James 1:21
New International Version
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

New Living Translation
So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

English Standard Version
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore, having put aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, receive in humility the implanted word, being able to save your souls.

King James Bible
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

New King James Version
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

NASB 1995
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

NASB 1977
Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Amplified Bible
So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

American Standard Version
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Contemporary English Version
You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message planted in you to save you.

English Revised Version
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do. Humbly accept the word that God has placed in you. This word can save you.

Good News Translation
So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.

International Standard Version
Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

NET Bible
So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Weymouth New Testament
Ridding yourselves, therefore, of all that is vile and of the evil influences which prevail around you, welcome in a humble spirit the Message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

World English Bible
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for this reason, having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, receive the implanted word in meekness, that is able to save your souls;

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore, having put aside all filthiness and abounding of wickedness, receive in humility the implanted word, being able to save your souls.

Young's Literal Translation
wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;

Smith's Literal Translation
Wherefore having put away all sordid avarice, and excess of wickedness, in meekness receive the implanted word, able to save your souls.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Because of this, having cast away all uncleanness and an abundance of malice, receive with meekness the newly-grafted Word, which is able to save your souls.

New American Bible
Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Wherefore cast away all filthiness, and all the multitude of evil things, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Therefore put away from you all abomination and the multitude of evils and in humility accept the word which is planted in our nature, which is able to save these souls of yours.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness, and every excess caused by malice, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Godbey New Testament
Therefore having laid aside all filthiness and excess of evil, receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Haweis New Testament
Wherefore laying aside all vicious pollution, and the abundance of iniquity, receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which hath power to save your souls.

Mace New Testament
throw off then your vices as dregs and scum: and receive with docility that genuine doctrine, which is effectual to your salvation.

Weymouth New Testament
Ridding yourselves, therefore, of all that is vile and of the evil influences which prevail around you, welcome in a humble spirit the Message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

Worrell New Testament
Wherefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Worsley New Testament
Laying aside therefore all filthiness, and excess of malice, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hearing and Doing
20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.…

Cross References
1 Peter 2:1-2
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. / Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

Ephesians 4:22-24
to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; / to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; / and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Colossians 3:8-10
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. / Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, / and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.

Matthew 13:23
But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.”

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Psalm 119:11
I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

Proverbs 4:20-22
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. / Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. / For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

Ezekiel 18:31
Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?

Jeremiah 4:14
Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.


Treasury of Scripture

Why lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

lay.

Isaiah 2:20
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

Isaiah 30:22
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

Ezekiel 18:31
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

filthiness.

James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Ezekiel 36:25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

and receive.

Psalm 25:9
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Isaiah 29:19
The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

the engrafted.

John 6:63,68
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life…

Romans 6:17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 11:17
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

which.

Acts 13:26
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 15:2
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Jump to Previous
Able Accept Apart Behaviour Dirty Evil Filth Filthiness Humble Humbly Humility Implanted Influences Ingrafted Lay Meekness Message Moral Naughtiness Overflowing Planted Prevail Prevalent Pride Putting Rank Reason Receive Rid Salvation Save Souls Spirit Superfluity Vile Welcome Wherefore Wickedness Within Word Yourselves
Jump to Next
Able Accept Apart Behaviour Dirty Evil Filth Filthiness Humble Humbly Humility Implanted Influences Ingrafted Lay Meekness Message Moral Naughtiness Overflowing Planted Prevail Prevalent Pride Putting Rank Reason Receive Rid Salvation Save Souls Spirit Superfluity Vile Welcome Wherefore Wickedness Within Word Yourselves
James 1
1. James greets the twelve tribes among the nations;
2. exhorts to rejoice in trials and temptations;
5. to ask patience of God;
13. and in our trials not to impute our weakness, or sins, to him,
19. but rather to hearken to the word, to meditate on it, and to do thereafter.
26. Otherwise men may seem, but never be, truly religious.














Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil
This phrase calls for a decisive action to remove sin from one's life. The term "moral filth" suggests impurity and corruption, often associated with the sinful nature of humanity. In biblical context, this aligns with the call to holiness found throughout Scripture, such as in Leviticus 11:44, where God commands His people to be holy as He is holy. The phrase "every expression of evil" encompasses all forms of wickedness, echoing the comprehensive nature of sin described in Romans 3:23. The imagery of "getting rid" suggests a cleansing or purging, akin to the purification rituals in the Old Testament, which were necessary for approaching God. This reflects the need for believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).

and humbly accept the word planted in you
The call to "humbly accept" indicates a posture of submission and openness to God's instruction. Humility is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in Proverbs 3:34, which states that God gives grace to the humble. The "word planted in you" suggests the transformative power of the Gospel, which takes root in the believer's heart. This imagery of planting is reminiscent of the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, where the seed represents the word of God. The idea of the word being "planted" implies that it is meant to grow and bear fruit, as seen in John 15:5, where Jesus speaks of abiding in Him to bear much fruit. This phrase emphasizes the importance of internalizing and living out the teachings of Scripture.

which can save your souls
The phrase "which can save your souls" underscores the salvific power of the word of God. Salvation is a central theme in the New Testament, with the soul representing the eternal aspect of human existence. This aligns with the message of Romans 1:16, where the Gospel is described as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. The assurance of salvation is a cornerstone of Christian faith, as seen in John 3:16, which promises eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ. The phrase also highlights the ongoing process of sanctification, where believers are continually being saved from the power of sin, as described in Philippians 2:12-13. This reflects the transformative impact of God's word in the life of a believer, leading to ultimate redemption.

