James 1:21 - Exposition

With the form of expression in this verse, comp. 1 Peter 2:1 , "Putting away, therefore, all wickedness ( ἀποθέμενοι οὗν πᾶσαν κακίαν ), and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes long for the spiritual milk," etc. Filthiness ( ῥυπαρὶαν ). Here only in the New Testament, never in LXX .; but the adjective ῥυπαρός is the word used of the "filthy garments" in Zechariah 3:3 , Zechariah 3:4 —a narrative which illustrates the passage before us. Kakía is not vice in general, but rather that vicious nature which is bent on doing harm to others (see Lightfoot on Colossians 3:8 ). Thus the two words ῥυπαρία and κακία comprise two classes of sins—the sensual and the malignant, Engrafted ; rather, implanted. The word is only found again in Wis. 12:10, where it signifies "inborn." St. James's teaching here is almost like a reminiscence of the parable of the sower ( Matthew 13:3 , etc). The "implanted Word" is the gospel teaching. "The seed is the Word of God" ( Luke 8:11 ).