James 1:26

Amplified Bible

If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religion is worthless (futile, barren).

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

King James Version (1611)
If any man among you seeme to be religious, & bridleth not his tongue, but deceiueth his owne heart, this mans religion is vaine.

King James Version
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

English Standard Version
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

New American Standard Bible
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person's religion is worthless.

New Century Version
People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

Contemporary English Version
If you think you are being religious, but can't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless.

Complete Jewish Bible
Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing.

Darby Translation
If any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain.

Easy-to-Read Version
You might think you are a very religious person. But if your tongue is out of control, you are fooling yourself. Your careless talk makes your offerings to God worthless.

Geneva Bible (1587)
If any man amog you seeme religious, and refraineth not his tongue, but deceiueth his owne heart, this mans religion is vaine.

George Lamsa Translation
If any man thinks that he ministers to God, and does not control his tongue, he deceives his own heart, and this man''s ministry is in vain.

Good News Translation
Do any of you think you are religious? If you do not control your tongue, your religion is worthless and you deceive yourself.

Lexham English Bible
If anyone thinks he is religious, although he does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Literal Translation
If anyone thinks to be religious among you, yet not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this one's religion is vain.

American Standard Version
If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.

Bible in Basic English
If a man seems to have religion and has no control over his tongue but lets himself be tricked by what is false, this man's religion is of no value.

Hebrew Names Version
If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

International Standard Version
If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives his own heart, his religion is worthless.Psalm 34:13; 39:1; 1 Peter 3:10;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And if a man thinketh that he serveth [fn] Aloha, and holdeth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, of this man his service is vain.

Murdock Translation
And if any one thinketh that he worshippeth God, and doth not restrain his tongue, but his heart deceiveth him; his worship is vain.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
If any man among you seeme to be deuout, and refrayneth not his tongue, but deceaueth his owne heart, this mans deuotion is vayne.

English Revised Version
If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.

World English Bible
If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious, while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
If any one be ever so religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Weymouth's New Testament
If a man thinks that he is scrupulously religious, although he is not curbing his tongue but is deceiving himself, his religious service is worthless.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And if ony man gessith hym silf to be religiouse, and refreyneth not his tunge, but disseyueth his herte, the religioun of him is veyn.

Update Bible Version
If any man thinks himself to be religious, while he doesn't bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.

Webster's Bible Translation
If any man among you seemeth to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

New English Translation
If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

New King James Version
If anyone among you [fn] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.

New Living Translation
If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

New Life Bible
If a person thinks he is religious, but does not keep his tongue from speaking bad things, he is fooling himself. His religion is worth nothing.

New Revised Standard
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If any thinketh he is observant of religion, not curbing his own tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this one's, religious observance is, vain:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

Revised Standard Version
If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yf eny man amonge you seme devoute and refrayne not his tonge: but deceave his awne herte this mannes devocion is in vayne

Young's Literal Translation
If any one doth think to be religious among you, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, of this one vain [is] the religion;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf eny man amonge you seme deuoute, & refrayne not his toge: but deceaue his awne herte, this mannes deuocion is in vayne.

Mace New Testament (1729)
If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion.

THE MESSAGE
Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

Simplified Cowboy Version
If someone thinks he is followin' the right trail, but shoots his mouth off at every occasion, he has lied to himself and he may be sittin' tall in the saddle, but he ain't got a horse to ride or an honest leg to stand on.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; ²⁰for the [resentful, deep-seated] anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God [that standard of behavior which He requires from us]. ²¹So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls. ²²But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God's precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. ²³For if anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like. ²⁵But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience]. ²⁶If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religion is worthless (futile, barren).²⁷Pure and unblemished religion [as it is expressed in outward acts] in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit and look after the fatherless and the widows in their distress, and to keep oneself uncontaminated by the [secular] world.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

seem: Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25, Luke 8:18, 1 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 2:6, Galatians 2:9, Galatians 6:3

bridleth: James 1:19, James 3:2-6, Psalms 32:9, Psalms 34:13, Psalms 39:1, Psalms 39:2, Psalms 141:3, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 10:31, Proverbs 13:2, Proverbs 13:3, Proverbs 15:2, Proverbs 16:10, Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 21:26, Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 4:6, 1 Peter 3:10

but: James 1:22, Deuteronomy 11:16, Isaiah 44:20, Galatians 6:3

this: James 2:20, Isaiah 1:13, Malachi 3:14, Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7, 1 Corinthians 15:2, 1 Corinthians 15:15, Galatians 3:4

Reciprocal: Job 15:5 - uttereth Job 15:13 - and lettest Job 30:11 - let loose Psalms 139:4 - there is not Proverbs 4:24 - Put Proverbs 21:23 - General Ecclesiastes 5:6 - thy mouth Romans 7:11 - deceived 1 Corinthians 15:14 - General Galatians 6:7 - not Ephesians 4:22 - deceitful Titus 1:10 - there Titus 3:3 - deceived James 3:3 - General 1 Peter 4:11 - any 1 John 1:8 - we deceive

Cross-References

Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:4
God saw that the light was good (pleasing, useful) and He affirmed and sustained it; and God separated the light [distinguishing it] from the darkness.

Genesis 1:6
And God said, "Let there be an expanse [of the sky] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters [below the expanse] from the waters [above the expanse]."

