James 1:20 (LSB)

Passage

for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Nearby Context

James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

James 1:20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

James 1:21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "anger", "does", "achieve", and "righteousness". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "anger" and "does", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "Know this my beloved brothers But everyone..." into verse 21's "Therefore laying aside all filthiness and all...", so "anger" and "does" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "anger" and "does" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.