Go
Articles on

James 4

James 4:17 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
17
Therefore
oun (Greek #3767)
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
KJV usage: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
Pronounce: oon
Origin: apparently a primary word
q to him that knoweth
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
to do
poieo (Greek #4160)
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
KJV usage: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
Pronounce: poy-eh'-o
Origin: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary
good
kalos (Greek #2570)
properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic)
KJV usage: X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
Pronounce: kal-os'
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, 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
doeth
poieo (Greek #4160)
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
KJV usage: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
Pronounce: poy-eh'-o
Origin: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary
it 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)
, to him
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)
it is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
sin
hamartia (Greek #266)
a sin (properly abstract)
KJV usage: offence, sin(-ful).
Pronounce: ham-ar-tee'-ah
Origin: from 264
.
q
Luke 12:47• 47But that bondman who knew his own lord's will, and had not prepared himself nor done his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; (Luke 12:47)

More on:

+
Sin

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
Luke 12:47‑48• 47But that bondman who knew his own lord's will, and had not prepared himself nor done his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;
 48but he who knew it not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. And to every one to whom much has been given, much shall be required from him; and to whom men have committed much, they will ask from him the more. (Luke 12:47‑48)
;
John 9:41• 41Jesus said to them, If ye were blind ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see, your sin remains. (John 9:41)
;
John 13:17• 17If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17)
;
John 15:22• 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)
;
Rom. 1:20‑21,32• 20--for from the world's creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity,--so as to render them inexcusable.
 21Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened:
 32who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them, but have fellow delight in those who do them. (Rom. 1:20‑21,32)
;
Rom. 2:17‑23• 17But if *thou* art named a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast in God,
 18and knowest the will, and discerningly approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
 19and hast confidence that thou thyself art a leader of the blind, a light of those who are in darkness,
 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of truth in the law:
 21thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal?
 22thou that sayest man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
 23thou who boastest in law, dost thou by transgression of the law dishonour God? (Rom. 2:17‑23)
;
Rom. 7:13• 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. 7:13)
• Verse 17 is a general conclusion, founded on the principle already suggested (ch. 3:1), and on that which is said with regard to faith. The knowledge of good, without its practice, causes even the absence of the work which one could have performed to be a positive sin. (“James 4” by J.N. Darby)
• When we know what is good and yet in self-will refuse to do good, it is sin. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• Sin is not only the doing of that which is wrong: it is also the not doing of that which we know to be right. Hence to know is a great responsibility. (“James 3” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
17
To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.

W. Kelly Translation

+
17
To one therefore knowing to do a comelya [thing], and not doing [it], it is a sinb to him.

WK Translation Notes

+
a
It is not here goodness in the form of benevolence but rather what is honourably right.
b
The anarthrous form should make a difference in the reading, "To one therefore knowing how to do right, and doing [it] not, to him it is sin."