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James 4

James 4:11 KJV (With Strong’s)

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11
Speak
katalaleo (Greek #2635)
to be a traducer, i.e. to slander
KJV usage: speak against (evil of).
Pronounce: kat-al-al-eh'-o
Origin: from 2637
h not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
evil
katalaleo (Greek #2635)
to be a traducer, i.e. to slander
KJV usage: speak against (evil of).
Pronounce: kat-al-al-eh'-o
Origin: from 2637
one of another
allelon (Greek #240)
one another
KJV usage: each other, mutual, one another, (the other), (them-, your-)selves, (selves) together (sometimes with 3326 or 4314).
Pronounce: al-lay'-lone
Origin: Genitive plural from 243 reduplicated
, brethren
adephos (Greek #80)
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1)
KJV usage: brother.
Pronounce: ad-el-fos'
Origin: from 1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς (the womb)
. He that
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
speaketh evil
katalaleo (Greek #2635)
to be a traducer, i.e. to slander
KJV usage: speak against (evil of).
Pronounce: kat-al-al-eh'-o
Origin: from 2637
of
adephos (Greek #80)
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1)
KJV usage: brother.
Pronounce: ad-el-fos'
Origin: from 1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς (the womb)
his brother
adephos (Greek #80)
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1)
KJV usage: brother.
Pronounce: ad-el-fos'
Origin: from 1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς (the womb)
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
judgeth
krino (Greek #2919)
by implication, to try, condemn, punish
KJV usage: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Pronounce: kree'-no
Origin: properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially)
his
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
brother
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
adephos (Greek #80)
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1)
KJV usage: brother.
Pronounce: ad-el-fos'
Origin: from 1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς (the womb)
, speaketh evil
katalaleo (Greek #2635)
to be a traducer, i.e. to slander
KJV usage: speak against (evil of).
Pronounce: kat-al-al-eh'-o
Origin: from 2637
of the law
nomos (Greek #3551)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
KJV usage: law.
Pronounce: nom'-os
Origin: from a primary νέμω (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals)
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
judgeth
krino (Greek #2919)
by implication, to try, condemn, punish
KJV usage: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Pronounce: kree'-no
Origin: properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially)
the law
nomos (Greek #3551)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
KJV usage: law.
Pronounce: nom'-os
Origin: from a primary νέμω (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals)
: but
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
if
ei (Greek #1487)
if, whether, that, etc.
KJV usage: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537. See also 1437.
Pronounce: i
Origin: a primary particle of conditionality
thou judge
krino (Greek #2919)
by implication, to try, condemn, punish
KJV usage: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Pronounce: kree'-no
Origin: properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially)
the law
nomos (Greek #3551)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
KJV usage: law.
Pronounce: nom'-os
Origin: from a primary νέμω (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals)
, thou art
ei (Greek #1488)
thou art
KJV usage: art, be.
Pronounce: i
Origin: second person singular present of 1510
not
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
a doer
poietes (Greek #4163)
from 4160; a performer; specially, a "poet"; --doer, poet.
Pronounce: poy-ay-tace'
of the law
nomos (Greek #3551)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
KJV usage: law.
Pronounce: nom'-os
Origin: from a primary νέμω (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals)
, but
alla (Greek #235)
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
KJV usage: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
a judge
krites (Greek #2923)
a judge (genitive case or specially)
KJV usage: judge.
Pronounce: kree-tace'
Origin: from 2919
.
h
Eph. 4:31• 31Let all bitterness, and heat of passion, and wrath, and clamour, and injurious language, be removed from you, with all malice; (Eph. 4:31)
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1 Peter 2:1• 1Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)

More on:

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Brethren,
Law

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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Speak.
Psa. 140:11• 11Let not the man of evil tongue be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the man of violence to his ruin. (Psa. 140:11)
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Eph. 4:31• 31Let all bitterness, and heat of passion, and wrath, and clamour, and injurious language, be removed from you, with all malice; (Eph. 4:31)
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1 Tim. 3:11• 11The women in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (1 Tim. 3:11)
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2 Tim. 3:3• 3without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good, (2 Tim. 3:3)
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Titus 2:3• 3that the elder women in like manner be in deportment as becoming those who have to say to sacred things, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is right; (Titus 2:3)
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1 Peter 2:1• 1Laying aside therefore all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envyings and all evil speakings, (1 Peter 2:1)
and judgeth.
Matt. 7:1‑2• 1Judge not, that ye may not be judged;
 2for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. (Matt. 7:1‑2)
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Luke 6:37• 37And judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Remit, and it shall be remitted to you. (Luke 6:37)
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Rom. 2:1• 1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, every one who judgest, for in that in which thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. (Rom. 2:1)
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Rom. 14:3‑4,10‑12• 3Let not him that eats make little of him that eats not; and let not him that eats not judge him that eats: for God has received him.
 4Who art *thou* that judgest the servant of another? to his own master he stands or falls. And he shall be made to stand; for the Lord is able to make him stand.
 10But thou, why judgest thou thy brother? or again, thou, why dost thou make little of thy brother? for we shall all be placed before the judgment-seat of God.
 11For it is written, *I* live, saith the Lord, that to me shall bow every knee, and every tongue shall confess to God.
 12So then each of us shall give an account concerning himself to God. (Rom. 14:3‑4,10‑12)
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1 Cor. 4:5• 5So that do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have his praise from God. (1 Cor. 4:5)
speaketh evil of the law.
Rom. 7:7,12‑13• 7What shall we say then? is the law sin? Far be the thought. But I had not known sin, unless by law: for I had not had conscience also of lust unless the law had said, Thou shalt not lust;
 12So that the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
 13Did then that which is good become death to me? Far be the thought. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death to me by that which is good; in order that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. (Rom. 7:7,12‑13)
a doer.
James 1:22‑23,25• 22But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, beguiling yourselves.
 23For if any man be a hearer of the word and not a doer, *he* is like to a man considering his natural face in a mirror:
 25But *he* that fixes his view on the perfect law, that of liberty, and abides in it, being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, *he* shall be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22‑23,25)
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Rom. 2:13• 13(for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Rom. 2:13)
• To speak evil of others is an indirect attempt to exalt self, and is therefore the outcome of self-importance. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• According to the standard of the law, our brother, so far from being disparaged, is to be an object of love, his reputation safe at the lips of his brethren. When it is otherwise, we are not even living according to the standard of the law. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• being "doers of the law", we act as if we were above the law. We judge the law rather than allowing the law to judge us. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• No sin amongst Christians is more common than that of speaking evil against their brethren. Now those to whom James wrote were very familiar with the law and greatly reverenced its commandments, so he reminds them how distinctly the law had spoken on this very point. (“James 3” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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11
Speak not against one another, brethren. He that speaks against his brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if thou judgest the law, thou art not doer of the law, but judge.

W. Kelly Translation

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11
Speaka not against one another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, orb judgeth his brother, speaketh against law and judgeth law; but if thou judgest law, thou art not a doer of law but a judge.

WK Translation Notes

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a
In verse 11 we return to the present tense, where continuance is meant to be laid down, rather than the urgency of having it done, duration being merged. See note to 4:7.
b
The RV has the correction "or" judgeth his brother; for an evil feeling might work in this rather than in speaking against him: either was to judge the law.