James 1 · Verse 22

James 1:22

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

James 1:22, King James Version

James 1:22 in other translations

BSB	Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
WEB	But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
ASV	But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
YLT	and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,
DARBY	But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.
BBE	But be doers of the word, and not only hearers of it, blinding yourselves with false ideas.
Webster	But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

What does James 1:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

22. Qualification of the precept, "Be swift to hear": "Be ye doers ... not hearers only"; not merely "Do the word," but "Be doers" systematically and continually, as if this was your regular business. James here again refers to the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 7:21-29). deceiving your own selves--by the logical fallacy (the Greek implies this) that the mere hearing is all that is needed.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only. Obey the gospel, and do not merely listen to it. Compare Mt 7:21.

Deceiving your own selves. It is implied here, that by merely hearing the word but not doing it, they would deceive their own souls. The nature of this deception was this, that they would imagine that that was all which was required, whereas the main thing was that they should be obedient. If a man supposes that by a mere punctual attendance on preaching, or a respectful attention to it, he has done all that is required of him, he is labouring under a most gross self- deception. And yet there are multitudes who seem to imagine that they have done all that is demanded of them when they have heard attentively the word preached. Of its influence on their lives, and its claims to obedience, they are utterly regardless.

(a) "doers of the word" Mt 7:21

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 22 But be ye doers of the word - They had heard this doctrine; they had believed it; but they had put it to no practical use. They were downright Antinomians, who put a sort of stupid, inactive faith in the place of all moral righteousness. This is sufficiently evident from the second chapter. Deceiving your own selves - Παραλογιζομενοι ἑαυτους· Imposing on your own selves by sophistical arguments; this is the meaning of the words. They had reasoned themselves into a state of carnal security, and the object of St. James is, to awake them out of their sleep.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 1:22-25

If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell us plainly what we are. Our sins are the spots the law discovers: Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows. But in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case with those who do not hear the word as they ought. In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort. Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

James 1:22 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.

ΓίνεσθεGinesthedo beG1096

δὲdehoweverG1161

ποιηταὶpoiētaidoersG4163

λόγουlogouof [the] wordG3056

καὶkaiandG2532

μὴmēnotG3361

μόνονmonononlyG3441

ἀκροαταὶakroataihearersG202

παραλογιζόμενοιparalogizomenoideceivingG3884

ἑαυτούς.he'autousyourselves.G1438

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

Cross references for James 1:22

Romans 2:13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Luke 6:46-48
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
John 13:17
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 John 2:3
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
Luke 11:28
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
James 2:14-20
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. …
Matthew 12:50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Matthew 7:21-27
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: …
James 1:26
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.
Revelation 22:7
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

be.
4:17; Mt 7:21-25; 12:50; 28:20; Lu 6:46-48; 11:28; 12:47,48
Joh 13:17; Ro 2:13; Php 4:8; Col 3:17; 1Jo 2:3; 3:7; 3Jo 1:11; Re 22:7
deceiving.
26; Isa 44:20; Ob 1:3; 1Co 3:18; 6:9; 15:33; Ga 6:3,7; 2Ti 3:13
Tit 3:3; 2Pe 2:13; 1Jo 1:8; Re 12:9

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

Context

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.
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:23
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

Read all of James 1

James 1:22 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas sed hacedores de la palabra, y no tan solamente oidores, engañándoos á vosotros mismos.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais mettez la parole en pratique, et ne l’écoutez pas seulement, vous séduisant vous-mêmes.
German Elberfelder 1871	Seid aber Täter des Wortes und nicht allein Hörer, die sich selbst betrügen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Estote autem factores verbi, et non auditores tantum: fallentes vosmetipsos.