Bible Strands
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!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — James writes to Jewish believers in the diaspora, inserting this warning between an exhortation to patience (v. 8) and a call to model prophetic endurance (v. 10), all under the premise that the Lord's coming is near.
The words — στενάζω (stenazō) literally means "to groan," the involuntary guttural sound of pain, not a casual complaint; the verb carries the physical weight of suffering pressed into speech.
The thread — James 4:11 forbids slander and judgment of a brother on the same logic; 1 Corinthians 4:5 defers all verdicts to the Lord's return; Leviticus 19:18 grounds the prohibition in the covenant command not to bear a grudge.
Why it lands — The verse closes the window for intra-community grievance: the Judge is already at the door, so there is no time left to settle scores among yourselves before He does.
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
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
- James 4:11 Brothers, 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.
- Matthew 24:33 So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door.
- Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- Galatians 5:14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Genesis 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
- Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you will be judged.
- 1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without complaining.
- Mark 13:29 So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door.