James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

BSB

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

KJV

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

ASV

Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

BBE

The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of our God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble, and to keep oneself untouched by the world.

Original Greek

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θρησκεία thrēskeia Religion G2356 καθαρὰ kathara pure G2513 καὶ kai and G2532 ἀμίαντος amiantos undefiled G283 παρὰ para before G3844 τῷ tō the G3588 θεῷ theō God G2316 καὶ kai and G2532 πατρὶ patri Father G3962 αὕτη hautē this G3778 ἐστίν estin is G1510 ἐπισκέπτεσθαι episkeptesthai to visit G1980 ὀρφανοὺς orphanous orphans G3737 καὶ kai and G2532 χήρας chēras widows G5503 ἐν en in G1722 τῇ tēa the G3588 θλίψει thlipsei tribulation G2347 αὐτῶν autōn of them G846 ἄσπιλον aspilon unstained G784 ἑαυτὸν he'auton oneself G1438 τηρεῖν tērein to keep G5083 ἀπὸ apo from G575 τοῦ tou the G3588 κόσμου.¶ kosmou world G2889

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 26–27

When men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands.

Read Matthew Henry on James 1 →

Cross-references

25

Topics

GodAfflictions And AdversitiesLovePoorHolinessRighteousnessReligionOrphanSympathySick, The

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.