Bible Strands
James 1:21
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 Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — James, writing to Jewish Christians scattered across the diaspora, pivots from the danger of uncontrolled anger (1:20) to the positive response they owe the word of God.
The words — Rhuparian (filthiness) is a rare term, used only here in the New Testament, carrying the sense of moral contamination rather than mere dirt. Perisseian (excess) is a commercial word for surplus or profit, here applied to wickedness as an overabundance that must be discarded.
The thread — The "put off" language echoes Ephesians 4:22 (shedding the old self corrupted by deceitful desires); the word that saves recalls Ephesians 1:13 (the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation); and the soul-endangering force of unrepentant desire appears in 1 Peter 2:11.
Why it lands — The verse demands two active moves: removal of what corrupts and humble reception of what is already planted in the reader. It is not a call to acquire new information but to clear the ground and let what is already there do its saving work.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Cross-references
- Ephesians 4:22 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
- Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.
- John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Psalms 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- 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 Peter 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- 2 Timothy 3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.