James 1 · Verse 20

James 1:20

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
James 1:20, King James Version

James 1:20 in other translations

BSBfor man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
WEBfor the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
ASVfor the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
YLTfor the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work;
DARBYfor man's wrath does not work God's righteousness.
BBEFor the righteousness of God does not come about by the wrath of man.
WebsterFor the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

What does James 1:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. Man's angry zeal in debating, as if jealous for the honor of God's righteousness, is far from working that which is really righteousness in God's sight. True "righteousness is sown in peace," not in wrath (Jas 3:18). The oldest and best reading means "worketh," that is, practiceth not: the received reading is "worketh," produceth not.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Does not produce in the life that righteousness which God requires. Its tendency is not to incline us to keep the law, but to break it; not to induce us to embrace the truth, but the opposite. The meaning of this passage is not that our wrath will make God either more or less righteous; but that its tendency is not to produce that upright course of life, and love of truth, which God requires. A man is never sure of doing right under the influence of excited feelings; he may do that which is in the highest sense wrong, and which he will regret all his life. The particular meaning of this passage is, that wrath in the mind of man will not have any tendency to make him righteous. It is only that candid state of mind which will lead him to embrace the truth which can be hoped to have such an effect.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 The wrath of man - A furious zeal in matters of religion is detestable in the sight of God; he will have no sacrifice that is not consumed by fire from his own altar. The zeal that made the Papists persecute and burn the Protestants, was kindled in hell. This was the wrath of man, and did not work any righteous act for God; nor was it the means of working righteousness in others; the bad fruit of a bad tree. And do they still vindicate these cruelties? Yes: for still they maintain that no faith is to be kept with heretics, and they acknowledge the inquisition.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 1:19-21

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…

Read the full comment on James 1:19-21 →

James 1:20 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.

ὀργὴorgē[the] angerG3709
γὰρgarforG1063
ἀνδρὸςandrosof manG435
δικαιοσύνηνdikaiosunēn[the] righteousnessG1343
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐργάζεται.ergazetaiworks.G2038

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

Cross references for James 1:20

  • 2 Timothy 2:24-25

    And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

  • Ephesians 4:26

    Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

  • James 3:17-18

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

  • Numbers 20:11-12

    And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3:17,18; Nu 20:11,12; 2Ti 2:24,25

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

Context

  • James 1:19

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

  • James 1:20

    For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

  • James 1:21

    Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Read all of James 1

James 1:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque la ira del hombre no obra la justicia de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car la colère de l’homme n’accomplit pas la justice de Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn eines Mannes Zorn wirkt nicht die Gerechtigkeit Gottes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ira enim viri justitiam Dei non operatur.