James 4:12 net — But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge– the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are yo…

NET Bible

"But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge– the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?"

— James 4:12, NET Bible

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James 4:12 in Other Translations

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James 4 — Context

9

Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair.

10

Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.

11

Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.

12

But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge– the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?

13

Come now, you who say,“Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

14

You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.

15

You ought to say instead,“If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:12 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does James 4:12 say?
James 4:12 in the NET Bible reads: “But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge– the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Where is James 4:12 in the Bible?
James 4:12 is found in the New Testament, in the book of James, chapter 4, verse 12.
Who wrote James?
James is traditionally attributed to James, half-brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem church. It was written c. AD 44–49.
What is the book of James about?
James is the New Testament's closest cousin to Old-Testament wisdom literature — pungent, practical, and uncompromising. Faith without works is dead. The tongue is a fire. The prayers of a righteous man avail much. It calls Christians to walk their talk.
What are the major themes of James?
James explores themes including Faith and Works, Wisdom, Speech, Suffering, Prayer. These themes shape the meaning and context of James 4:12.
What translation should I read James 4:12 in?
James 4:12 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize James 4:12?
James 4:12 reads (NET): “But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge– the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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