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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Context of James 1:4

2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But 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.

James 1:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• let patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• entireὁλόκληροςholoklēros · wholeG3648
• wantingλείπωleipō · to lackG3007
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367

Cross-references for James 1:4

• James 5:7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
• Job 17:9Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger.
• Psalms 37:7Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
• Psalms 40:1I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
• Habakkuk 2:3For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
• Matthew 10:22and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Luke 8:15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
• Luke 21:19By your endurance you will gain your lives.
• Galatians 6:9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.
• Proverbs 4:8Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
• Matthew 5:48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• John 17:23I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the 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