Galatians 2:6But from those who seemed to be influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those influential ones added nothing to my message.
• Galatians 6:3For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is fooling himself.
• James 1:19Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger—
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
• Psalms 32:9Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding, and must be held in with bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”
• Psalms 34:13Who is the one who delights in life, and loves to see good days?
• Psalms 39:1For the music director, for Jeduthun, a psalm of David.
• Psalms 141:3Set a guard, Adonai, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips.
• Proverbs 10:19When words abound, transgression is unavoidable. but whoever restrains his lips is wise.
• Proverbs 13:2From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good things, but the treacherous crave violence.
• Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
• Proverbs 16:10An oracle is on the lips of the king— let his mouth never be treacherous in judgment.

Commentaries on James 1:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Seem to be religious - The words and , which we translate religious and religion, (see the next verse), are of very uncertain etymology. Suidas, under the word , which he translates , ̔ , he worships or serves the gods, accounts for the derivation thus: "It is said that Orpheus, a Thracian, instituted the mysteries (or religious rites) of the Greeks, and called the worshipping of God threskeuein, as being a Thracian invention." Whatever its derivation may…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26If any man among you seem to be religious - Pious, or devout. That is, if he does not restrain his tongue, his other evidences of religion are worthless. A man may undoubtedly have many things in his character which seem to be evidences of the existence of religion in his heart, and yet there may be some one thing that shall show that all those evidences are false. Religion is designed to produce an effect on our whole conduct; and if there is any one…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-27Verses 26-27 When men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-27bridle his tongue: James uses this image to show that controlling your tongue reflects the condition of your heart and direction of life (compare 3:1–13). orphans and widows were the most vulnerable people in ancient society. They relied on others for support because the husband and father provided economic help and social connections (Exodus 22:22–24; Deuteronomy 10:18). God calls Christians to especially care for those who are helpless (compare 1…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2726-27. An example of doing work. religious ... religion--The Greek expresses the external service or exercise of religion, "godliness" being the internal soul of it. "If any man think himself to be (so the Greek) religious, that is, observant of the offices of religion, let him know these consist not so much in outward observances, as in such acts of mercy and humble piety (Mi 6:7, 8) as visiting the fatherless, &c., and keeping one's self unspotted from…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:26

• Bridle
• Doer
• Hypocrisy
• Self-Deception
• Speaking
• Vanity
• Works

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