Berean Standard Bible
James 1:17
17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.1
James 1:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
- New International Version (NIV)Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Context of James 1:17
15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation. 19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
Read all of James 1James 1:17 word by word
πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον ἄνωθέν ἐστιν καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν φώτων παρ᾽ ᾧ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγὴ ἢ τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα.Read the interlinear
- Everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- goodδόσιςdosis · giftG1394
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
- giftδώρημαdōrēma · free giftG1434
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
- coming downκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- of the heavenly lightsφῶςphōs · lightG5457
- withπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- there isἔνιeni · there isG1762
- noοὐou · noG3756
- changeπαραλλαγήparallagē · variationG3883
- orἤē · orG2228
- shiftingτροπήtropē · turningG5157
- shadowἀποσκίασμαaposkiasma · shadowG644
Cross-references for James 1:17
- James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- James 3:15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- Genesis 41:16“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
- Exodus 4:11And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
- Exodus 31:3And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
- Exodus 36:1“So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.”
- Numbers 11:17And I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put that Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.
- 1 Chronicles 22:12Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.
- 1 Chronicles 29:19And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”
- 2 Chronicles 1:11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or honor for yourself or death for your enemies—and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king—
- Proverbs 2:6For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Isaiah 28:26For his God instructs and teaches him properly.
- Daniel 2:21He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
- Matthew 7:11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Matthew 13:11He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Commentaries on James 1:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above - Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself. As from the sun, which is the father or fountain of light, all light comes; so from God, who is the infinite Fountain, Father, and Source of good, all good comes. And whatever can be called good, or pure, or light, or excellence of any kind, must necessarily spring from him, as he is the only source of all goodness and perfection…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift - The difference between good and perfect here, it is not easy to mark accurately. It may be that the former means that which is benevolent in its character and tendency; the latter that which is entire, where there is nothing even apparently wanting to complete it; where it can be regarded as good as a whole and in all its parts. The general sense is, that God is the author of all good. Every thing that is good on…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this world fully recompensed in that world above…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17God is the Father of the heavenly lights (see footnote). This is because he created everything in the sky (Genesis 1:3, 14–17). Unlike the moving lights in the sky, God never changes or casts a shifting shadow.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. gift ... gift--not the same words in Greek: the first, the act of giving, or the gift in its initiatory stage; the second, the thing given, the boon, when perfected. As the "good gift" stands in contrast to "sin" in its initiatory stage (Jas 1:15), so the "perfect boon" is in contrast to "sin when it is finished," bringing forth death (2Pe 1:3). from above--(Compare Jas 3:15). Father of lights--Creator of the lights in heaven (compare Job 38:28…Read the comment
Topics related to James 1:17
In the dictionaries
Notes
- 1. James 1:17 Or no change or shadow of turning. ↩
Commentaries on James 1
- 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
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- 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
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