Bible Strands
James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — James addresses the scattered Jewish communities, and this verse pivots between being an effective doer of the word (v. 25) and the concrete definition of pure religion (v. 27). It is the hinge: before outward acts of mercy, speech must be under control.
The words — δοκεῖ (dokei) is "seems," a weaker claim than "is," and θρησκὸς (thrēskos) is the adjective form of the noun θρησκεία that appears in the clause "his religion is worthless." The pairing sets up a contrast between appearance and reality.
The thread — The demand to guard the tongue recurs in Psalms 141:3, Ephesians 4:29, and 1 Peter 3:10, each linking speech control to a broader ethic of building up or avoiding evil.
Why it lands — The verse makes the test of genuine faith immediate and self-referential: if the tongue runs free, the person is not fooling others but deceiving his own heart, and no amount of outward piety compensates.
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
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Cross-references
- Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
- Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- 1 Peter 3:10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
- Psalms 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
- Proverbs 19:1 Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
- Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
- Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- James 1:22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.