ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

James 1.19-20

Book: James · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning. 18. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

"19. Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

"21. Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves." (James 1:17-22, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 18. Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

"19. So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; 20. for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God."

"21. Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves." (James 1:17-22, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

"19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."

"21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:17-22, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"17. every good giving, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning; 18. having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures."

"19. So then, my brethren beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20. for the wrath of a man the righteousness of God doth not work;"

"21. wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls; 22. and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves," (James 1:17-22, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: James the Just (the brother of Jesus, head of Jerusalem church)
  • Audience: Jewish Christians in the dispersion
  • Location: Jerusalem (composition)
  • Time period: composed c. AD 45-49 (likely the earliest NT book)

Theological reading

Key words

Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.