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

◄ James 1:24 ►

Parallel Verses

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was.

Darby Bible Translation
for he has considered himself and is gone away, and straightway he has forgotten what he was like.

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

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:22-25 If we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell us plainly what we are. Our sins are the spots the law discovers: Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows. But in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case with those who do not hear the word as they ought. In hearing the word, we look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are, and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort. Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

24. beholdeth—more literally, "he contemplated himself and hath gone his way," that is, no sooner has he contemplated his image than he is gone his way (Jas 1:11). "Contemplate" answers to hearing the word: "goeth his way," to relaxing the attention after hearing—letting the mind go elsewhere, and the interest of the thing heard pass away: then forgetfulness follows [Alford] (Compare Eze 33:31). "Contemplate" here, and in Jas 1:23, implies that, though cursory, yet some knowledge of one's self, at least for the time, is imparted in hearing the word (1Co 14:24).

and … and—The repetition expresses hastiness joined with levity [Bengel].

forgetteth what manner of man he was—in the mirror. Forgetfulness is no excuse (Jas 1:25; 2Pe 1:9).