Meaning, commentary and cross references
James 1:22
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
NIV · New International Version
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
WEB · World English Bible
But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
What does James 1:22 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word,.... And they are such, who spiritually understand it; gladly receive it; and from the heart obey it, and make a sincere and ingenuous profession of it; and who submit to the ordinances it directs to, and keep them as they have been delivered; and live, and walk, becoming their profession of it. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "be ye doers of the law"; and so one of Stephens's copies, as in Romans 2:13 and not hearers only; though the word should be heard swiftly and readily, and received with meekness; yet it should not be barely heard, and assented to; but what is heard should be put in practice; and especially men should not depend upon their hearing…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on James 1:19–27
We are taught what is to be done after hearing (Jam 1:22): But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Observe here, (1.) Hearing is in order to doing; the most attentive and the most frequent hearing of the word of God will not avail us, unless we be also doers of it. If we were to hear a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in bare hearing, it would never bring us to heaven.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on James 1:22–27
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 22 Estote factores sermones, et non auditores solum, fallentes vos ipsos. 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: 23 Nam si quis auditor est sermones, et non factor, hic similis est homini consideranti faciem nativitatis suae in speculo. 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 24 Consideravit enim seipsum, et abiit, et protinus oblitus est qualis sit. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: James 1:19–25 (WEB)
19So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves. 23For 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; 24for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom and continues, not being a hearer who forgets but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Cross references
- Romans 2:13
For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
- Luke 6:46–48
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say?
- John 13:17
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
- James 4:17
To him therefore who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
- 1 John 2:3
This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments.
- Luke 11:28
But he said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
- James 2:14–20
What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?
- Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”