American Standard Version
James 3:13
13Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
James 3:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
- New International Version (NIV)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Context of James 3:13
11Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter? 12can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? neither can salt water yield sweet. Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Read all of James 3James 3:13 word by word
Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν; δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for James 3:13
- James 3:1Be not manyof youteachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
- Psalms 107:43Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah.
- Ecclesiastes 8:1Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
- Jeremiah 9:12Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken, that he may declare it? wherefore is the land perished and burned up like a wilderness, so that none passeth through?
- Matthew 7:24Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:
- 1 Corinthians 6:5I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren,
- Galatians 6:4But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.
- 2 Chronicles 2:12Huram said moreover, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.
- Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.
- Isaiah 11:3And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;
- Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding;
- James 2:18Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.
- Isaiah 60:6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah.
- 2 Corinthians 8:24Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
- 1 Peter 2:9But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Philippians 1:27Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;
Commentaries on James 3:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Who is a wise man - One truly religious; who, although he can neither bridle nor tame other men's tongues, can restrain his own. And endued with knowledge - · And qualified to teach others. Let him show - Let him by a holy life and chaste conversation show, through meekness and gentleness, joined to his Divine information, that he is a Christian indeed; his works and his spirit proving that God is in him of a truth; and that, from the fullness of a holy…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? - This is spoken with reference to the work of public teaching; and the meaning of the apostle is, that if there were such persons among them, they should be selected for that office. The characteristics here stated as necessary qualifications, are wisdom and knowledge. Those, it would seem, on which reliance had been placed, were chiefly those which were connected with a ready elocution, or the mere…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13Who is wise and understanding among you: The wisdom from God is not only skill of intelligence or a collection of facts (1:5). It is practical insight and spiritual understanding that shows in moral behavior, as described in 3:17–18 (see also Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:2–4; 2:10–15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Who--(Compare Psa 34:12, 13). All wish to appear "wise": few are so. show--"by works," and not merely by profession, referring to Jas 2:18. out of a good conversation his works--by general "good conduct" manifested in particular "works." "Wisdom" and "knowledge," without these being "shown," are as dead as faith would be without works [Alford]. with meekness of wisdom--with the meekness inseparable from true "wisdom."Read the comment
Topics related to James 3:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on James 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries