James 4:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →To slander and judge a brother is to set oneself above the law rather than obey it.
What Does James 4:11 Mean?
James returns to the tongue with a specific charge: do not speak evil of one another. The one who slanders and judges a brother, he says, in effect speaks against the law and judges the law itself, the royal law of love for the neighbor.
To condemn a brother in this way is to step out from under the law and set oneself above it, becoming its judge rather than its doer. The law commands love; the slanderer, by his contempt, declares the law not worth keeping. James exposes the pride hidden in a censorious tongue. The reader is meant to be a doer of the law of love, not a self-appointed judge of others. To slander a brother is to abandon obedience for the seat of judgment, which belongs to God alone.
James 4:11 in the Original Language
katalaleo (καταλαλέω), 'speak evil' -- to slander, to speak against another.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 4:11
What does James 4:11 mean?
To slander and judge a brother is to set oneself above the law rather than obey it.