James 1:24
New International Version
and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

New Living Translation
You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

English Standard Version
For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

Berean Standard Bible
and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Berean Literal Bible
for he has viewed himself and has gone away, and immediately he has forgotten of what manner he was.

King James Bible
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

New King James Version
for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

New American Standard Bible
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

NASB 1995
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

NASB 1977
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

Legacy Standard Bible
for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was.

Amplified Bible
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like.

Christian Standard Bible
For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

American Standard Version
for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Contemporary English Version
and forget what they look like as soon as they leave.

English Revised Version
for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
studies his features, goes away, and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Good News Translation
They take a good look at themselves and then go away and at once forget what they look like.

International Standard Version
and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Majority Standard Bible
and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

NET Bible
For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was.

New Heart English Bible
for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and immediately forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Weymouth New Testament
Although he has looked carefully at himself, he goes away, and has immediately forgotten the sort of man he is.

World English Bible
for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for he viewed himself, and has gone away, and immediately he forgot what kind of [man] he was;

Berean Literal Bible
for he has viewed himself and has gone away, and immediately he has forgotten of what manner he was.

Young's Literal Translation
for he did view himself, and hath gone away, and immediately he did forget of what kind he was;

Smith's Literal Translation
For he observed himself, and went away, and straightway forgot of what kind he was.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and after considering himself, he went away and promptly forgot what he had seen.

New American Bible
He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.

New Revised Standard Version
for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he sees himself and goes his way, and forgets how he looked.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For he sees himself and passes by and forgets how he was.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what sort of person he is.

Godbey New Testament
for he recognized himself, and has gone away, and immediately forgot what kind he was.

Haweis New Testament
for he beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what sort of person he was.

Mace New Testament
he takes a view, turns away, and instantly loses his appearance.

Weymouth New Testament
Although he has looked carefully at himself, he goes away, and has immediately forgotten the sort of man he is.

Worrell New Testament
for he observed himself, and went away, and straightway he forgot what manner of man he was.

Worsley New Testament
who beheld himself, and went away, and immediately forgot what manner of man he was.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Hearing and Doing
23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, 24and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Matthew 7:26
But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Romans 2:13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

Luke 6:49
But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Matthew 13:20-21
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. / But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

John 13:17
If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Psalm 119:59
I considered my ways and turned my steps to Your testimonies.

Matthew 25:24-30
Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. / So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’ / ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. ...

Romans 7:9
Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.


Treasury of Scripture

For he beholds himself, and goes his way, and straightway forgets what manner of man he was.

what.

Judges 8:18
Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.

Matthew 8:27
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Luke 1:66
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Jump to Previous
Although Beholdeth Carefully Considered Forget Forgets Forgetteth Forgotten Goes Immediately Kind Looks Manner Memory Observes Once Short Sort Straightway Time Way
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Although Beholdeth Carefully Considered Forget Forgets Forgetteth Forgotten Goes Immediately Kind Looks Manner Memory Observes Once Short Sort Straightway Time Way
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.














and after observing himself
This phrase suggests a moment of self-examination, akin to looking into a mirror. In biblical times, mirrors were typically made of polished metal, offering a less clear reflection than modern glass mirrors. This metaphor implies a superficial or incomplete self-assessment. The act of observing oneself can be compared to the introspection encouraged in 2 Corinthians 13:5, where believers are urged to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. The mirror here represents the Word of God, which reveals the true nature of one's heart and actions.

goes away
The action of going away indicates a departure from the moment of reflection. This can symbolize a return to daily life without applying the insights gained from the Word. In the cultural context of the early church, there was a strong emphasis on living out one's faith through actions, as seen in James 2:17, which states that faith without works is dead. The idea of going away without change highlights the danger of being a hearer of the Word but not a doer.

and immediately forgets
The immediacy of forgetting underscores the transient nature of the reflection. This can be likened to the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:19, where the seed sown along the path is quickly snatched away by the evil one. The quickness of forgetting suggests a lack of depth in one's spiritual life, where the truths of Scripture do not take root. It serves as a warning against superficial engagement with God's Word.

what he looks like
This phrase emphasizes the loss of self-awareness and understanding. In a spiritual sense, it reflects a failure to recognize one's true identity in Christ and the areas needing transformation. The Bible often speaks of the importance of remembering God's works and commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:12, where the Israelites are cautioned not to forget the Lord who brought them out of Egypt. Forgetting one's reflection in the mirror of God's Word can lead to a life that does not reflect Christ, who is the ultimate image of God (Colossians 1:15).

Persons / Places / Events
1. James
The author of the epistle, traditionally understood to be James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations, offering practical guidance for living out their faith.

2. The Mirror
A metaphor used by James to illustrate the Word of God. Just as a mirror reflects our physical appearance, the Word reflects our spiritual state.

3. The Observer
Represents a person who hears the Word but does not act on it. This person is likened to someone who looks at their reflection and then forgets it.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Reflection
Just as a mirror reveals our physical appearance, the Word of God reveals our spiritual condition. Regular self-examination through Scripture is crucial for spiritual growth.

Avoiding Spiritual Amnesia
It's easy to forget what we learn from the Word if we don't apply it. We must be intentional about remembering and acting on God's truths.

Active Obedience
Hearing the Word is not enough; we must be doers. True faith is demonstrated through actions that align with God's commands.

Transformation Through the Word
The goal of engaging with Scripture is transformation. We should seek to be changed by what we read, allowing it to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors.

Consistency in Practice
Spiritual maturity comes from consistently applying God's Word in our daily lives. This requires discipline and commitment.(24) For he beholdeth himself . . .--Better, for he beheld himself and went his way, and straightway forgot what he was. Like the simile in James 1:11, this is described as an actual occurrence, seen and noted by the writer. There is a recognition of the well-known face, followed by instant and complete forgetfulness; and thus is it often with the mirror of the soul. In some striking sermon or book a man's self is made manifest to him, and the picture may be too familiar to cause aversion; but, whether or no, the impression fades from his mind as quickly as the echoes of the preacher's words. At the best the knowledge was only superficial, perhaps momentary; widely different from that which comes of a holy walk with God.

Verse 24. - Observe the tenses; literally, He considered (κατενόησε) himself, and has gone away (ἀπελήλυθε), and straightway forgot (ἐπελάθετο) what he was like (compare note on ver. 11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[and]
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

after observing
κατενόησεν (katenoēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2657: To take note of, perceive, consider carefully, discern, detect, make account of. From kata and noieo; to observe fully.

himself
ἑαυτὸν (heauton)
Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

goes away
ἀπελήλυθεν (apelēlythen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.

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

immediately
εὐθέως (eutheōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2112: Immediately, soon, at once. Adverb from euthus; directly, i.e. At once or soon.

forgets
ἐπελάθετο (epelatheto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1950: To forget, neglect. Middle voice from epi and lanthano; to lose out of mind; by implication, to neglect.

what he [looks] like.
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.


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NT Letters: James 1:24 For he sees himself and goes away (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 1:23
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