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James 4

James 4:17 KJV (With Strong’s)

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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
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q
Luke 12:47• 47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:47)

More on:

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Sin

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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Luke 12:47‑48• 47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47‑48)
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John 9:41• 41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. (John 9:41)
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John 13:17• 17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17)
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John 15:22• 22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. (John 15:22)
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Rom. 1:20‑21,32• 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Rom. 1:20‑21,32)
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Rom. 2:17‑23• 17Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
 18And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
 19And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
 20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
 21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
 22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
 23Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God? (Rom. 2:17‑23)
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Rom. 7:13• 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; 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

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

W. Kelly Translation

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

WK Translation Notes

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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."