Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
What does James 1:19 mean?
Instead of blaming God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to learn what he teaches by them. And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside James 1:19-23 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Wherefore, my beloved brethren - The connection is this: "since God is the only source of good; since he tempts no man; and since by his mere sovereign goodness, without any claim on our part, we have had the high honor conferred on us of being made the first-fruits of his creatures, we ought to be ready to hear his voice, to subdue all our evil passions, and to bring our souls to entire practical obedience.
Context in James 1
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James 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as testing and wisdom. James is a wisdom-shaped epistle about testing, speech, wealth, impartiality, works, prayer, and practical holiness. Read this chapter with the wider themes of works, wisdom, and speech in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on righteous anger, sinful wrath, self-control, slow anger, and how Scripture teaches people to handle fury without being ruled by it.
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Passages on asking, persistence, confession, dependence, and the way prayer shapes Christian life and attention.
Verses on the fear of the Lord, wise speech, practical judgment, teachability, and the difference between biblical wisdom and mere cleverness.