Greek: dio apothemenoi (AMPMPN) pasan rhuparian kai perisseian kakias en prauteti dexasthe (2PAMM) ton emphuton logon ton dunamenon (PPPMSA) sosai (AAN) tas psuchas humon.
Amplified: So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.  (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
ASV: Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
KJV: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
NLT:  So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls. NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: Have done, then, with impurity and every other evil which touches the lives of others, and humbly accept the message that God has sown in your hearts, and which can save your souls. (Phillips: Touchstone)

THEREFORE, PUTTING ASIDE ALL FILTHINESS: dio apothemenoi (AMPMPN) pasan rhuparian:

Therefore (dio) is a term of conclusion. What has James just stated from which he is now drawing a conclusion? In the immediate context, James spoke of accomplishing the righeousness of God. This would be the equivalent of present tense salvation or progressive sanctification. James says in essence they have been saved in James 1:18 (past tense salvation = justification = once for all time completed action in the past). But one who is justified by faith, immediately enters into the phrase of present tense salvation, which by necessity is an ongoing, day to day process, often described in the NT as our "walk". Note well however that both "tenses" of salvation are effected by faith, we begin this new life in Christ by faith and it is by faith in His sufficiency and supply that we continue this new life of daily dependence. And yet we have a responsibility in this "faith life" and here James says it is to put off so to speak the dirty filthy garments of the former life. 

Putting aside (659) (apotithemi from apo = away from, marker of dissociation, implying a rupture from a former association, separation, departure, cessation, any separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed  + tithemi = put, place) means literally to put or take something away from its normal location and thus to put it out of the way (way out of the way!). It was used literally of runners who participated in the Olympic games who cast off their clothes and then ran almost completely naked in the stadium.

Putting aside is an aorist participle (in English usually identified by a word that ends in "-ing") which calls for this putting aside to be accomplished as an effective action. It is the condition that must be fulfilled in order to facilitate the ready reception of the Word as discussed below. James use of the aorist tense here stresses the importance of a once for all putting off of sin prior to receiving God’s Word. James says our filthy, wicked vices are likened to soiled garments which are to be set aside once for all.  Using another analogy, it is as if James saw the human heart as a garden. If left to itself, the soil of our wicked hearts inherited from Adam would produce only weeds. James as a good spiritual horticulturist urges us to “pull out the weeds” and prepare the soil for the “implanted Word of God.” Beloved, how doth thy "garden" grow?

All (3956)(pas) means all without exception. Don't misunderstand. James is not teaching spiritual perfection or "entire sanctification". He is speaking to believers who now have can confess their sins to their Father and be cleansed "from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

Filthiness (4507)

One person has rendered putting aside all filthiness as

"Get rid of all your ear wax"

AND ALL THAT REMAINS OF WICKEDNESS: kai perisseian kakias:

Remains of wickedness - The word "remains" sounds like a verb but it is not. The KJV is more literal rendering it "Superfluity of naughtiness".  Young's Literal is even more graphic - "superabundance of evil". The idea is that of wickedness present in abundance and thus abounding wickedness - what a horrible picture James paints, especially since he is speaking to new creations in Christ ("the first fruits among His creatures")!

That remains (4050)

Wickedness (2549)(kakia) refers to the quality of wickedness and thus in a moral sense means depravity, vice or baseness (1 Peter 2:16-note, Acts 8:22). It is the opposite of arete (note) and all virtue and therefore lacks social value. It denotes a vicious disposition, evilness, ill-will, spitefulness.

Therefore (see previous section - 1 Peter 1:22ff), putting aside (same verb as James uses - apotithemi ; = aorist tense do this effectively - conveys the sense of a command) all malice (kakia) and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,  like newborn babies, long for (aorist imperative = Command calling for immediate attention. Do this!) the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation (See notes 1 Peter 2:1; 2:2)

Separate yourself from the World
THEN...
Saturate yourself with the Word

In short, James is saying in essence

"Let personal sin be cleansed so you can hear."

