There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Parallel translations
- WEB Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
- BSB There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
- 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 art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
- Rom 2:1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
- Matt 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to 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; he will save us.
- Heb 7:25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
- Jas 5:9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
- Rom 14:13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
- Job 38:2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
- Luke 12:5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
- Rom 9:20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
- 1 Sam 25:10And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
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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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