James 4:12

(KJV) There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

(1611 KJV) There is one Lawgiuer, who is able to saue, and to destroy: who art thou that iudgest another?

(1587 Geneva Bible) There is one Lawgiuer, which is able to saue, and to destroy. Who art thou that iudgest another man?

(1526 Tyndale) Ther is one lawe gever which is able to save and to distroye. What art thou that iudgest another man?

 

Counterfeit Versions

(1881 RV) One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?

(1901 ASV) One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?

(AMP) One only is the Lawgiver and Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death]. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?

(CEB) There is only one lawgiver and judge, and he is able to save and to destroy. But you who judge your neighbor, who are you?

(CEV) or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone?

(CSB) There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

(1899 Douay-Rheims American Edition) There is one lawgiver, and judge, that is able to destroy and to deliver.

(ERV) God is the one who gave us the law, and he is the Judge. He is the only one who can save and destroy. So it is not right for you to judge anyone.

(ESV) There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

(GNB) God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?

(HCSB) There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

(J.B. Phillips) and there is only one judge, the one who gave the Law, to whom belongs absolute power of life and death. How can you then be so silly as to imagine that you are your neighbour’s judge?

(THE MESSAGE) God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?

(NASV) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

(NCV) God is the only Lawmaker and Judge. He is the only One who can save and destroy. So it is not right for you to judge your neighbor.

(NIRV) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. He is the One who is able to save life or destroy it. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

(NIV) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

(NLT) God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

(RSV) There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor?

(NAB-Roman Catholic) There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) One there is that is lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But you, who are you to be judging [your] neighbor?

 

Textus Receptus - Traditional Text

εις εστιν ο νομοθετης ο δυναμενος σωσαι και απολεσαι συ τις ει ος κρινεις τον ετερον

 

Hort-Westcott - Critical Text

εις εστιν νομοθετης και κριτης ο δυναμενος σωσαι και απολεσαι συ δε τις ει ο κρινων τον πλησιον

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century

B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

P 025 - Ninth century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)

Stephanus (1550 A.D.)

Elzivir 1624

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Adds “and Judge” after “lawgiver”

Greisbach, Johann - 1805

Lachmann, Karl - 1842

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Tregelles, Samuel - 1857

Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Weiss, Bernhard - 1894

Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902

 

Affected Teaching

Here is a case of adding to the word of God. The corrupted manuscripts added “kai kritês” which is translated “and judge.” They probably tried to copy the verse Isaiah 33:22. (Isa 33:22 KJV) For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. However, even if this is what they attempted to do, they are still in violation of Revelation 22:18 because God did not place the words “and judge” in the text. The CEV, ERV, GNB, THE MESSAGE, NCV, and the NLT all insert the name “God.” Here is another example of false teaching. (John 5:22 KJV) For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: The Bible teaches in John 5:22 that Jesus will be the judge of mankind and not God the Father. These six versions remove that truth. Once again the King James Bible proves its superiority in accuracy.

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