IN HUMILITY RECEIVE THE WORD IMPLANTED, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS: en prauteti dexasthe (2PAMM) to emphuton logon:

In  (1722)

Humility (4240) (prautes) describes the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance. Prautes is a quality of gentle friendliness - gentleness, meekness (as strength that accommodates to another's weakness), consideration, restrained patience, patient trust in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Receive (1209) (dechomai = middle voice of a primary verb) means to to receive something offered or transmitted by another (Luke 2:28). To take something into one's hand and so to grasp (Luke 2:28, 22:17). To be receptive to someone (Mt 10:14, 40). To take a favorable attitude toward something (Mt 11:14).

Dechomai pictures the disciple "putting out the welcome mat" for God's word of truth as one would a good friend or guest, inviting them to come into your house (Luke 10:8,10; Rahab welcomed the spies - see note Hebrews 11:31). Dechomai thus pictures one assenting to God's Word of Truth and  indicates that the reception is to be a voluntary and willing act on the part of the reader (hearer).

Word (3056) (logos from légō = to speak with words; English = logic, logical) means something said and describes a communication whereby the mind finds expression in words. Although Lógos is most often translated word which Webster defines as "something that is said, a statement, an utterance", the Greek understanding of lógos is somewhat more complex. In the present context word is used to stand for Scripture in general.

Implanted (1721)

Spurgeon writes...

That evil branch is cut away, now be ready to have a branch of a better kind inserted into you, even “the engrafted word, which is able to have your souls,” that you may bring forth better fruit than the old crabbed stock of nature can possibly yield.

Perhaps you have seen a man grafting a tree. What a gash he makes in the tree before he puts in the graft! How he wounds it to make the sap flow into the new wood! If the Lord has made any of your hearts bleed to-night by the sharp cutting of his Spirit, we are not sorry, if it shall the better prepare you for receiving the grafts of his own nature, and his own Word.

WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS: ton dunamenon (PPPMSA) sosai (AAN) tas psuchas humon:

Which is able - God's Word of Truth has the inherent ability, capability or power to accomplish the goal of saving our souls (the first time when we are born again and every day thereafter!). Peter alludes to the inherent ability of God's Word using the metaphor of a "seed" writing to the believers that...

you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (See notes 1 Peter 1:23)

So even as a biological seed has the inherent ability when planted to germinate and bring about new life, so too, the living and active Word of God has the inherent ability to bring about new spiritual life and to then sustain that spiritual life (which course calls for continual intake - see note 1 Peter 2:2)

As someone has well said the power of the Gospel is not seen in great preaching, large churches, or glorious music but is best seen in transformed lives.

Able (1410) (dunamai) conveys the basic meaning of that which has the inherent ability to do something or accomplish some end. Thus dunamai means to be able to, to be capable of, to be strong enough to do or to have power to do something. It is usually translated able (50x), can (61x and cannot 58x) or could.

In the present context dunamai is in the present tense which signifies the Word of Truth is continuously able or continually has inherent power. Luke has a similar statement writing that...

For no (ou = absolutely no) word (rhema) from God shall be void of power (adunateo - essentially the converse of dunamai).   (Luke 1:37 ASV)

Comment: This verse says not one single Word of God is powerless or unable. Modern translations do not really convey the sense of the power of the Word quite as clearly as the ASV - e.g., the NAS = "For nothing will be impossible with God." The Amplified Version is somewhat better "For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment."

The derivative word dunamis (from dunamai) refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for functioning in some way, the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature.

The word group (dunamai, dunamis, dunatos, etc) gives us our English word dynamic, (synonyms = energetic, functioning, live, operative, working) which describes that which is marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change. That which is dynamic is characterized by energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to that which is static.

BDAG says that dunamai means...

to possess capability (whether because of personal or external factors) for experiencing or doing something.

Larry Richards says that dunamis and dunamai...

look to the inherent physical, spiritual, or natural strength or power of individuals. The verb raises the issue of one's being "strong enough" and thus able.

TDNT writes that...

