James 1 · Verse 24

James 1:24

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

James 1:24 in other translations

BSBand after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
WEBfor he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
ASVfor he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
YLTfor he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind he was;
DARBYfor he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like.
BBEFor after looking at himself he goes away, and in a short time he has no memory of what he was like.
WebsterFor he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and immediately forgetteth what manner of man he was.

What does James 1:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. beholdeth--more literally, "he contemplated himself and hath gone his way," that is, no sooner has he contemplated his image than he is gone his way (Jas 1:11). "Contemplate" answers to hearing the word: "goeth his way," to relaxing the attention after hearing--letting the mind go elsewhere, and the interest of the thing heard pass away: then forgetfulness follows [Alford] (Compare Eze 33:31). "Contemplate" here, and in Jas 1:23, implies that, though cursory, yet some knowledge of one's self, at least for the time, is imparted in hearing the word (1Co 14:24). and ... and--The repetition expresses hastiness joined with levity [Bengel]. forgetteth what manner of man he was--in the mirror. Forgetfulness is no excuse (Jas 1:25; 2Pe 1:9).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. For he beholdeth himself. While he looks in the mirror he sees his true appearance.

And goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth. As soon as he goes away, he forgets it. The apostle does not refer to any intention on his part, but to what is known to occur as a matter of fact.

What manner of man he was. How he looked; and especially if there was anything in his appearance that required correction.

(+) "straightway" or, "immediately"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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 1:24 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.

κατενόησενkatenoēsenhe has viewedG2657
γὰρgarforG1063
ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀπελήλυθενapelēluthenhas gone awayG565
καὶkaiandG2532
εὐθέωςeutheōsimmediatelyG2112
ἐπελάθετοepelathetohe has forgottenG1950
ὁποῖοςhopoioswhat likeG3697
ἦν.ēnhe was.G1510

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

Cross references for James 1:24

  • 2 Peter 3:11

    Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

  • Luke 1:66

    And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

  • Luke 7:39

    Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:5

    For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

  • Matthew 8:27

    But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

  • Judges 8:18

    Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
what.
Jud 8:18; Mt 8:27; Lu 1:66; 7:39; 1Th 1:5; 2Pe 3:11

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

Context

  • 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.

  • James 1:25

    But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Read all of James 1

James 1:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque él se consideró á sí mismo, y se fué, y luego se olvidó qué tal era.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car il s’est considéré lui-même et s’en est allé, et aussitôt il a oublié quel il était.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn er hat sich selbst betrachtet und ist weggegangen, und er hat alsbald vergessen, wie er beschaffen war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		consideravit enim se, et abiit, et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit.