Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageIf anyone thinks himself religious while not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this person's religion is worthless.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GIf anyone considers himself religious but does not bridle his tongue, instead deceiving his own heart, that person's religion is worthless.
KJV
King James VersionIf any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleIf anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
Footnotes
θρησκεία = formal religious observance — rituals, piety practices, devotional performance. James is not dismissing religion but exposing its corruption when it becomes performance without transformation. χαλιναγωγῶν = "to lead with a bridle" — a horse-and-rider metaphor for disciplined control; the tongue, like a powerful horse, can be managed only by a skilled and intentional rider (James develops this image fully in ch. 3).
