James 1:21

Mace New Testament

throw off then your vices as dregs and scum: and receive with docility that genuine doctrine, which is effectual to your salvation.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
So get rid of everything evil in your lives—every kind of wrong you do. Be humble and accept God's teaching that is planted in your hearts. This teaching can save you.

Revised Standard Version
Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wherfore laye a parte all fylthynes all superfluite of maliciousnes and receave with meknes the worde yt is grafted in you which is able to save youre soules.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

New Century Version
So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God's teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.

Update Bible Version
Therefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

English Standard Version
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

World English Bible
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore laying aside all the filthiness and superfluity of wickedness, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Weymouth's New Testament
Ridding yourselves, therefore, of all that is vile and of the evil influences which prevail around you, welcome in a humble spirit the Message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For which thing caste ye awei al vnclennesse, and plentee of malice, and in myldenesse resseyue ye the word that is plauntid, that may saue youre soulis.

English Revised Version
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

Contemporary English Version
You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to save you.

Amplified Bible
So 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.

American Standard Version
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Bible in Basic English
For this reason, putting away all dirty behaviour and the overweight of evil, take into your souls without pride the word which, being planted there, is able to give you salvation.

Complete Jewish Bible
So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives.

Darby Translation
Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, accept with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

International Standard Version
Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.Acts 13:26; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:2; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 3:8; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 2:3; 1 Peter 1:9; 2:1;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Wherefore, remove from you all impurity and the abounding of wickedness, and with meekness receive the word which is engrafted in our nature, which is able to save your souls.

Murdock Translation
Wherefore, remove far from you all impurity, and the abundance of wickedness; and, with meekness, receive the word that is implanted in our nature, which is able to vivify these your souls.

King James Version (1611)
Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse, and superfluitie of naughtinesse, & receiue with meeknesse the engrafted word, which is able to saue your soules.

New Living Translation
So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

New Life Bible
Put out of your life all that is unclean and wrong. Receive with a gentle spirit the Word that was taught. It has the power to save your souls from the punishment of sin.

New Revised Standard
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore lay apart all filthinesse, and superfluitie of maliciousnesse, and receiue with meekenes the word that is graffed in you, which is able to saue your soules.

George Lamsa Translation
Wherefore cast away all filthiness, and all the multitude of evil things, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore, putting away all filthiness and overflow of baseness, in meekness, welcome ye the word fitted for inward growth, which is able to save your souls:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore, casting away all uncleanness and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore, lay apart all filthinesse, and superfluitie of maliciousnes, and receaue with mekenesse, the worde that is graffed in you, which is able to saue your soules.

Good News Translation
So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

King James Version
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore, putting aside all moral uncleanness and wicked excess, welcome with humility the implanted message which is able to save your souls.

Literal Translation
On account of this, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of evil, in meekness receive the implanted Word being able to save your souls.

Young's Literal Translation
wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore laye aparte all fylthines, all superfluite of maliciousnes, & receaue with meknes ye worde yt is grafted in you, which is able to saue youre soules.

New English Translation
So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

New King James Version
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Unload all the filth you've been carryin' around and listen to the word that can save your sorry souls.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹ Wherefore, my dear brethren, let every one be eager to hear, averse to contradiction, and deaf to passion. ²⁰ for he that is not dispassionate is a stranger to the practice of true virtue. ²¹ throw off then your vices as dregs and scum: and receive with docility that genuine doctrine, which is effectual to your salvation. ²² Don't delusively content your selves with being of the audience, but put what you hear in practice: ²³ for a bare auditor without practice is like one who sees his image form'd by a mirror: ²⁴ he takes a view, turns away, and instantly loses his appearance. ²⁵ whereas, he that attentively considers the perfect law of liberty, and is attach'd thereto, he is not a forgetful hearer, but reduces it to practice, and his conduct is crown'd with hapiness. ²⁶ If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion. ²⁷ pure and unadulterated religion, in the eye of God our father, consists in taking care of orphans and widows in their distress: and in keeping clear of the vices of the age.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lay: Isaiah 2:20, Isaiah 30:22, Ezekiel 18:31, Romans 13:12, Romans 13:13, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:5-8, Hebrews 12:1, 1 Peter 2:1, 1 Peter 2:11

