KJV King James Version
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
WEB World English Bible
But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear, neither by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath; but let your “yes” be “yes,” and your “no,” “no;” so that you don’t fall into hypocrisy.
ASV American Standard Version
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
And before all things, my brethren, do not swear, neither by the heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath, and let your Yes be Yes, and the No, No; that under judgment ye may not fall.
Surrounding context — James 5
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and [your] nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ΠρὸG4253 · probeforeπάντωνG3956 · pasallδέ,G1161 · dethenἀδελφοίG80 · adelphosbrotherμου,G3165 · memeμὴG3361 · mēnotὀμνύετε,G3660 · omnumito swearμήτεG3383 · mēteneitherτὸνG3588 · hothe/this/whoοὐρανὸνG3772 · ouranosheavenμήτεG3383 · mēteneitherτὴνG3588 · hothe/this/whoγῆνG1093 · gēearth: planetμήτεG3383 · mēteneitherἄλλονG243 · allosanotherτινὰG5100 · tisoneὅρκον·G3727 · horkosoathἤτωG1510 · eimito beδὲG1161 · dethenὑμῶνG4771 · suyouτὸG3588 · hothe/this/whoναὶG3483 · naiyesναὶG3483 · naiyesκαὶG2532 · kaiandτὸG3588 · hothe/this/whoοὒG3756 · ounoοὔ,G3756 · ounoἵναG2443 · hinain order that/toμὴG3361 · mēnotὑπὸG5259 · hupoby/under: byκρίσινG2920 · krisisjudgmentπέσητε.¶G4098 · piptōto collapse
Cross-references
Matthew 5:33-37Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:Matthew 23:16-22Woe unto you, [ye] blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!2 Corinthians 1:17-20When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?1 Peter 4:8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.1 Corinthians 11:34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.James 3:1-2My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.3 John 1:2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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