James 1:6

James 1:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
• New International Version (NIV)But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Context of James 1:6

4Allow 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. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:6 word by word

αἰτείτω δὲ ἐν πίστει μηδὲν διακρινόμενος· ὁ γὰρ διακρινόμενος ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ.Read the interlinear

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• he must askαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• withoutμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
• doubtingδιακρίνωdiakrinō · to judge/doubtG1252
• becauseγάρgar · forG1063
• he whoὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• is likeεἴκωeikō · to resembleG1503
• a waveκλύδωνkludōn · wavesG2830
• of the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• blownἀνεμίζομαιanemizō · be wind-blownG416
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• tossed by the windῥιπίζωrhipizō · to toss aboutG4494

Cross-references for James 1:6

• Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
• Mark 11:22“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.
• 1 Timothy 2:8Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
• Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
• Genesis 49:4Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.
• Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
• Hebrews 10:23Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
• Hebrews 13:9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
• 2 Peter 2:17These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
• Jude 1:12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.

Commentaries on James 1:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Let him ask in faith - Believing that God IS; that he has all good; and that he is ever ready to impart to his creatures whatever they need. Nothing wavering - · Not judging otherwise; having no doubt concerning the truth of these grand and fundamental principles, never supposing that God will permit him to ask in vain, when he asks sincerely and fervently. Let him not hesitate, let him not be irresolute; no man can believe too much good of God. Is like a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6But let him ask in faith - See the passages referred to in James 1:5. Compare the Matthew 7:7 note, and Hebrews 11:6 note. We cannot hope to obtain any favor from God if there is not faith; and where, as in regard to the wisdom necessary to guide us, we are sure that it is in accordance with his will to grant it to us, we may come to him with the utmost confidence, the most entire assurance, that it will be granted. In this case, we should come to God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6without doubting, because he who doubts: The Greek is often translated "Do not doubt, for a person who doubts," but it means someone torn between loyalty to God and the world (see 1:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. ask in faith--that is, the persuasion that God can and will give. James begins and ends with faith. In the middle of the Epistle he removes the hindrances to faith and shows its true character [Bengel]. wavering--between belief and unbelief. Compare the case of the Israelites, who seemed to partly believe in God's power, but leaned more to unbelief by "limiting" it. On the other hand, compare Ac 10:20; Ro 4:20 ("staggered not ... through unbelief,"…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:6

• Character
• Faith
• Heart
• Ignorance
• Instability
• Prayer
• Unbelief
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• the sea, the Great Sea, the western sea
• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion

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