Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t be deceived, my beloved brothers.
- BSB Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
- NKJV Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
- NASB Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters.
- NLT So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
James lovingly warns his readers not to be deceived about God's character. We must not let sin's lie distort our view of the good God.
Overview
This brief, affectionate appeal acts as a hinge, cautioning against the deception that God is the source of evil or that He withholds good. "My beloved brothers" signals James's pastoral warmth even as he corrects. The verse prepares for the great affirmation of God's unchanging goodness that follows.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Jas 1:19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- Gal 6:7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
- Col 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
- Col 2:4And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
- Phil 2:12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
- Heb 13:1Let brotherly love continue.
- 2 Tim 2:18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
- Phil 4:1Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
- 1 Cor 6:9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
- Jas 2:5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
- Mark 12:24And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
- Matt 22:29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
- Mark 12:27He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
How James 1:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.