Tree of Life Version
James 2:4
4haven’t you made distinctions between 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 King James Version (NKJV)have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Context of James 2:4
2For if a man with a gold ring and fine clothes comes into your synagogue, and a poor person in filthy clothes also comes in; 3and you pay special attention to the one wearing the fine clothing and you say, “Sit here in a good place”; and you say to the poor person, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”; haven’t you made distinctions between yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom that He promised to those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor person. Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?
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 1:1Jacob, a slave of God and of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, To the twelve tribes in the Diaspora: Shalom!
- Job 34:19Who shows no partiality before princes, and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of His hands.
- Malachi 2:9“So I also have made you despised and lowly to all the people, because you are not keeping My ways but show favoritism in Torah.”
- Job 21:27“Behold, I know your thoughts, the schemes by which you wrong me.
- Psalms 58:1For the music director: “Do Not Destroy,” a Michtam of David.
- Psalms 82:2“How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Psalms 109:31For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who condemn his soul.
- Matthew 7:1“Stop judging, so that you may not be judged.
- John 7:24Do not judge by appearance, but judge righteously.”
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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