James 1:27
What does James 1:27 mean?
A plain-English look at James 1:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 1:27 means
James defines pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. True piety is both compassionate and holy. It moves toward the vulnerable with tangible help and keeps watch over personal purity amid a corrupt culture. This is not a checklist but a portrait of a heart shaped by God’s character—merciful and pure. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of faith meet here: love for God issues in love for neighbor and a life set apart. Such religion reflects the gospel’s transforming power in community and conduct.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Pure 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Pure 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
American Standard Version · 1901Pure 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
Bible in Basic English · 1949The 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.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862religion pure and undefiled with the God and Father is this, to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation--unspotted to keep himself from the world.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Pure and undefiled religion beforeGod and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Context
This closing verse crystallizes James’s theme of active, authentic faith. After calling for doers of the Word (verses 22–25) and testing religion by the tongue (verse 26), he names two touchstones—mercy to the needy and moral separation from the world. The chapter has moved from trials and wisdom, through God’s unchanging goodness and our new birth, to practical obedience. The conclusion points readers forward into the letter’s next sections, which will expand on speech, favoritism, and living faith expressed in works.
v.26If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain.
v.27This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Isaiah 58:6
Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
- Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
- Isaiah 1:23
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
- Luke 1:6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
- Job 31:15
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
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