Paragraph 1:26–27

In order to please God, a person must control his tongue, help others, and avoid sin.

1:26a

If anyone:

Some Greek manuscripts also have the phrase “among you” in 1:26. For example, the King James Version says, “If any man among you.” The majority of English versions do not include this phrase.
The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as If anyone can also be translated as “Anyone who.” The form of this Greek “if” clause indicates that James was referring to everyone who was like this. He was not uncertain whether there was anyone like this. So in some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural here. For example:

Those who
-or-
People who (New Century Version)
-or-
If you(plur)

considers himself religious: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as considers himself religious implies that the person falsely thinks that he is religious. He believes that he does things that please God, but he is wrong.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

thinks that he is religious
-or-
says that he is a religious person

religious: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as religious describes a person who seriously follows the rites and teachings of a religion. This might include prayer, worship with other people, and fasting.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

devoted to God
-or-
on God’s path
-or-
walks well with God
-or-
does God’s work/laws

1:26b

does not bridle his tongue: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as does not bridle his tongue refers to the way a person who rides a horse controls his horse with ropes or leather straps around the head. The ropes are called a bridle. (See the illustration below.) The act of controlling a horse by means of those ropes or straps is also called “bridle.” (For example, “He bridles his horse.”)

Here this word is a metaphor. James compared someone who is able to control his tongue to a horse that is bridled. They are similar in that both can be controlled. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

does not bridle his tongue (English Standard Version)

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

can’t control your tongue (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
say things they should not say (New Century Version)

his tongue: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as his tongue is also a figure of speech. It refers to “the words that a person says” with his tongue.

Some other ways to translate this figure are:

his mouth
-or-
his words
-or-
what he says

1:26c

he deceives his heart: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heart is frequently used in Greek to refer to a person’s thoughts. Some modern English versions translate this word as “himself.”

Another way to translate this phrase is:

he is fooling himself (God’s Word)
-or-
he is lying to himself
-or-
what he thinks about himself is wrong

A person deceives himself if he thinks that he is religious when, at the same time, he cannot control his tongue.

1:26d

and his religion is worthless:

In Greek, 1:26a–c is part of a complex clause that begins with “if.” This is followed by the consequence in 1:26d. The Revised Standard Version follows this grammatical structure:
^26aIf any one thinks he is religious^26band does not bridle his tongue^26cbut deceives himself,Consequence^26dthis man’s religion is vain. The New International Version (2011 Revision) and many other modern versions have transferred 1:26c (but deceives himself) to the consequence. One way to emphasize the consequence in 1:26d is to make it a separate sentence. For example, the God’s Word says:^26aIf a person thinks that he is religious^26bbut can’t control his tongue,^26che is fooling himself.^26dThat person’s religion is worthless.) The clause his religion is worthless indicates that all that he does to show that he is devoted to God is useless in God’s eyes. Another way to translate this is:

this person’s religious acts/practices are worth nothing
-or-
his religion is of no worth/use
-or-
his worship has no value

religion: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as religion refers to the worship of God or gods. It refers primarily to outward, external acts of piety or devotion.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

ceremonies to God
-or-
worship of God
-or-
piety toward God

This word also occurs in Acts 26:5.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.