James 1 · Verse 23

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:

James 1:23, King James Version

James 1:23 in other translations

BSB	For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,
WEB	For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a mirror;
ASV	For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:
YLT	because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,
DARBY	For if any man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:
BBE	Because if any man is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his natural face in a glass;
Webster	For if any is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

What does James 1:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

23. For--the logical self-deceit (Jas 1:22) illustrated. not a doer--more literally, "a notdoer" [Alford]. The true disciple, say the rabbis, learns in order that he may do, not in order that he may merely know or teach. his natural face--literally, "the countenance of his birth": the face he was born with. As a man may behold his natural face in a mirror, so the hearer may perceive his moral visage in God's Word. This faithful portraiture of man's soul in Scripture, is the strongest proof of the truth of the latter. In it, too, we see mirrored God's glory, as well as our natural vileness.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 23. For if any be, etc. The ground of the comparison in these verses is obvious. The apostle refers to what all persons experience, the fact that we do not retain a distinct impression of ourselves after we have looked in a mirror. While actually looking in the mirror, we see all our features, and can trace them distinctly; when we turn away, the image and the impression both vanish. When looking in the mirror, we can see all the defects and blemishes of our person; if there is a scar, a deformity, a feature of ugliness, it is distinctly before the mind; but when we turn away, that is "out of sight, and out of mind." When unseen it gives no uneasiness, and, even if capable of correction, we take no pains to remove it. So when we hear the word of God. It is like a mirror held up before us. In the perfect precepts of the law, and the perfect requirements of the gospel, we see our own short-comings and defects, and perhaps think that we will correct them. But we turn away immediately, and forget it all. If, however, we were "doers of the word," we should endeavour to remove all those defects and blemishes in our moral character, and to bring our whole souls into conformity with what the law and the gospel require. The phrase "natural face," (Gr., face of birth,) means, the face or appearance which we have in virtue of our natural birth. The word glass here means mirror. Glass was not commonly used for mirrors among the ancients, but they were made of polished plates of metal. Isa 3:24, and Job 37:18.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 23 Beholding his natural face in a glass - This metaphor is very simple, but very expressive. A man wishes to see his own face, and how, in its natural state, it appears; for this purpose he looks into a mirror, by which his real face, with all its blemishes and imperfections, is exhibited. He is affected with his own appearance; he sees deformities that might be remedied; spots, superfluities, and impurities, that might be removed. While he continues to look into the mirror he is affected, and wishes himself different to what he appears, and forms purposes of doing what he can to render his countenance agreeable. On going away he soon forgets what manner of person he was, because the mirror is now removed, and his face is no longer reflected to himself; and he no longer recollects how disagreeable he appeared, and his own resolutions of improving his countenance. The doctrines of God, faithfully preached, are such a mirror; he who hears cannot help discovering his own character, and being affected with his own deformity; he sorrows, and purposes amendment; but when the preaching is over, the mirror is removed, and not being careful to examine the records of his salvation, the perfect law of liberty, Jam 1:25, or not continuing to look therein, he soon forgets what manner of man he was; or, reposing some unscriptural trust in God's mercy, he reasons himself out of the necessity of repentance and amendment of life, and thus deceives his soul.

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…

Read the full comment on James 1:22-25 →

James 1:23 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.

ὅτιhotibecauseG3754

εἴeiifG1487

τιςtisanyoneG5100

ἀκροατὴςakroatēsa hearerG202

λόγουlogouof [the] wordG3056

ἐστὶνestinisG1510

καὶkaiandG2532

οὐounotG3756

ποιητής,poiētēsa doer,G4163

οὗτοςhoutosthis oneG3778

ἔοικενeoikenhas been likenedG1503

ἀνδρὶandrito a manG435

κατανοοῦντιkatanoountilookingG2657

τὸtoat theG3588

πρόσωπονprosōponfaceG4383

τῆςtēstheG3588

γενέσεωςgeneseōsnaturalG1078

αὐτοῦautouof himG846

ἐνeninG1722

ἐσόπτρῳ·esoptrōa mirror;G2072

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

Cross references for James 1:23

Matthew 7:26-27
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
James 2:14-26
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. …
Ezekiel 33:31-32
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
Luke 6:47
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Jeremiah 44:16
As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2:14-26; Jer 44:16; Eze 33:31,32; Mt 7:26,27; Lu 6:47-7:16

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

Context

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:
James 1:24
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Read all of James 1

James 1:23 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Porque si alguno oye la palabra, y no la pone por obra, este tal es semejante al hombre que considera en un espejo su rostro natural.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Car si quelqu’un écoute la parole et ne la met pas en pratique, il est semblable à un homme qui considère sa face naturelle dans un miroir;
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn wenn jemand ein Hörer des Wortes ist und nicht ein Täter, der ist einem Manne gleich, welcher sein natürliches Angesicht in einem Spiegel betrachtet.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Quia si quis auditor est verbi, et non factor, hic comparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suæ in speculo: