James 1:24
in James 1and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
KJV
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
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This verse in James 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verseWe learn what God has made us like, having given us new birth by the washing of regeneration. But if we do not remember what we have seen and apply it in our deeds, then we shall lose the grace which has been given to …
This site's exposition
Be doers of the word
on James 1:22-24
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only names the letter's central thread. The hearer only is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, the bronze mirror of the ancient world. He goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
This site's exposition
immediately forgets what he looks like
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, after Bengel, hear haste in the chain of verbs, as he looks, goes away and forgets. The glance was real but brief. Gill applies it to the hearer of a sermon, who sees his faults and the excellence of Christ, then leaves and thinks of neither.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer: he shall be compared to a man beholding his natural face in a mirror. For he saw himself, and went his way, and immediately forgot what manner of a man he …
The Medieval Church1 voice
To hearing the apostle added doing, because for the salvation of the soul the hearing of the law alone is not sufficient, but hearing must be confirmed by fulfillment.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way,.... He takes a slight glance of himself, and departs: and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was; he forgets either his spots, blemishes, and imperfections; or his comeliness and beauty; the features of his face, be they comely or not: so a bare hearer of the word, who is not concerned to practise what he hears, while he is hearing, he observes some things amiss in himself, and some excellencies in Christ; but, when the discourse is over, he goes his way, and thinks no more of either.
As a looking-glass shows us the spots and defilements upon our faces, that they may be remedied and washed off, so the word of God shows us our sins, that we may repent of them and get them pardoned; it shows us what is amiss, that it may be amended. There are glasses that will flatter people; but that which is truly the word of God is no flattering glass.
Christ's blood is the laver which the gospel shows. " But in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off, and forget our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case of those who do not hear the word as they ought.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And every perfect gift - Whatever tends to glory. Descendeth from the Father of lights - The appellation of Father is here used with peculiar propriety. It follows, "he begat us." He is the Father of all light, material or spiritual, in the kingdom of grace and of glory.
The character by which our author desires to be known: James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was a prime-minister in Christ's kingdom, yet he styles himself only a servant. Note hence, Those who are highest in office or attainments in the church of Christ are but servants.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"Contemplate" here, and in Jas 1:23, implies that, though cursory, yet some knowledge of one's self, at least for the time, is imparted in hearing the word (1Co 14:24). and . . . and--The repetition expresses hastiness joined with levity [BENGEL]. forgetteth what manner of man he was--in the mirror.
LAST Lord's Day I tried to show the right way of hearing the Word of God. We spoke of how to behave before the sermon, at the sermon and after the sermon. May God grant that the word which I then spoke may continue in your minds and bring forth good fruit! At this time I shall draw a distinction between the true and blessed hearer of the Word and the person who misses the blessing because he hears to forget. You will forgive my coming back to this subject when I confess that I groan in my own heart with unutterable longings to be a channel of blessing to all who hear or read my discourses. To what purpose do I stand here so often and pour out my soul before you, if you are not the better for it? I am an unhappy sower if all the handfuls of seed which I scatter must fall upon unbroken soil, to be devoured of birds and never take root. Blessed be God, it is not altogether so! We, by His Grace, have reaped many harvests in this place. But still, our hearts ache for larger results! There remain among us, still, those who are impervious to the Truth of God, in whom the Divine Word has taken no lodging—will these never be saved? They still continue to listen and to listen with kindly respect, but they are not yet doers of the Word. Our lament is that of Paul, "They have not all obeyed the Gospel." They have heard it and, in a measure, appreciated it, but they have not obeyed it. It has not come to them with power, compelling them to yield to its commands. It will be a sad thing if, when I give in my account, it shall be with grief and not with joy—for this will be as unprofitable for you as it will be grievous for me.
LAST Lord's Day I tried to show the right way of hearing the Word of God. We spoke of how to behave before the sermon, at the sermon and after the sermon. May God grant that the word which I then spoke may continue in your minds and bring forth good fruit! At this time I shall draw a distinction between the true and blessed hearer of the Word and the person who misses the blessing because he hears to forget.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| κατενόησεν | katenoesen | he has viewed | G2657 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἑαυτὸν | he'auton | himself | G1438 → | 322 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπελήλυθεν | apeleluthen | has gone away | G565 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εὐθέως | eutheos | immediately | G2112 → | |
| ἐπελάθετο | epelatheto | he has forgotten | G1950 → | |
| ὁποῖος | hopoios | what like | G3697 → | |
| ἦν. | en | he was. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
κατενόησενhe has viewed
katenoesenG2657 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἑαυτὸνhimself
he'autonG1438 →322 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπελήλυθενhas gone away
apeleluthenG565 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εὐθέωςimmediately
eutheosG2112 →
ἐπελάθετοhe has forgotten
epelathetoG1950 →
ὁποῖοςwhat like
hopoiosG3697 →
ἦν.he was.
enG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Peter 3:11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:15
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- 2 Peter 3:12
as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
- 1 Timothy 6:11
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
- 1 Peter 1:15
Through
1 Thessalonians 1:5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- Mark 16:20
And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
- 1 Corinthians 2:2–5
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
Where this verse is studied
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About James
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1848: “The Looking Glass” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on James and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on James.