Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.
Parallel translations
- KJV Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
- BSB Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
- NKJV Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
- NASB Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
- NLT Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!
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
Don't grumble against one another, for the Judge stands at the door. Mutual complaint under pressure invites God's judgment.
Overview
James warns suffering believers against turning impatience into grumbling against one another, lest they be judged. The image of the Judge standing at the door stresses the nearness and certainty of Christ's coming. The same expectation that gives hope also calls for self-examination and gracious patience toward fellow Christians.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Lev 19:18“‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
- 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.
- Jas 4:11Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
- Matt 24:33Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
- Gal 5:14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Matt 6:14–15“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- Gen 4:7If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
- 1 Pet 4:9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
- Matt 7:1–2“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.
- 1 Cor 10:11Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
- Mark 13:29even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors.
- 1 Pet 4:5who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
- Gal 5:26Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.
- Ps 59:15They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.
- 2 Cor 9:7Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
- Rev 3:20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.
- Mark 6:19Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,
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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 5:9 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
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