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 among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.

James 3:15 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• wisdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• descendethκατέρχομαιkaterchomai · to descendG2718
• notοὐou · noG3756
• from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• earthlyἐπίγειοςepigeios · earthlyG1919
• sensualψυχικόςpsuchikos · naturalG5591
• devilishδαιμονιώδηςdaimoniōdēs · demonicG1141

Cross-references for James 3:15

• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense.
• James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God — who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly — and it will be given to him.
• John 3:17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans?
• Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things.
• 2 Samuel 13:3Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
• 2 Samuel 15:31Then someone reported to David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” “Lord,” David pleaded, “please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
• 2 Samuel 16:23Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God — such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.
• Jeremiah 4:22“For my people are fools; they do not know me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good.”
• Luke 16:8“The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people.
• Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they became fools
• 1 Corinthians 1:19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness;
• 2 Corinthians 1:12Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace.
• Jude 1:19These people create divisions and are worldly, not having 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