Genesis 1:8
God called the expanse [of sky] heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place [of standing, pooling together], and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.

Genesis 1:20
Then God said, "Let the waters swarm and abundantly produce living creatures, and let birds soar above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."

Genesis 1:24
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to (limited to, consistent with) their kind: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals of the earth according to their kinds"; and it was so [because He had spoken them into creation].

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Genesis 1:29
So God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;

Genesis 3:22
And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), knowing [how to distinguish between] good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take from the tree of life as well, and eat [its fruit], and live [in this fallen, sinful condition] forever"—

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If any man among you seem to be religious,.... By his preaching, or praying, and hearing, and other external duties of religion, he is constant in the observance of; and who, upon the account of these things, "thinks himself to be a religious man", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it; or is thought to be so by others:

and bridleth not his tongue; but boasts of his works, and speaks ill of his brethren; backbites them, and hurts their names and characters, by private insinuations, and public charges without any foundation; who takes no care of what he says, but gives his tongue a liberty of speaking anything, to the injury of others, and the dishonour of God, and his ways: there seems to be an allusion to

Psalms 39:1.

But deceiveth his own heart; with his show of religion, and external performances; on which he builds his hopes of salvation; of which he is confident; and so gives himself to a loose way of talking what he pleases:

this man's religion is vain; useless, and unprofitable to himself and others; all his preaching, praying, hearing, and attendance on the ordinances will be of no avail to him; and he, notwithstanding these, by his evil tongue, brings a scandal and reproach upon the ways of God, and doctrines of Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If any man among you seem to be religious - Pious, or devout. That is, if he does not restrain his tongue, his other evidences of religion are worthless. A man may undoubtedly have many things in his character which seem to be evidences of the existence of religion in his heart, and yet there may be some one thing that shall show that all those evidences are false. Religion is designed to produce an effect on our whole conduct; and if there is any one thing in reference to which it does not bring us under its control, that one thing may show that all other appearances of piety are worthless.

And bridleth not his tongue - Restrains or curbs it not, as a horse is restrained with a bridle. There may have been some reason why the apostle referred to this particular sin which is now unknown to us; or he may perhaps have intended to select this as a specimen to illustrate this idea, that if there is any one evil propensity which religion does not control, or if there is any one thing in respect to which its influence is not felt, whatever other evidences of piety there may be, this will demonstrate that all those appearances of religion are vain. For religion is designed to bring the whole man under control, and to subdue every faculty of the body and mind to its demands. If the tongue is not restrained, or if there is any unsubdued propensity to sin whatever, it proves that there is no true religion.

But deceiveth his own heart - Implying that he does deceive his heart by supposing that any evidence can prove that he is under the influence of religion if his tongue is unrestrained. Whatever love, or zeal, or orthodoxy, or gift in preaching or in prayer he may have, this one evil propensity will neutralize it all, and show that there is no true religion at heart.

This man’s religion is vain - As all religion must be which does not control all the faculties of the body and the mind. The truths, then, which are taught in this verse are:

(1) That there may be evidences of piety which seem to be very plausible or clear, but which in themselves do not prove that there is any true religion. There may be much zeal, as in the case of the Pharisees; there may be much apparent love of Christians, or much outward benevolence; there may be an uncommon gift in prayer; there may be much self-denial, as among those who withdraw from the world in monasteries or nunneries; or there may have been deep conviction for sin, and much joy at the time of the supposed conversion, and still there be no true religion. Each and all of these things may exist in the heart where there is no true religion.

(2) A single unsubdued sinful propensity neutralizes all these things, and shows that there is no true religion. If the tongue is not subdued; if any sin is indulged, it will show that the seat of the evil has not been reached, and that the soul, as such, has never been brought into subjection to the law of God. For the very essence of all the sin that there was in the soul may have been concentrated on that one propensity. Everything else which may be manifested may be accounted for on the supposition that there is no religion; this cannot be accounted for on the supposition that there is any.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. Seem to be religious — The words θρησκος and θρησκεια, which we translate religious and religion, (see the next verse,) are of very uncertain etymology. Suidas, under the word θρησκευει, which he translates θεοσεβειυπηρετειτοιςθεοις, he worships or serves the gods, accounts for the derivation thus: "It is said that Orpheus, a Thracian, instituted the mysteries (or religious rites) of the Greeks, and called the worshipping of God θρησκευειν threskeuein, as being a Thracian invention." Whatever its derivation may be, the word is used both to signify true religion, and superstition or heterodoxy. See Hesychius, and James 1:27; James 1:27.

Bridleth not his tongue — He who speaks not according to the oracles of God, whatever pretences he makes to religion, only shows, by his want of scriptural knowledge, that his religion is false, ματαιος, or empty of solid truth, profit to others, and good to himself. Such a person should bridle his tongue, put the bit in his mouth; and particularly if he be a professed teacher of religion; ho matter where he has studied, or what else he has learned, if he have not learned religion, he can never teach it. And religion is of such a nature that no man can learn it but by experience; he who does not feel the doctrine of God to be the power of God to the salvation of his soul, can neither teach religion, nor act according to its dictates, because he is an unconverted, unrenewed man. If he be old, let him retire to the desert, and pray to God for light; if he be in the prime of life, let him turn his attention to some honest calling; if he be young, let him tarry at Jericho till his beard grows.