Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "implanted word" wasn't just the Bible being read aloud, but a Word that was meant to become deeply rooted and integral to their very being, like something organically growing within them, capable of transforming them from the inside out.
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James is urging his readers to move beyond the unhelpful "wrath of man" he just described and to actively embrace God's truth. He calls them to shed their ingrained sinfulness and hostility, making room in their hearts for the divine message that has the power to truly transform and save them.
James calls us to shed something heavy, something clinging. What is this 'filthiness' he urges us to discard?
James contrasts two things we must 'lay apart': 'filthiness' and 'rampant wickedness' (or 'superfluity of naughtiness'). The original Greek words paint a vivid picture.
Filthiness (Ruparia)
This word describes a deep, clinging defilement, like grime or dirt that won't easily wash off. It's not just surface-level dirt; it's something that stains and pollutes.
Rampant Wickedness (Perisseian Kakias)
This phrase is more complex. 'Wickedness' refers to a disposition of malice or badness. The 'rampant' part suggests an overflowing, an excess, or something that goes beyond what is necessary. It’s like a weed that has grown wild and out of control.
James isn't just telling us to avoid a few bad actions. He's calling for a radical cleansing of the inner self – both the deep-seated pollution and the excessive, uncontrolled evil that festers within.
After clearing out the old, James directs us to welcome something new. What makes this 'implanted word' so powerful?
The second part of the verse is about receptivity. Once we've made space by discarding sin, we are to 'receive with meekness the implanted word.'
Meekness is Key
'Meekness' here isn't weakness, but a gentle, humble disposition. It's the opposite of the anger and pride that blind us to truth. Think of it as being teachable, willing to yield to God's wisdom.
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The Word Within
The term 'implanted' is fascinating. It suggests something that is deeply rooted, not just temporarily placed. This word isn't foreign; it's meant to become a part of our very being, like a seed that has taken root in fertile soil. It's the very truth of God, made alive and active within us by the Holy Spirit.
This 'implanted word' has the divine power to bring about salvation.
James concludes with a bold claim about the Word's ability. What does it mean for the Word to be 'able to save our souls'?
The final phrase, 'which is able to save your souls,' isn't just a nice add-on; it’s the ultimate purpose and power of the implanted Word.
More Than Information
This salvation isn't merely about avoiding punishment. It speaks to a deep, transformative rescue – a restoration of our very being, our souls, to their intended purpose in relationship with God.
God's Power at Work
The Word itself isn't a magical charm, but the divine instrument through which God powerfully works. When we receive it with meekness, it unlocks God's saving power within us. It’s the agent of renewal, of transformation, leading us back to Him.
This salvation is both present (as we live in His grace) and future (as we await our full redemption).
Understand the original words
rhuparia · Greek Noun
A general term for moral uncleanness, pollution, or spiritual defilement that stands in opposition to the purity God demands of His people. It reflects the pervasive corruption of sin that must be stripped away from the life of a believer.
kakia · Greek Noun
The quality of moral malice, evil intent, or wickedness that manifests in action. It refers to the internal condition of depravity that expresses itself in outward sinful conduct.
prautēs · Greek Noun
A God-given spiritual temperament of humble submission, gentleness, and teachability. It is not mere weakness, but rather power under control, specifically the attitude required to accept the authority of God's Word without resistance.
emphutos logos · Greek Noun phrase
The message of the Gospel or the revealed truth of God that has been internalized by the believer. It suggests the transformative power of Scripture when it takes root in the human heart like a planted seed.
sōzō · Greek Verb
The process of deliverance from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin. In a NT context, it refers to the complete restoration and preservation of the believer's life before God.
This passage directly parallels James' instruction to 'put away all malice' (which is a form of 'filthiness and rampant wickedness') by commanding believers to 'put away all kinds of evil.'
Romans 13:12This verse echoes the call to actively discard sinful practices by urging believers to 'throw off the works of darkness' and 'put on the armor of light,' mirroring James' imperative to 'lay apart' sin before receiving the Word.
Luke 8:15The parable of the sower highlights that the 'good soil' receptive to the 'word' is characterized by 'an honest and good heart' that 'hears the word with all goodness, and holds it fast, and bears fruit with patience,' aligning with James' emphasis on receiving the 'implanted word' with meekness to bear fruit.
Galatians 6:1This verse calls for a gentle restoration of those caught in sin, using the concept of meekness, which directly corresponds to James' instruction to receive the Word 'with meekness,' indicating a receptive and humble attitude is crucial for spiritual growth and correction.
Jeremiah 4:4The Old Testament prophecy speaks of 'circumcising yourselves to the Lord and removing the foreskin of your hearts,' which the scholarly context connects to the idea of removing 'naughtiness.' This speaks to a deep internal cleansing required before true spiritual reception, much like James' command.
vincentJames 1:21: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
Filthiness (ῥυπαρίαν)Only here in New Testament, but James uses the kindred adjective (James 2:2), "vile raiment." Ῥύπος, filth, occurs in 1 Peter 3:21 - on which see notes; and the verb ῥυπόω, to be filthy, is found in Revelation 22:11.Superfluity of naughtiness (περισσείαν κακίας)A translation which may be commended to the att…
clarkeJames 1:21: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls."
All filthiness - Πασαν ῥυπαριαν. This word signifies any impurity that cleaves to the body; but applied to the mind, it implies all impure and unholy affections, such as those spoken of James 1:15 , which pollute the soul; in this sense it is used by the best Greek writers. Superfluity of naughtiness - Περισσειαν κακιας· The overflowin…
The "implanted word" wasn't just the Bible being read aloud, but a Word that was meant to become deeply rooted and integral to their very being, like something organically growing within them, capable of transforming them from the inside out.
James is urging his readers to move beyond the unhelpful "wrath of man" he just described and to actively embrace God's truth. He calls them to shed their ingrained sinfulness and hostility, making room in their hearts for the divine message that has the power to truly transform and save them.
James is urging his readers to move beyond the unhelpful "wrath of man" he just described and to actively embrace God's truth. He calls them to shed their ingrained sinfulness and hostility, making room in their hearts for the divine message that has the power to truly transform and save them.
"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." — The "implanted word" wasn't just the Bible being read aloud, but a Word that was meant to become deeply rooted and integral to their very being, like something organically growing within them, capabl…
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Last reviewed October 2026