James 1 · Verse 16

James 1:16

Do not err, my beloved brethren.
James 1:16, King James Version

James 1:16 in other translations

BSBDo not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
WEBDon’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.
ASVBe not deceived, my beloved brethren.
YLTBe not led astray, my brethren beloved;
DARBYDo not err, my beloved brethren.
BBEDo not be turned from the right way, dear brothers.
WebsterDo not err, my beloved brethren.

What does James 1:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. Do not err in attributing to God temptation to evil; nay (as he proceeds to show), "every good," all that is good on earth, comes from God.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Do not err, my beloved brethren. This is said as if there were great danger of error in the point under consideration. The point on which he would guard them, seems to have been in respect to the opinion that God was the author of sin, and that the evils in the world are to be traced to him. There was great danger that they would embrace that opinion, for experience has shown that it is a danger into which men are always prone to fall. Some of the sources of this danger have been already alluded to. Jas 1:13. To meet the danger, he says that, so far is it from being true that God is the source of evil, he is in fact the author of all that is good: every good gift, and every perfect gift, (Jas 1:17,) is from him, Jas 1:18.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Do not err - By supposing that God is the author of sin, or that he impels any man to commit it.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 1:12-18

It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this world fully…

Read the full comment on James 1:12-18 →

James 1:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΜὴMēNotG3361
πλανᾶσθε,planasthedo be misled,G4105
ἀδελφοίadelphoibrothersG80
μουmouof mineG3165
ἀγαπητοί·agapētoibeloved;G27

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for James 1:16

  • James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • Galatians 6:7

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

  • Colossians 2:8

    Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

  • Hebrews 13:1

    Let brotherly love continue.

  • Colossians 2:4

    And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

  • Philippians 2:12

    Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9

    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

  • 2 Timothy 2:18

    Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

  • James 2:5

    Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

  • Philippians 4:1

    Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

  • Mark 12:24

    And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

  • Matthew 22:29

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Do.
Mt 22:29; Mr 12:24,27; Ga 6:7; Col 2:4,8; 2Ti 2:18
my.
19; 2:5; Php 2:12; 4:1; Heb 13:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • James 1:15

    Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

  • James 1:16

    Do not err, my beloved brethren.

  • James 1:17

    Every 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.

Read all of James 1

James 1:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Amados hermanos míos, no erréis.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne vous égarez pas, mes frères bien-aimés:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Irret euch nicht, meine geliebten Brüder!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nolite itaque errare, fratres mei dilectissimi.