Words of this stem all have the basic sense of ability or capability. Dunamai means a. “to be able” in a general sense, b. “to be able” with reference to the attitude that makes one able, hence sometimes “to will,” and c. (of things) “to be equivalent to,” “to count as,” “to signify.”

Thayer's summary of dunamai...

1 to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.

2 to be able to do something.

3 to be capable, strong and powerful.

Vine summarizes dunamai writing that it means...

“to be able, to have power,” whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, e.g., Romans 15:14 (note); or through a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances, e.g., 1Thessalonians 2:6 (note); or by permission of law or custom, e.g., Acts 24:8, 11; or simply “to be able, powerful,” Matt. 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15 (note), etc. See can, may, possible, power.

Click here to study all 210 uses of dunamai in the NT (in the window that opens, scroll down to the "Verse Count" which will show the distribution by NT book. Click on the book to see all the uses of dunamai in that book. Where are the majority of uses found?) Here are just a few representative uses...

Matthew 3:9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. (God has the inherent ability or power. This same God is our Father. We need to remember "He is able"!)

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot (does not have the ability even to) be hidden. (In other words the city must shine!)

Matthew 6:24 No one can (is able to, has the inherent ability or power to) serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:27 "And which of you by being anxious can (is able to or has the power to) add a single cubit to his life's span?

Matthew 7:18 "A good tree cannot (does not have the inherent ability  or power to) produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

Matthew 8:2 And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can (have the inherent ability or power to) make me clean."

Matthew 9:28 And after He had come into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able (have the inherent ability or power) to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." (What say you to this question? Do you believe Jesus still has the inherent ability to open our eyes to the "blind spots" in our life?)

Matthew 19:25 And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?"

Mark 1:40 And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."

Mark 2:7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Mark 4:33 And with many such parables He was speaking the word to them as they were able to hear it;

Mark 7:15 there is nothing outside the man which going into him can (has the inherent ability to) defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man...18 And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him;

Mark 8:23 And Jesus said to him, "'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes."
 

Luke 3:8 "Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

Luke 21:15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot (is not able, has no inherent ability or capability to) see the kingdom of God."

John 6:44 "No one can (has the inherent ability to) come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able (has the inherent power) to snatch them out of the Father's hand.

John 10:35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken)

John 12:39 For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Acts 4:20 for we cannot (lack the inherent ability to) stop speaking what we have seen and heard."

Acts 20:32 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Romans 8:7 (note) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8:8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:39 (note) nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 16:25 (note) Now to Him (God the Father) Who is able (present tense = He is continuously able! Do you believe this about your great God and Father? Does your life of faith demonstrate you truly believe "He is dunamai"?) to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural (not born again by the Spirit, not a new creation in Christ) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot (he does not have the inherent ability to) understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able (beyond what you have the inherent ability to endure), but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able (have the capacity, the inherent ability) to endure it.

2 Corinthians 1:4 (The Father of mercies and God of all comfort) Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able (have the capacity, inherent ability) to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Galatians 3:21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able (had the ability) to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.

Ephesians 3:20 (note) Now to Him Who is able (present tense = He is continuously able) to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

Ephesians 6:11 (note) Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able (have the ability, power or capacity) to stand firm against the schemes of the devil...6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm...6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

Philippians 3:21 (note) who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power (verb used as a noun - His inherent ability) that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

1 Timothy 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

1 Timothy 6:16 (He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords) Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; Whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 2:18 (note) For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able (present tense = He is continuously able) to come to the aid (see this great word - boetheo) of those who are tempted.

Hebrews 3:19 (note) And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:15 (note) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 5:2 (note) he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;

Hebrews 7:25 (note) Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 10:1 (note) For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never by the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

Hebrews 10:11 (note) And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can (does it have the inherent ability or power) that faith save him?

James 3:8 But no one can (has the inherent ability to) tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

James 4:12 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?

1 John 3:9 No (Greek = absolute negation) one who is born (perfect tense = speaks of the permanence of this "transaction") of God practices (