James 4:12
New International Version
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

New Living Translation
God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

English Standard Version
There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Berean Standard Bible
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Berean Literal Bible
There is one Lawgiver and Judge, the One being able to save and to destroy. But who are you judging the neighbor?

King James Bible
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

New King James Version
There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

New American Standard Bible
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor?

NASB 1995
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

NASB 1977
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

Legacy Standard Bible
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you who judge your neighbor?

Amplified Bible
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy [the one God who has the absolute power of life and death]; but who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?

Christian Standard Bible
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

American Standard Version
One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
One is he who lays down The Written Law and judgment, who is able to give life and to destroy. Who are you who are judging your neighbor?

Contemporary English Version
or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?

Douay-Rheims Bible
There is one lawgiver, and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver.

English Revised Version
One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
There is only one teacher and judge. He is able to save or destroy you. So who are you to judge your neighbor?

Good News Translation
God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?

International Standard Version
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge—the one who can save and destroy. So who are you to judge your neighbor?

Literal Standard Version
One is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; you—who are you that judges the other?

Majority Standard Bible
There is only one Lawgiver, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge the other?

New American Bible
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?

NET Bible
But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge--the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?

New Revised Standard Version
There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?

New Heart English Bible
Only one is the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Webster's Bible Translation
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Weymouth New Testament
The only real Lawgiver and Judge is He who is able to save or to destroy. Who are you to sit in judgement on your fellow man?

World English Bible
Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

Young's Literal Translation
one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; thou -- who art thou that dost judge the other?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Drawing Near to God
11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.”…

Cross References
Isaiah 33:22
For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us.

Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

James 5:9
Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!


Treasury of Scripture

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judge another?

lawgiver.

Isaiah 33:22
For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.

able.

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

who.

1 Samuel 25:10
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

Job 38:2
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Romans 2:1
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

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James 4
1. We are to strive against covetousness;
4. intemperance;
5. pride;
11. detraction and rash judgment of others;
13. and not to be boastful of our future plans.














(12) There is one lawgiver . . . .--Better thus: One is the Law-giver and Judge, Who is able to save and to destroy: but thou--who art thou that judgest a neighbour? As a king is the fountain of honour, so the ultimate source of law is God; and all judgment really is delegated by Him, just as ordinary courts represent the royal majesty: to usurp such functions is to provoke the offended sovereign--whether of earth or heaven. "It is not our part," said Bengel, "to judge, since we cannot carry out our sentence." (Comp. a parallel scripture, Romans 14:4.)

Able to save and to destroy.--Life and death, salvation and utter destruction, seem to be placed in intentional contrast here. (Comp. Matthew 10:28.) The thought of annihilation meets us with awful suggestiveness, yet let us leave the mystery for awhile in happier thought--

"That nothing walks with aimless feet;

That not one life shall be destroyed,

Or cast as rubbish to the void,

When God hath made the pile complete."

Verse 12. - To play the part of a censor is to assume the office of a judge. But this is an office which belongs to God and not to man (cf. Romans 14:3, 4). The first words of the verse should be rendered as follows: "One only is the Lawgiver and Judge:" the last words, καὶ κριτής, omitted in the Received Text, being found in א, A, B, and most versions, the Latin, Syriac, and Coptic. In the last clause also the Received Text requires correction. Read, Σὺ δὲ τίς εῖ (insert δὲ, א, A, B, L, K, Latin, Syriac, Coptic) ὁ κρίνων τὸν πλήσιον (א, A, B).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
There is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present 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.

only one
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

Lawgiver
νομοθέτης (nomothetēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3550: A law-giver, legislator. From nomos and a derivative of tithemi; a legislator.

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

Judge,
κριτής (kritēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2923: A judge, magistrate, ruler. From krino; a judge.

the [One who]
(ho)
Article - Nominative 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.

is able
δυνάμενος (dynamenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative 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.

to 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.

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

destroy.
ἀπολέσαι (apolesai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 622: From apo and the base of olethros; to destroy fully, literally or figuratively.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

who
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd 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.

you
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

to judge
κρίνων (krinōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

[your]
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.

neighbor?
πλησίον (plēsion)
Adverb
Strong's 4139: Near, nearby, a neighbor. Neuter of a derivative of pelas; close by; as noun, a neighbor, i.e. Fellow.


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NT Letters: James 4:12 Only one is the lawgiver who (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 4:11
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