There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Parallel translations
- WEB Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
- KJV There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
- NKJV There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
- NASB There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?
- NLT God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
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
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, who alone can save and destroy. Who are we to take his place over our neighbor?
Overview
James grounds his prohibition of judging in God's unique authority: he alone gives the law and holds power over life and death. The pointed question, who are you to judge another, exposes the arrogance of usurping God's seat. This humbles us before the true Judge and points to Christ, to whom the Father has entrusted judgment and through whom alone we are saved (John 5:22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Rom 14:4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
- Rom 2:1You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
- Matt 10:28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Isa 33:22For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.
- Heb 7:25Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Jas 5:9Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
- Rom 14:13Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
- Job 38:2“Who is this who obscures My counsel by words without knowledge?
- Luke 12:5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
- Rom 9:20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”
- 1 Sam 25:10But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.
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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.
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Original language
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