James 3

James · Chapter 3

James 3:17

1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

James 3:13-18Wisdom from above

About James 3"Be not many masters," James warns, for teachers "shall receive the greater condemnation," and anyone who does not offend "in word" is "a perfect man." The tongue is like a bit or a helm, small but steering much: "the tongue is a fire," which "can no man tame," and "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing." True wisdom is shown by good conduct "with meekness," and "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits." James 3:1James 3:2James 3:3James 3:4James 3:6James 3:8James 3:10James 3:13James 3:17James overview

Why this verse matters here"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy." James 3:17James 3:18

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
ButδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

the from aboveἄνωθενanōthenG0509
from above/again

ἄνωθεν (anōthen) ἄνωθεν adv (ἄνω), (a) from above: ἀπὸ ἄ., Mat.27:51, Mrk.15:38; ἐκ τῶν ἄ., Jhn.19:28; meaning, from heaven: Jhn.3:31 19:11, Jas.1:17 3:15, 17 . (b) from the first, from the beginning: Luk.1:3, Act.26:5; whence (with) anew, again: Jhn.3:3, 7, (so most, but see Meyer, in l; cf. Field, Notes, 86 f.); πάλιν ἄ., Gal.4:9 (MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

wisdomσοφίαsophiaG4678
wisdom

σοφία (sophia) σοφία, -ας, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for חׇכְמָה ;] skill, intelligence, wisdom, ranging from knowledge of the arts and matters of daily life to mental excellence in its highest and fullest sense; (a) of human wisdom: 1Co.2:1 2:4-5, Jas.3:15, Rev.13:18 17:9; σ. Σολομῶνος, Mat.12:42, Luk.11:31; Αἰγυπτίων, Act.7:22; Ἕλληνες σ. ζητοῦσιν, 1Co.1:22; σ. λόγου, 1Co.1:17; τ. σοφῶν, 1Co.1:19 (LXX); τ. κόσμου, 1Co.1:20-21 3:19; ἀνθρωπίνη, 1Co.2:13; σαρκική, 2Co.1:12; …

firstπρῶτονprōtonG4413G
first

πρῶτον (prōton) πρῶτον, πρῶτος, see: πρότερος A. Compar., πρότερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX for רִאשׁוֹן ,לִפָנִים, etc. ;] before, of time, place, rank, etc.; in NT always of Time, before, former: Eph.4:22. Adverbially, πρότερον, before, aforetime, formerly: Jhn.7:50, 2Co.1:15, Heb.4:6; opposite to ἔπειτα, Heb.7:27; τὸ π., Jhn.6:62 9:8, Gal.4:13, 1Ti.1:13; αἱ π. ἡμέραι, Heb.10:32; αἱ π. ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.1:14.† (AS)

indeedμὲνmenG3303
on the other hand

μέν (men) μέν, conjunctive particle (originally a form of μήν), usually related to a following δέ or other adversative conjunction, and distinguishing the word or clause with which it stands from that which follows. It is generally untranslatable and is not nearly so frequent in NT as in cl. Like δέ, it never stands first in a clause. …

pureἁγνήhagnēG0053
pure

ἁγνός (hagnos) ἁγνός, -ή, -όν (ἅγος, see: ἅγιος), [in LXX chiefly for טָהוֹר (Pss, and Pr. only), also 2Ma.13:8, 4Ma.18:7, al. ;] 1. free from ceremonial defilement, in a condition prepared for worship (for exx. of pagan usage, V. MM, VGT, see word). 2. holy, sacred, venerable (II Mac, l.with). 3. As in OT (cl.), pure, chaste, undefiled, guiltless; (a) of persons: 2Co.7:11 11:12, 1Ti.5:22, Tit.2:5, 1Jn.3:3; (b) of things: Php.4:8, Jas.3:17, 1Pe.3:2. …

is,ἐστιν,estinG1510
you are

εἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

thenἔπειταepeitaG1899
then

ἔπειτα (epeita) ἐπειτα, adv. of sequence [in LXX: Num.19:10 A, Isa.16:2, 4Ma.6:3 * ;] thereupon, thereafter, then: Luk.16:7, Gal.1:21, Jas.4:14; before μετὰ τοῦτο, Jhn.11:7; μετὰ ἔτη τρία, Gal.1:18; διὰ δεκατεσσάρων ἐτῶν, Gal.2:1; πρῶτον . . . ἔ., 1Co.15:46, 1Th.4:17, Heb.7:2; πρότεφον . . . ἔ, Heb.7:27; ἀπαρχὴ . . . ἔ., 1Co.15:23; εἶτα . . . ἔ., 1Co.15:5-6 (WH, txt.); . . . ἔ., 1Co.15:5-7 (WH, mg.); τρίτον . . . ἔ. (his), 1Co.12:28.† (AS)

peaceable,εἰρηνική,eirēnikēG1516
peaceful

εἰρηνικός (eirēnikos) είρηνικός, -ή, -όν (εἰρήνη), [in LXX for שָׁלוֹם and cognates ;] peaceful: Heb.12:11, Jas.3:17.† (AS)

