James 4:17 (YLT)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

James 4:15 instead of your saying, `If the Lord may will, we shall live, and do this or that;'

James 4:16 and now ye glory in your pride; all such glorying is evil;

James 4:17 to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing, sin it is to him.

Study Lenses

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

The prior verse says "and now ye glory in your pride...", giving immediate footing for "knowing" and "good". In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

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