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James 4

James 4:17 KJV (With Strong’s)

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17
Therefore
oun (Greek #3767)
(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly
KJV usage: and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.
Pronounce: oon
Origin: apparently a primary word
q to him that knoweth
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
to do
poieo (Greek #4160)
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
KJV usage: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
Pronounce: poy-eh'-o
Origin: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary
good
kalos (Greek #2570)
properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic)
KJV usage: X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
Pronounce: kal-os'
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
doeth
poieo (Greek #4160)
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
KJV usage: abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
Pronounce: poy-eh'-o
Origin: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary
it not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
, to him
autos (Greek #846)
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
KJV usage: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Pronounce: ow-tos'
Origin: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward)
it is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
sin
hamartia (Greek #266)
a sin (properly abstract)
KJV usage: offence, sin(-ful).
Pronounce: ham-ar-tee'-ah
Origin: from 264
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More on:

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Sin

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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Luke 12:47‑48• 47But that bondman who knew his own lord's will, and had not prepared [himself], nor done his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes].
48But he who knew [it] not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. And to everyone to whom much is given, much shall be required from him: and to whom [men] have committed much, they will ask from him the more.
(Luke 12:47‑48)
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John 9:41• 41Jesus said to them, If ye were blind, ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see, your sin remaineth. (John 9:41)
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John 13:17• 17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17)
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John 15:22• 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they had not had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. (John 15:22)
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Rom. 1:20‑21,32• 20For the invisible things of him from [the] world's creation are perceived, being understood by the works, both his eternal power and Godhead, that they might be inexcusable.
21Because, having known God, they glorified him not as God nor were thankful, but became vain in their thoughts, and their heart void of understanding was darkened.
32which, knowing right well the righteous award of God that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practice them but also have a fellow-pleasure in those that do [them].
(Rom. 1:20‑21,32)
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Rom. 2:17‑23• 17But if thou art named a Jew, and restest on law, and boastest in God,
18and knowest the will, and provest the things that differ, being instructed out of the law,
19and hast confidence that thou thyself art a guide of blind, a light of those in darkness,
20an instructor of foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law:
21thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal?
22thou that sayest not to commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23Thou who boastest in law, through the transgression of the law dost thou dishonour God?
(Rom. 2:17‑23)
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Rom. 7:13• 13Did then the good become death to me? Let it not be; but sin, that it might appear sin, working out death to me by the good, that sin might become excessively sinful by the commandment. (Rom. 7:13)
 Verse 17 is a general conclusion, founded on the principle already suggested (ch. 3:1), and on that which is said with regard to faith. The knowledge of good, without its practice, causes even the absence of the work which one could have performed to be a positive sin. (James 4 by J.N. Darby)
 when we know what is good and yet in self-will refuse to do good, it is sin. (The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4 by H. Smith)
 Sin is not only the doing of that which is wrong: it is also the not doing of that which we know to be right. Hence to know is a great responsibility. (James 3 by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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17
To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.

W. Kelly Translation

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17
To one therefore knowing to do a comelya [thing], and not doing [it], it is a sinb to him.

WK Translation Notes

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a
It is not here goodness in the form of benevolence but rather what is honourably right.
b
The anarthrous form should make a difference in the reading, "To one therefore knowing how to do right, and doing [it] not, to him it is sin."