and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Parallel translations
- WEB for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
- KJV For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
- NKJV for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
- NASB for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
- NLT You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
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
Such a man looks, walks away, and immediately forgets what he saw. The hearer-only quickly loses sight of what God's word revealed.
Overview
Continuing the mirror image, James describes how the careless hearer promptly forgets what God's word showed him about himself. The fault is not in the mirror but in the forgetful, unresponsive heart. Genuine reception of Scripture leaves a lasting, transforming impression rather than a fleeting impression.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Pet 3:11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
- Luke 7:39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
- Luke 1:66And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
- Judg 8:18Next, Gideon asked Zebah and Zalmunna, “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” “Men like you,” they answered, “each one resembling the son of a king.”
- 1 Th 1:5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- Matt 8:27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
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 1:24 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.