James 4 11

James 4:11 kjv

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

James 4:11 nkjv

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

James 4:11 niv

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

James 4:11 esv

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

James 4:11 nlt

Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

James 4 verses

James 4 11 Meaning

James 4:11 is a direct admonition against speaking evil of or judging fellow believers. It explains that such actions are not merely offenses against one's brother, but are, in essence, an act of speaking evil against and judging the divine Law itself. When a believer takes on the role of a judge over the Law, they cease to be its obedient doer and instead place themselves in the position reserved for God, the supreme Lawgiver. This verse underscores the unity of the community of faith and the gravity of disrupting that unity through malicious or condemnatory speech and attitudes, revealing it as an affront to God's authority and His fundamental commands.

James 4 11 Context

James chapter 4 opens by addressing the sources of conflict and quarrels among believers, identifying them as selfish desires and passions within themselves (4:1-3). It proceeds to highlight the spiritual adultery of "friendship with the world" (4:4-6) and calls for humility, repentance, and drawing near to God (4:7-10). Against this backdrop of internal strife, worldliness, and a call to humility, verse 11 specifically targets the destructive practice of speaking evil of and judging fellow believers. This is not a detached admonition but a direct continuation of the theme of fractured relationships within the community, now attributing the internal conflict (which had previously led to murder in heart - 4:2) to critical, slanderous speech and judgmental attitudes. The verse draws a powerful connection between interpersonal conduct and one's reverence for God and His Law, placing it within the larger context of God's absolute authority as Lawgiver and Judge, urging believers to obey rather than usurp.

James 4 11 Word analysis

• Do not speak evil (μὴ καταλαλεῖτε, mē katalaleite): A strong negative imperative, meaning "do not slander," "do not defame," "do not speak against." It implies speaking ill with intent to diminish or destroy reputation. This is not merely idle gossip but speech that "speaks down against" or disparages.
• of a brother (ἀδελφοῦ, adelphou): Refers primarily to fellow believers in the Christian community, emphasizing the familial bond in Christ. However, the principle extends to how one treats any human being, as the greater Law of love applies universally.
• or judge (ἢ κρίνων, ē krinōn): This uses a participle ("the one judging"). It refers to the act of forming an unfavorable judgment or condemning another. This is distinct from discerning spiritual truth or offering constructive rebuke, but rather a censorious and condemning evaluation that oversteps one's place.
• his brother (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, ton adelphon autou): Reinforces the target of the judgment – someone within the same spiritual family, underscoring the disunity it causes.
• He who speaks evil against a brother and judges his brother (Ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἢ κρίνων τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, Ho katalalōn adelphou ē krinōn ton adelphon autou): This phrase clarifies that the two actions—speaking evil and judging—are intertwined and constitute a singular offense. The judgment often fuels the evil speech.
• speaks evil against the law (καταλαλεῖ νόμου, katalalei nomou): The startling consequence. By speaking evil of and judging a brother, one implicitly speaks evil of the Law. The Law, particularly the "royal law" (Jas 2:8) of love, commands love for one's neighbor/brother. Violating this through slander or judgment is seen as undermining the very principle of the Law.
• and judges the law (καὶ κρίνει νόμον, kai krinei nomon): This means placing oneself above the Law, evaluating or questioning its authority, its goodness, or its application. To condemn a brother, especially by misapplying or twisting the Law, is to effectively become the Law's judge rather than its subject.
• If you judge the law (εἰ δὲ κρίνεις νόμον, ei de krineis nomon): This rephrases the previous statement as a conditional, reinforcing the logical flow of James's argument. It poses a direct challenge to the one who takes on such authority.
• you are not a doer of the law (οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου, ouk ei poiētēs nomou): A stark contrast. The believer's calling is to be an obedient "doer" (ποιός, poietes), someone who lives by and applies the Law. This recalls Jas 1:22.
• but a judge (ἀλλὰ κριτής, alla kritēs): The implication is clear: you usurp the role that belongs solely to God, the supreme Lawgiver and Judge. This shift from humble obedience to usurped authority is the core offense.

James 4 11 Bonus section

The gravity of judging and slandering a brother in James's eyes stems from a core tenet of the Abrahamic covenants: the emphasis on community and the fulfillment of the Law through love. To tear down a brother is to attack the very fabric of the believing community that the Law seeks to protect and unify. This warning resonates with Old Testament wisdom literature which frequently condemns the "scoffer" or "talebearer" (Prov 6:16-19, Psa 50:19-20). Moreover, this verse highlights the practical implications of a life governed by God's wisdom, contrasting the "earthly, unspiritual, demonic" wisdom that leads to disorder and evil practices (Jas 3:15-16) with the "wisdom from above" that is "peaceable, gentle, full of mercy" (Jas 3:17). A judgmental spirit and slanderous tongue are clear manifestations of the former, while genuine adherence to God's law demands the latter. The command to be "doers of the law" is not a call to legalism, but a call to active, faith-filled love expressed through transformed behavior.

James 4 11 Commentary

James 4:11 issues a strong injunction against two closely related behaviors: slandering and judging other believers. The power of this verse lies in its articulation that these interpersonal offenses are not merely social blunders or breaches of etiquette, but profound theological errors. By speaking evil of or condemning a brother, one is effectively slandering and judging God’s Law itself. This is because God’s Law is primarily summarized by the command to love one's neighbor (Jas 2:8, Rom 13:8-10, Matt 22:37-40). When a believer slanders another, they directly violate this foundational principle of love embedded within the Law.

Furthermore, when one "judges" a brother by applying the Law (or a twisted version of it), they implicitly elevate themselves above the Law. They step out of their role as humble doers and submitters to God's will, and into the unique role of "judge of the Law." James reminds us that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge (Jas 4:12), and that is God. To assume this role is an act of pride, an offense against God's sovereign authority, and a fundamental misunderstanding of one's place within His kingdom. The focus for believers should always be on doing (obeying) the Law, especially the Law of love, rather than sitting in judgment over it or others. This creates harmony, fosters genuine faith, and keeps believers humble before the ultimate Lawgiver.Practical examples include refraining from gossiping about a fellow church member's perceived flaws, resisting the urge to critique another Christian's parenting style or financial choices, or abstaining from passing definitive condemnation on someone else's spiritual state. Instead, we are called to mercy and to bear one another's burdens.