23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, ...

English Standard Version. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and ...

James compares looking into a mirror with looking into the law of God. The big idea will be that, in both cases, merely looking is not enough.

He is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away.

23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, ...

THE MIRROR OF TRUTH. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,

New International Version Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror

James is making the transition from a literal mirror to the mirror of God's Word. A physical mirror shows you what kind of face you have; God's Word is a mirror ...