26
IfΕἴanyoneτιςthinksδοκεῖhe isεἶναιreligiousθρησκὸςwhile notμὴbridlingχαλιναγωγῶνhis tongueγλῶσσαν αὐτοῦbutἀλλὰdeceivingἀπατῶνhis heart,καρδίαν αὐτοῦthis person’sτούτουreligionἡ θρησκείαisworthless.μάταιος
James 1:26
Study it in the app“If anyone thinks he is religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
With the Greek beneath
James 1:26, word by word
- thinksδοκεῖdokei
think
To hold something as true in one's mind, rightly or not.
Where else “dokei” appears- he isεἶναιeinai
be
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “einai” appears- religiousθρησκὸςthrēskos
religious
Religious, devout in outward worship.
Where else “thrēskos” appears- bridlingχαλιναγωγῶνchalinagōgōn
bridle, restrain
Bridle, keep in check as with a bridle; restrain.
Where else “chalinagōgōn” appears- his tongueγλῶσσανglōssan
tongue
The organ of the mouth used to speak and to taste.
Where else “glōssan” appears- deceivingἀπατῶνapatōn
deceive
Deceive, make someone believe what is false.
Where else “apatōn” appears- his heartκαρδίανkardian
heart
Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
Where else “kardian” appears- religionθρησκείαthrēskeia
religion, worship
Religion, worship: the outward way of serving God.
Where else “thrēskeia” appears- worthlessμάταιοςmataios
worthless, futile
Vain, futile, worthless.
Where else “mataios” appears
The context
25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law, the law of freedom, and remains in it, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be happy in his doing.
26 · This verse (above)
27Religion pure and undefiled before God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
To study James 1 in a group
1. What it says
What does James say the testing of faith produces, and what should someone do who lacks wisdom (v. 2-5)?
2. What it means
James says it is not enough to hear the word; we must do it (v. 22-25). Why does he use the image of a mirror?
3. How I live it
James speaks of being quick to hear and slow to speak (v. 19). In what conversation today could you listen more?