filthiness: James 4:8, Ezekiel 36:25, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 5:4

and receive: Psalms 25:9, Isaiah 29:19, Isaiah 61:1, Zephaniah 2:3, Matthew 5:5, Acts 10:33, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:13

the engrafted: John 6:63, John 6:68, Romans 6:17, *marg. Romans 11:17, Hebrews 4:2

which: Acts 13:26, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 15:2, Ephesians 1:13, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Titus 2:11, Hebrews 2:3, 1 Peter 1:9

Reciprocal: Psalms 19:7 - converting Psalms 37:11 - the meek Psalms 119:9 - by taking Proverbs 4:24 - Put Proverbs 6:12 - naughty Proverbs 23:12 - General Ecclesiastes 7:17 - not Isaiah 58:2 - they ask Matthew 7:24 - whosoever Matthew 12:50 - do Matthew 13:23 - good Luke 8:11 - The seed Luke 11:28 - General Luke 13:21 - till John 5:38 - ye have John 17:17 - Sanctify Acts 8:31 - How Acts 17:11 - they received Acts 17:12 - many Colossians 3:8 - put 2 Thessalonians 2:17 - in Hebrews 8:10 - I will put James 1:18 - with James 3:13 - with meekness 1 Peter 3:4 - a meek

Cross-References

Matthew 12:40
for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly: so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness,.... All manner of filthiness, both of flesh and spirit; all pride, vanity, wrath, malice, and evil speaking, under hearing the word: the allusion seems to be to a boiling pot, which casts up scum and filth, which must be taken off: and such is the spirit of wrathful men; it throws up the filth of haughtiness and pride, of anger, wrath, and wickedness, which must be taken off, and laid aside; or the word will not be heard to any profit, or advantage:

and superfluity of naughtiness, or "malice"; the abundance and overflow of it, which arises from such an evil heart, where wrath prevails, and governs: see 1 Peter 2:1. There seems to be an allusion to the removing of the superfluous foreskin of the flesh, in circumcision, typical

of the foreskin of the heart, spoken of in Jeremiah 4:4 which the Targum, in that place, calls רשע לבכון, "the wickedness", or "naughtiness of your hearts" to be removed:

and receive with meekness the ingrafted word; which becomes so when it is received; when it is put into the heart by the Spirit of God, and is mixed with faith by them that hear it; so that it is, as it were, incorporated into them, and becomes natural to them, which before was not; and taking deep root in them, brings forth much fruit: and where it comes with power, it reduces every high thought into the obedience of Christ, and makes men meek and humble; and only such receive the truth in the love of it; and to such is the Gospel preached, Isaiah 61:1, and none but such hear it with profit and edification:

which is able to save your souls; even your whole persons, both soul and body: but the soul is only mentioned, as being the more excellent part of man: this must not be understood of the word, as if it was the author or cause of salvation, but as an instrument; it being a declaration of salvation by Christ, or what shows unto men the way of salvation by him; and is the power of God unto salvation to them, when it is attended with the energy of the Spirit, and the efficacy of divine grace. See 2 Timothy 3:15.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wherefore - In view of the fact that God has begotten us for his own service; in view of the fact that excited feeling tends only to wrong, let us lay aside all that is evil, and submit ourselves wholly to the influence of truth.

Lay apart all filthiness - The word here rendered filthiness, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, It means properly filth; and then is applied to evil conduct considered as disgusting or offensive. Sin may be contemplated as a wrong thing; as a violation of law; as evil in its nature and tendency, and therefore to be avoided; or it may be contemplated as disgusting, offensive, loathsome. To a pure mind, this is one of its most odious characteristics; for, to such a mind, sin in any form is more loathsome than the most offensive object can be to any of the senses.