gentle,ἐπιεικής,epieikēsG1933
gentle

ἐπιεικής (epieikēs) ἐπιεικής, -ές (εἰκός, likely), [in LXX: Psa.86:5 (סַלָּח), Est.8:13 * ;] 1. seemly, fitting (Hom.). 2. equitable, fair, moderate: 1Ti.3:3, Tit.3:2, 1Pe.2:18, Jas.3:17; τὸ ἐ. (Thuc., i, 76), Php.4:5 (cf. Mayor, Ja, l.with, and see: ἐπιεικία).† ἐπιείκεια see: ἐπιεικία ἐπιεικία (Rec. -είκεια), -ας, ἡ (ἐπιεικής), [in LXX: Wis.2:19 12:18 Bar.2:27, from LXX Bar.4:24, TH (3:42), 2Ma.2:22 2Mac 10:4, 3Ma.3:15 3Mac 7:6 * ;] fairness, moderation, gentleness ("sweet reasonableness," Matthew Arnold): Act.24:4; with πραΰτης, 2Co.10:1.† SYN.: πραΰτης (see Tr., Syn., § xliii) (AS)

reasonable,εὐπειθής,eupeithēsG2138
compliant

εὐπειθής (eupeithēs) εὐ-πειθής, ές, (εὖ, πείθομαι), [in LXX: 4Ma.12:6 AR* ;] ready to obey, compliant: Jas.3:17.† (AS)

fullμεστὴmestēG3324
full

μεστός (mestos) μεστός, -ή, -όν [in LXX: Nam.1:10, Eze.37:1 (מָלֵא), Est.5:2, Pro.6:34 * ;] full: with genitive of thing(s), Jhn.19:29 21:11, Jas.3:8; metaphorically, of thoughts and feelings, Mat.23:28, Rom.1:29 15:14, 2Pe.2:14, Jas.3:17 (cf. Pr, l.with).† (AS)

of mercyἐλέουςeleousG1656
mercy

ἔλεος (eleos) ἔλεος, -ους, τό (cl. -ου, ὁ, and so Rec., Mat.9:13 12:7 23:23, Tit.3:5, Heb.4:16; on the Hellenistic form τό ἔ., see WH, App., 158; M, Pr., 60; Mayser, 277; Kühner, i, 515), [in LXX chiefly for חֶסֶד ;] mercy, pity, compassion; 1. of men: Mat.9:13 (LXX) Mat.12:7 23:23; ποιεῖν ἔ. (and id. before μετά, with genitive; cf. Heb. עִם חֶסֶד עָשָׂה, Gen.21:23, al.), Luk.10:37, Jas.2:13 3:17. …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

of fruitsκαρπῶνkarpōnG2590
fruit

καρπός (karpos) καρπός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for פְּרִי ;] fruit: of trees, Mat.12:33 21:19, Mrk.11:14, Luk.6:44 13:6-7; of vines, Mat.21:34, Mrk.12:2, Luk.20:10, 1Co.9:7; of fields, Mrk.4:29, Luk.12:17, 2Ti.2:6, Jas.5:7; βλαστάνειν, Jas.5:18; ποιεῖν (cf. Heb. פְּרִי עָשָׂה), Mat.3:10 7:17-19 13:26, Luk.3:9 6:43 8:8 13:9, Rev.22:2; διδόναι, Mat.13:8, Mrk.4:7-8; φέρειν, Mat.7:18, Jhn.12:24 15:2, 4-5 15:8, 16; ἀποδιδόναι, Mat.21:41, Rev.22:2; ὁ κ. τ. κοιλίας (בֶּטֶן פְּרִי, Deu.28:4), Luk.1:42; τ. ὀσφύος (Gen.30:2, al.), Act.2:30. Metaphorical, …

good,ἀγαθῶν,agathōnG0018
good

ἀγαθός (agathos) ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν, [in LXX chiefly for טוֹב ;] in general, good, in physical and in moral sense, used of persons, things, acts, conditions, etc., applied to that which is regarded as "perfect in its kind, so as to produce pleasure and satisfaction, . . . that which, in itself good, is also at once for the good and the advantage of him who comes in contact with it" (Cremer, 3): γῆ, Luk.8:8; δένδρον, Mat.7:18; καρδία, Luk.8:15; δόσις, Jas.1:17; μέρις, Luk.10:42; ἔργον (frequently in Pl.), Php.1:6; ἐλπίς, 2Th.2:16; θησαυρός, Mat.12:35; μνεία, 1Th.3:6 (cf. 2Ma.7:20); as subst., τὸ ἀ, that which is …

impartial,ἀδιάκριτος,adiakritosG0087
impartial

ἀδιάκριτος (adiakritos) ἀ-διά-κριτος, -ον (διακρίνω), [in LXX: Pro.25:1 * ;] 1. not to be parted, mixed, undistinguishable (cf. Pr, l.with, and see Lft., Ignat. Eph., §3). 2. without uncertainty (Hort, in l., but see MM, VGT, see word): Jas.3:17. † (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

sincere.ἀνυπόκριτος.anupokritosG0505
genuine

ἀνυπόκριτος (anupokritos) ἀν-υπόκριτος, -ον (ά- neg., ὑποκρίνομαι) [in LXX: Wis.5:18 18:16 * ;] unfeigned: Rom.12:9, 2Co.6:6, 1Ti.1:5, 2Ti.1:5, Jas.3:17, 1Pe.1:22 (Cremer, 380; MM, VGT, see word).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.