James 2:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Such favoritism makes one a divided, partial judge ruled by evil motives.
What Does James 2:4 Mean?
James presses the conscience with a question. In showing such partiality, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? The favoritism is not a harmless preference; it is an act of judgment driven by wrong motives.
To prize the rich and despise the poor is to set oneself up as a judge of human worth using a corrupt standard. The judgment is evil because it values what God does not value and dishonors what He honors. James wants the reader to recognize the seriousness of what looked like mere etiquette. Behind the seating arrangement lies a heart that has begun to judge by the flesh, and that heart needs the correction his question delivers.
James 2:4 in the Original Language
diakrino (διακρίνω), 'partial' -- to make distinctions or divisions, here drawing lines between persons.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 2:4
What does James 2:4 mean?
Such favoritism makes one a divided, partial judge ruled by evil motives.