James 4 · Verse 12

James 4:12

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

James 4:12, King James Version

James 4:12 in other translations

BSB	There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
WEB	Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
ASV	One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?
YLT	one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; thou--who art thou that dost judge the other?
DARBY	One is the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou who judgest thy neighbour?
BBE	There is only one judge and law-giver, even he who has the power of salvation and of destruction; but who are you to be your neighbour's judge?
Webster	There is one lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

What does James 4:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

12. There is one lawgiver--The best authorities read in addition, "and judge." Translate, "There is One (alone) who is (at once) Lawgiver and Judge, (namely) He who is able to save and destroy." Implying, God alone is Lawgiver and therefore Judge, since it is He alone who can execute His judgments; our inability in this respect shows our presumption in trying to act as judges, as though we were God. who art thou, &c.--The order in the Greek is emphatic, "But (inserted in oldest manuscripts) thou, who art thou that judgest another?" How rashly arrogant in judging thy fellows, and wresting from God the office which belongs to Him over thee and THEM alike! another--The oldest authorities read, "thy neighbor."

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. There is one lawgiver. There is but one who has a right to give law. The reference here is undoubtedly to the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Legislator of the church. This, too, is a most important and vital principle, though one that has been most imperfectly understood and acted on. The tendency everywhere has been to enact other laws than those appointed by Christ--the laws of synods and councils--and to claim that Christians are bound to observe them, and should be punished if they do not. But it is a fundamental principle in Christianity that no laws are binding on the conscience, but those which Christ has ordained; and that all attempts to make other laws pertaining to religion binding on the conscience is a usurpation of his prerogatives. The church is safe while it adheres to this as a settled principle; it is not safe when it submits to any legislation in religious matters as binding the conscience.

Who is able to save and to destroy. Compare Mt 10:28. The idea here would seem to be, that he is able to save those whom you condemn, and to destroy you who pronounce a judgment on them. Or, in general, it may mean that he is intrusted with all power, and is abundantly able to administer his government; to restrain where it is necessary to restrain; to save where it is proper to save; to punish where it is just to punish. The whole matter pertaining to judgment, therefore, may be safely left in his hands; and, as he is abundantly qualified for it, we should not usurp his prerogatives.

Who art thou that judgest another? "Who art thou, a weak and frail and erring mortal, thyself accountable to that Judge, that thou shouldest interfere, and pronounce judgment on another, especially when he is doing only what that Judge permits him to do?" Rom 14:4 for this sentiment explained at length. Also Rom 2:1, and Mt 7:1. There is nothing more decidedly condemned in the Scriptures than the habit of pronouncing a judgment on the motives and conduct of others. There is nothing in which we are more liable to err, or to indulge in wrong feelings; and there is nothing which God claims more for himself as his peculiar prerogative.

(a) "who is able to save and to destroy" Mt 10:28

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 There is one lawgiver - Και κριτης, And judge, is added here by AB, about thirty others, with both the Syriac, Erpen's Arabic, the Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Slavonic, Vulgate, two copies of the Itala, Cyril of Antioch, Euthalius, Theophylact, and Cassiodorus. On this evidence Griesbach has received it into the text. The man who breaks the law, and teaches others so to do, thus in effect set himself up as a lawgiver and judge. But there is only one such lawgiver and judge - God Almighty, who is able to save all those who obey him, and able to destroy all those who trample under feet his testimonies. Who art thou that judgest another? - Who art thou who darest to usurp the office and prerogative of the supreme Judge? But what is that law of which St. James speaks? and who is this lawgiver and judge? Most critics think that the law mentioned here is the same as that which he elsewhere calls the royal law and the law of liberty, thereby meaning the Gospel; and that Christ is the person who is called the lawgiver and judge. This, however, is not clear to me. I believe James means the Jewish law; and by the lawgiver and judge, God Almighty, as acknowledged by the Jewish people. I find, or think I find, from the closest examination of this epistle, but few references to Jesus Christ or his Gospel. His Jewish creed, forms, and maxims, this writer keeps constantly in view; and it is proper he should, considering the persons to whom he wrote. Some of them were, doubtless, Christians; some of them certainly no Christians; and some of them half Christians and half Jews. The two latter descriptions are those most frequently addressed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 4:11-17

Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. Christians are brethren. And to break God's commands, is to speak evil of them, and to judge them, as if they laid too great a restraint upon us. We have the law of God, which is a rule to all; let us not presume to set up our own notions and opinions as a rule to those about us, and let us be careful that we be not condemned of the…

Read the full comment on James 4:11-17 →

James 4:12 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.

εἷςheisOneG1520

ἐστινestinthere isG1510

ὁho<the>G3588

νομοθέτηςnomothetēsLawgiverG3550

καὶkaiandG2532

κριτὴςkritēsJudgeG2923

ὁhowhoG3588

δυνάμενοςdunamenosis being ableG1410

σῶσαιsōsaito saveG4982

καὶkaiandG2532

ἀπολέσαι·apolesaito destroy;G622

σὺsuYou yourselfG4771

τίςtiswhoG5101

εἶeiareG1510

ὁhoyou who [are]G3588

κρίνωνkrinōnjudgingG2919

τὸνtontheG3588

πλησίον;¶plēsionneighbour?G4139

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

Cross references for James 4:12

Romans 14:4
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
Romans 2:1
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Isaiah 33:22
For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.
James 5:9
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans 14:13
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Romans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Job 38:2
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Luke 12:5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

lawgiver.
Isa 33:22
able.
Mt 10:28; Lu 12:5; Heb 7:25
who.
1Sa 25:10; Job 38:2; Ro 2:1; 9:20; 14:4,13

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

Context

James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
James 4:12
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
James 4:13
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Read all of James 4

James 4:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Uno es el dador de la ley, que puede salvar y perder: ¿quién eres tú que juzgas á otro?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Un seul est législateur et juge, celui qui peut sauver et détruire; mais toi, qui es-tu qui juges ton prochain?
German Elberfelder 1871	Einer ist der Gesetzgeber und Richter, der zu erretten und zu verderben vermag. Du aber, wer bist du, der du den Nächsten richtest?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Unus est legislator et judex, qui potest perdere et liberare.