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

4And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. 5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8being double-minded and 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• let him askαἰτέωaiteō · to askG154
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
• waveringδιακρίνωdiakrinō · to judge/doubtG1252
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• is likeεἴκωeikō · to resembleG1503
• a waveκλύδωνkludōn · wavesG2830
• of the seaθάλασσαthalassa · seaG2281
• driven with the windἀνεμίζομαιanemizō · be wind-blownG416
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• tossedῥιπίζωrhipizō · to toss aboutG4494

Cross-references for James 1:6

• Matthew 21:22And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
• Mark 11:22Jesus replied to them, “Have faith in God.
• 1 Timothy 2:8Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.
• Hebrews 11:6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
• Genesis 49:4Turbulent as water, you will not excel, because you got into your father’s bed and you defiled it — he got into my bed.
• Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
• Hebrews 10:23Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.
• Hebrews 13:9Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.
• 2 Peter 2:17These people are springs without water, mists driven by a storm. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.
• Jude 1:12These people are dangerous reefs at your love feasts as they eat with you without reverence. They are shepherds who only look after themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by winds; trees in late autumn — fruitless, twice dead and 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