James 3:15

James 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
• New International Version (NIV)Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
• English Standard Version (ESV)This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Context of James 3:15

13Who 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. This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed. 17But 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.

James 3:15 word by word

οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη ἡ σοφία ἄνωθεν κατερχομένη, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίγειος ψυχικὴ δαιμονιώδης.Read the interlinear

• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• downκατέρχομαιkaterchomai · to descendG2718
• earthlyἐπίγειοςepigeios · earthlyG1919

Cross-references for James 3:15

• James 3:17But 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.
• James 1:5But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
• John 3:17For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?
• Philippians 3:19whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
• 2 Samuel 13:3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.
• 2 Samuel 15:31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
• 2 Samuel 16:23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
• Jeremiah 4:22For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
• Luke 16:8And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.
• Romans 1:22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
• 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our glorying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
• Jude 1:19These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Commentaries on James 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above - God is not the author of it, because it is bitter - not meek. See at the end of this chapter. Is earthly - Having this life only in view. Sensual - · Animal - having for its object the gratification of the passions and animal propensities. Devilish - · Demoniacal - inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:3. The wisdom here referred to is that carnal or worldly wisdom which produces strife and contention; that kind of knowledge which leads to self-conceit, and which prompts a man to defend his opinions with over-heated zeal. In the contentions which are in the world, in church and state, in neighborhoods and families, at the bar, in political life, and in theological disputes…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. 15Earthly wisdom is not part of God's good creation. It is the opposite of heavenly wisdom because it leaves out God. It is unspiritual because it does not acknowledge or respond to God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14; Jude 1:19). It is demonic because it comes from the devil, who is the ultimate source of this wisdom that destroys (James 3:6; 4:6; 1 Timothy 4:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. This wisdom--in which ye "glory," as if ye were "wise" (Jas 3:13, 14). descendeth not from above--literally, "is not one descending," &c.: "from the Father of lights" (true illumination and wisdom), Jas 1:17; through "the Spirit of truth," Joh 15:26. earthly--opposed to heavenly. Distinct from "earthy," 1Co 15:47. Earthly is what is IN the earth; earthy, what is of the earth. sensual--literally, "animal-like": the wisdom of the "natural" (the same…Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:15

• Righteousness
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Earthly
• James, Epistle of
• Sensual
• demon, evil spirit, unclean spirit

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