James 1:15

James 1:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
• New International Version (NIV)Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
• New Living Translation (NLT)These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Context of James 1:15

13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every 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.

James 1:15 word by word

εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν, ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα ἀποκύει θάνατον.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Then whenεἶταeita · thenG1534
• lustἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
• hath conceivedσυλλαμβάνωsullambanō · to seize/conceive/helpG4815
• it bringeth forthτίκτωtiktō · to give birth toG5088
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• andδέde · thenG1161
• when it is finishedἀποτελέωapoteleō · to completeG658
• bringeth forthἀποκυέωapokueō · to generateG616
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288

Cross-references for James 1:15

• Genesis 3:6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
• Genesis 4:5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
• Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil, and their womb prepares deceit."
• Psalms 7:14Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
• Isaiah 59:4No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
• Micah 2:1Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.
• Matthew 26:14Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
• Acts 5:1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
• Genesis 2:17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
• Genesis 3:17And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
• Psalms 9:17The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
• Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
• Romans 6:21But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
• Revelation 20:14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

Commentaries on James 1:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15When lust hath conceived - When the evil propensity works unchecked, it bringeth forth sin - the evil act between the parties is perpetrated. And sin, when it is finished - When this breach of the law of God and of innocence has been a sufficient time completed, it bringeth forth death - the spurious offspring is the fruit of the criminal connection, and the evidence of that death or punishment due to the transgressors. Any person acquainted with the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Then when lust hath conceived - Compare Job 15:35. The allusion here is obvious. The meaning is, when the desire which we have naturally is quickened, or made to act, the result is that sin is produced. As our desires of good lie in the mind by nature, as our propensities exist as they were created, they cannot be regarded as sin, or treated as such; but when they are indulged, when plans of gratification are formed, when they are developed in actual…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. 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin: James describes sin as if it were a baby. If this “baby” sin becomes mature, it results in death. This spiritual death stands in direct opposition to "crown of life" (1:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. The guilty union is committed by the will embracing the temptress. "Lust," the harlot, then, "brings forth sin," namely, of that kind to which the temptation inclines. Then the particular sin (so the Greek implies), "when it is completed, brings forth death," with which it was all along pregnant [Alford]. This "death" stands in striking contrast to the "crown of life" (Jas 1:12) which "patience" or endurance ends in, when it has its "perfect work"…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:15

• Death
• Lust
• Sin
• Temptation
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

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

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