And superfluity of haughtiness - Literally, “abounding of evil.” It is rendered by Doddridge, “overflowing of malignity;” by Tindal, “superfluity of maliciousness;” by Benson, “superfluity of malice;” by Bloomfield, “petulance.” The phrase “superfluity of haughtiness,” or of evil, does not exactly express the sense, as if we were only to lay aside that which abounded, or which is superfluous, though we might retain that which does not come under this description; but the object of the apostle is to express his deep abhorrence of the thing referred to by strong and emphatic language. He had just spoken of sin in one aspect, as filthy, loathsome, detestable; here he designs to express his abhorrence of it by a still more emphatic description, and he speaks of it not merely as an evil, but as an evil abounding, overflowing; an evil in the highest degree. The thing referred to had the essence of evil in it (κακία kakia); but it was not merely evil, it was evil that was aggravated, that was overflowing, that was eminent in degree (περισσείαν perisseian). The particular reference in these passages is to the reception of the truth; and the doctrine taught is, that a corrupt mind, a mind full of sensuality and wickedness, is not favorable to the reception of the truth. It is not fitted to see its beauty, to appreciate its value, to understand its just claims, or to welcome it to the soul. Purity of heart is the best preparation always for seeing the force of truth.

And receive with meekness - That is, open the mind and heart to instruction, and to the fair influence of truth. Meekness, gentleness, docility, are everywhere required in receiving the instructions of religion, as they are in obtaining knowledge of any kind. See the notes at Matthew 18:2-3.

The engrafted word - The gospel is here represented under the image of that which is implanted or engrafted from another source; by a figure that would be readily understood, for the art of engrafting is everywhere known. Sometimes the gospel is represented under the image of seed sown (Compare Mark 6:14, following); but here it is under the figure of a shoot implanted or engrafted, that produces fruit of its own, whatever may be the original character of the tree into which it is engrafted. Compare the notes at Romans 11:17. The meaning here is, that we should allow the principles of the gospel to be thus engrafted on our nature; that however crabbed or perverse our nature may be, or however bitter and vile the fruits which it might bring forth of its own accord, it might, through the engrafted word, produce the fruits of righteousness.

Which is able to save your souls - It is not, therefore, a weak and powerless thing, merely designed to show its own feebleness, and to give occasion for God to work a miracle; but it has power, and is adapted to save. Compare the notes at Romans 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 2 Timothy 3:15.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. All filthiness — πασαν ροπαριαν. This word signifies any impurity that cleaves to the body; but applied to the mind, it implies all impure and unholy affections, such as those spoken of James 1:15, which pollute the soul; in this sense it is used by the best Greek writers.

Superfluity of naughtiness — περισσειαν κακιας. The overflowing of wickedness. Perhaps there is an allusion here to the part cut off in circumcision, which was the emblem of impure desire; and to lessen that propensity, God, in his mercy, enacted this rite. Put all these evil dispositions aside, for they blind the soul, and render it incapable of receiving any good, even from that ingrafted word of God which otherwise would have saved their souls.

The ingrafted word — That doctrine which has already been planted among you, which has brought forth fruit in all them that have meekly and humbly received it, and is as powerful to save your souls as the souls of those who have already believed. I think this to be the meaning of εμφυτον λογον, the ingrafted word or doctrine. The seed of life had been sown in the land; many of them had received it to their salvation; others had partially credited it, but not so as to produce in them any saving effects. Besides, they appear to have taken up with other doctrines, from which they had got no salvation; he therefore exhorts them to receive the doctrine of Christ, which would be the means of saving them unto eternal life. And when those who were Jews, and who had been originally planted by God as altogether a right vine, received the faith of the Gospel, it is represented as being ingrafted on that right stock, the pure knowledge of the true God and his holy moral law. This indeed was a good stock on which to implant Christianity. This appears to be what the apostle means by the ingrafted word, which is able to save the soul.