Persons / Places / Events
1. James
The author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations.

2. Jewish Christians
The primary audience of the letter, who were facing trials and temptations, and needed guidance on living out their faith.

3. The Early Church
The context in which James writes, a time when the church was growing and facing both internal and external challenges.
Teaching Points
Purity and Preparation
Believers are called to actively remove moral filth and evil from their lives. This requires self-examination and repentance.

Humility in Reception
Receiving the word with humility means acknowledging our need for God's guidance and being open to transformation.

The Power of the Word
The implanted word has the power to save souls, emphasizing the importance of Scripture in the believer's life.

Continuous Growth
Spiritual growth is a continuous process of receiving and applying God's word, leading to salvation and maturity.(21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.--So Peter (1Peter 3:21) speaks of "the filth of the flesh." But the defilement here referred to seems general and not special, common, that is, to the whole natural man. The superabundance--the overgrowth--of evil will occupy the heart, if care be not taken to root it out; and, like the thorns in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:7, et seq.), spring up and choke the good seed. All such a rank and poisonous crop must be gathered and laid aside, in caps may be, for some fiery trouble to consume, that out of the dead luxuriant weeds a richer soil for virtue may be made.

Naughtiness (ne-aughtiness, or nothingness) was used in 1611, instead of the older and more correct translation, malice or maliciousness. The badness implied in the original is much more positive than that which appears from our present version.

Receive with meekness the engrafted word.--Or, in mildness accept ye this word of truth (see James 1:18, above), engrafted, like a good olive tree, or rather implanted, in you. The term is peculiar to this place, and means "innate" in its first intention. If taken so, "the innate Word" will be Christ Himself formed within us. (Comp. Galatians 4:19.)

Able to save your souls.--In like manner Paul at Miletus commends the elders of Ephesus "to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32). Observe, the idea of salvation thus conveyed by the implanted word, is so potentially and not actually. Tended and cultured, it will grow into a tree of life, the fruit whereof may heal the wounds of sin; but the after-growth of this plant of God is largely in the hands of man. . . .

Verse 21. - With the form of expression in this verse, comp. 1 Peter 2:1, "Putting away, therefore, all wickedness (ἀποθέμενοι οῦν πᾶσαν κακίαν), and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes long for the spiritual milk," etc. Filthiness (ῤυπαρὶαν). Here only in the New Testament, never in LXX.; but the adjective ῤυπαρός is the word used of the "filthy garments" in Zechariah 3:3, 4 - a narrative which illustrates the passage before us. Karts is not vice in general, but rather that vicious nature which is bent on doing harm to others (see Lightfoot on Colossians 3:8). Thus the two words ῤυπαρία and κακία comprise two classes of sins - the sensual and the malignant, Engrafted; rather, implanted. The word is only found again in Wisd. 12:10, where it signifies "inborn." St. James's teaching here is almost like a reminiscence of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3, etc.). The "implanted Word" is the gospel teaching. "The seed is the Word of God" (Luke 8:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Therefore,
διὸ (dio)
Conjunction
Strong's 1352: Wherefore, on which account, therefore. From dia and hos; through which thing, i.e. Consequently.

get rid
ἀποθέμενοι (apothemenoi)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 659: To lay off or aside, renounce, stow away, put. From apo and tithemi; to put away.

of all
πᾶσαν (pasan)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

moral filth
ῥυπαρίαν (rhyparian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4507: Filth, pollution, defilement. From rhuparos; dirtiness.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[every] expression
περισσείαν (perisseian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4050: Abundance, superfluity. From perisseuo; surplusage, i.e. Superabundance.

of evil,
κακίας (kakias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2549: From kakos; badness, i.e. depravity, or malignity, or trouble.

[and] humbly
πραΰτητι (prautēti)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4240: Mildness, gentleness. From praus; mildness, i.e. humility.

receive
δέξασθε (dexasthe)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1209: To take, receive, accept, welcome. Middle voice of a primary verb; to receive.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

planted [in you],
ἔμφυτον (emphyton)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1721: Inborn, ingrown, congenital, natural, rooted, implanted. From en and a derivative of phuo; implanted.

which
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

can
δυνάμενον (dynamenon)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

save
σῶσαι (sōsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

souls.
ψυχὰς (psychas)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.


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NT Letters: James 1:21 Therefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 1:20
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