James 1:4

James 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
• New International Version (NIV)Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Context of James 1:4

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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. 6But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:4 word by word

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω, ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι.Read the interlinear

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Allowἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• perseveranceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• to finishτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• so thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• you may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• completeὁλόκληροςholoklēros · wholeG3648
• lackingλείπωleipō · to lackG3007
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ·μηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367

Cross-references for James 1:4

• James 5:7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
• Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
• Psalms 37:7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
• Psalms 40:1I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.
• Habakkuk 2:3For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
• Matthew 10:22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
• Luke 8:15But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
• Luke 21:19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
• Galatians 6:9Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
• James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
• Proverbs 4:8Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
• Matthew 5:48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• John 17:23I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.

Commentaries on James 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Let patience have her perfect work - That is, Continue faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward; for in this sense is , which we translate work, to be understood. It is any effect produced by a cause, as interest from money, fruit from tillage, gain from labor, a reward for services performed; the perfect work is the full reward. See many examples in Kypke. That ye may be perfect and entire - , Fully instructed, in every part of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But let patience have her perfect work - Let it be fairly developed; let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Every one who is afflicted should desire that the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4Enduring challenges and temptations is a common theme (1:12–15; 5:7–12). Not enduring these challenges is like a person who "wander[s] from the truth" and requires someone to "save his soul from death" (5:19–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [Menochius], and enduring to the end (Mt 10:22) [Calvin]. ye may be perfect--fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [Bengel], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Decision
• Meekness
• Patience
• Perfection
• Perseverance
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion
• Swift

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