The Meaning of James 4:17 Explained

James 4:17

KJV: Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

YLT: to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing, sin it is to him.

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

ASV: To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore  to him that knoweth  to do  good,  and  doeth  [it] not,  to him  it is  sin. 

What does James 4:17 Mean?

Study Notes

sin
Sin.
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.

Verse Meaning

The person James just pictured was guilty of a sin of omission. He failed to acknowledge the place God occupies in life (cf. John 9:41). In concluding this discussion of conflicts, James reminded his readers to put into practice what they knew. They should avoid presumption and self-confidence, and they should submit themselves humbly to God. Failure to do this is sin.
"They cannot take refuge in the plea that they have done nothing positively wrong; as Scripture makes abundantly clear, sins of omission are as real and serious as sins of commission." [1]
The verse that concludes each major section of James" epistle, each chapter, is a proverbial statement. It summarizes James" point in the preceding section and states it in a pithy way that is easy to remember. However, the statement in this verse is applicable to all that James wrote in this book.

Context Summary

James 4:11-17 - "if The Lord Will"
When we speak evil of another, we usurp the functions of the only lawgiver and judge. If that other is endeavoring to model his life by the law, to speak evil of him is to question not his action alone, but the law he is trying to observe. Let us turn the light in upon ourselves and be merciless in self-criticism, while merciful to all others. When you see another doing wrong, always ask yourself whether the same evil is not hiding in your own character. Do not speak of men, but to them, when their faults confront you.
We are prone to make plans without reference to God's will. Life is so transient and brief that if we are to make the most of it, we should ask the divine Spirit to choose for and guide us. Our one endeavor must be to discover God's will and do it. If we are not constantly saying, "If the Lord will," the sentiment it expresses should always be uppermost with us. "Thy will be done" in me as in heaven! [source]

Chapter Summary: James 4

1  We are to strive against covetousness;
4  intemperance;
5  pride;
11  detraction and rash judgment of others;
13  and not to be boastful of our future plans

Greek Commentary for James 4:17

To him that knoweth [ειδοτι]
Dative case of second perfect participle ειδως — eidōs (from οιδα — oida), and with the infinitive to know how, “to one knowing how.” [source]
To do good [καλον ποιειν]
“To do a good deed.”And doeth it not (και μη ποιουντι — kai mē poiounti). Dative again of the present active participle of ποιεω — poieō “and to one not doing it.” Cf. “not a doer” (James 1:23) and Matthew 7:26.Sin Unused knowledge of one‘s duty is sin, the sin of omission. Cf. Matthew 23:23. [source]
And doeth it not [και μη ποιουντι]
Dative again of the present active participle of ποιεω — poieō “and to one not doing it.” Cf. “not a doer” (James 1:23) and Matthew 7:26. [source]
Sin [αμαρτια]
Unused knowledge of one‘s duty is sin, the sin of omission. Cf. Matthew 23:23. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 4:17

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how [οιδεν κυριος]
The actual apodosis of the long protasis begun in 2 Peter 2:4. God can deliver his servants as shown by Noah and Lot and he will deliver you. The idiomatic use of οιδα — oida and the infinitive (ρυεσται — ruesthai present middle and see 2 Peter 2:7) for knowing how as in Matthew 7:11; James 4:17. [source]
1 John 3:4 Is the transgression of the law [ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία]
Rev., correctly, is lawlessness. Sin is the violation of the law of our being, the law which includes our threefold relation to God, to the men and things around us, and to ourselves. Compare James 1:14; James 4:17. [source]

What do the individual words in James 4:17 mean?

To [him] knowing therefore good to do and not doing sin to him it is
εἰδότι οὖν καλὸν ποιεῖν καὶ μὴ ποιοῦντι ἁμαρτία αὐτῷ ἐστιν

εἰδότι  To  [him]  knowing 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
καλὸν  good 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: καλός  
Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
ποιεῖν  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ποιοῦντι  doing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἁμαρτία  sin 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐστιν  it  is 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.