the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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New Living Translation
James 4:12
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
God is the one who gave us the law, and he is the Judge. He is the only one who can save and destroy. So it is not right for you to judge anyone.
There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor?
Ther is one lawe gever which is able to save and to distroye. What art thou that iudgest another man?
Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?
God is the only Lawmaker and Judge. He is the only One who can save and destroy. So it is not right for you to judge your neighbor.
There is [only] one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy: but who are you that judge your neighbor?
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
There is one lawgiver that is able to save and to destroy: Who art thou that judgest another?
The only real Lawgiver and Judge is He who is able to save or to destroy. Who are you to sit in judgement on your fellow man?
But oon is makere of the lawe, and iuge, that may lese, and delyuere.
One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy [the one God who has the absolute power of life and death]; but who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?
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?
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?
There is but one Giver of Torah; he is also the Judge, with the power to deliver and to destroy. Who do you think you are, judging your fellow human being?
One is the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy: but who art *thou* who judgest thy neighbour?
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge - the one who can save and destroy. So who are you to judge your neighbor?Matthew 10:28; Romans 14:4,13;">[xr]
For one is the appointer [fn] of the law and the Judge, who can save and destroy. But thou, who art thou, who judgest thy neighbour ?
There is one Law-giver and Judge, who can make alive, and [fn] destroy: but who art thou, that thou judgest thy neighbor?
There is one Lawgiuer, who is able to saue, and to destroy: who art thou that iudgest another?
Only God can say what is right or wrong. He made the Law. He can save or put to death. How can we say if our brother is right or wrong?
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?
There is one Lawgiuer, which is able to saue, and to destroy. Who art thou that iudgest another man?
For there is one lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you to judge your neighbor?
One, is Lawgiver and Judge - He who hath power to save and to destroy; but who art, thou, that judgest thy neighbour?
There is one lawgiver and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver.
There is one lawe geuer, which is able to saue and to destroy. What art thou that iudgest another?
God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
One is the Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you who judges another?
one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; thou -- who art thou that dost judge the other?
There is one lawe geuer, which is able to saue and to distroye. What art thou that iudgest another man?
there is but one legislator, and judge, he that has the power of life and death: who art thou, to pass sentence upon another?
But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge—the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?
There is one Lawgiver, [fn] who is able to save and to destroy. Who [fn] are you to judge another? [fn]
There is only One cowboy whose word is true and he is able to save or destroy. So let's just ask the question, who do you think you are?
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
lawgiver: Isaiah 33:22
able: Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5, Hebrews 7:25
who: 1 Samuel 25:10, Job 38:2, Romans 2:1, Romans 9:20, Romans 14:4, Romans 14:13
Reciprocal: Numbers 21:18 - the lawgiver Deuteronomy 32:4 - all his Job 19:29 - that ye may Matthew 7:1 - General Luke 6:37 - Judge Ephesians 3:20 - able
Cross-References
When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord .
Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!"
Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son.
Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
One day Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; listen to me, you wives of Lamech. I have killed a man who attacked me, a young man who wounded me.
If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!"
All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit.
"And for those of you who survive, I will demoralize you in the land of your enemies. You will live in such fear that the sound of a leaf driven by the wind will send you fleeing. You will run as though fleeing from a sword, and you will fall even when no one pursues you.
May his children wander as beggars and be driven from their ruined homes.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
There is one lawgiver,.... The Alexandrian copy, and others, and the Syriac, Ethiopic, and Vulgate Latin versions, add, "and judge". Who is the one only Lord God, Isaiah 33:22. This is a character that may be applied to God the Father, who gave the law to the people of Israel, both the judicial and ceremonial law, and also the moral law; from his right hand went a fiery law, and to him belongs the giving of it; and also to the Son of God, the Lord Jesus who is King of saints, and lawgiver in his house; who has given out commandments to be observed, and laws of discipline for the right ordering of his house, and kingdom, to be regarded; and particularly the new commandment of love, which is eminently called the law of Christ; and which is most apparently broke, by detraction and speaking evil one of another: now there may be inferior and subordinate lawgivers, as Judah is said to be God's lawgiver, and Moses is said to command the Jews a law; yet there is but one supreme, universal, and perfect lawgiver, who is God; and though there may be many lawgivers in things political, whose legislative power is to be obeyed, both for the Lord's sake, and for conscience sake; yet in things religious, and relating to conscience, God is the only lawgiver, who is to be hearkened unto:
who is able to save, and to destroy; this is true of God the Father, who is able to save, and does save by his Son Jesus Christ, and even persons that have broken the law he has given, and are liable to the curse and condemnation of it; and he is able to save them according to that law, in perfect consistence with it, and with his justice and holiness, since Christ, by whom he saves, was made under it, and has fulfilled it; and that Christ is mighty to save, able to save to the uttermost, is certain from the Scripture, and all experience; and God, the lawgiver, is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, for the transgressions of his law; and even Christ the Lamb is also the lion of the tribe of Judah, who will break his enemies in pieces, as a potter's vessel, and punish the contemners of his Gospel with everlasting destruction, from his presence and glory: in a word, God, the lawgiver, is sovereign, and can destroy, or save, whom he pleases; he is able to save the brother that is spoken against, and to destroy him that speaks against him:
who art thou that judgest another? another man's servant, as in
Romans 14:4 or "thy neighbour", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read; or "the neighbour", as the Alexandrian copy, and the Vulgate Latin version; that is, any brother, friend, or neighbour, in the manner as before observed in the preceding verse.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
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 Matthew 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?” See this sentiment explained at length in the notes at Romans 14:4. Compare the Romans 2:1 note, and Matthew 7:1 note. 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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
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, AEthiopic, 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.
