James 1:18

James 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• New International Version (NIV)He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Context of James 1:18

16My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled. 17Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn’t change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon. God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures. 19Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily. 20An angry person doesn’t do what God approves of.

James 1:18 word by word

βουληθεὶς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Of his own willβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• begat heἀποκυέωapokueō · to generateG616
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• with the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• should beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a kindτιςtis · oneG5100
• of firstfruitsἀπαρχήaparchē · firstfruitsG536
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• creaturesκτίσμαktisma · creatureG2938

Cross-references for James 1:18

• John 1:13These people didn’t become God’s children in a physical way—from a human impulse or from a husband’s desire ⌞to have a child⌟. They were born from God.
• John 3:3Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.”
• Romans 4:17as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.” Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.
• Romans 8:29This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children.
• Romans 9:15For example, God said to Moses, “I will be kind to anyone I want to. I will be merciful to anyone I want to.”
• Ephesians 2:4But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us.
• Colossians 1:20God was also pleased to bring everything on earth and in heaven back to himself through Christ. He did this by making peace through Christ’s blood sacrificed on the cross.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13We always have to thank God for you, brothers and sisters. You are loved by the Lord and we thank God that in the beginning he chose you to be saved through a life of spiritual devotion and faith in the truth.
• 1 Peter 1:3Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! God has given us a new birth because of his great mercy. We have been born into a new life that has a confidence which is alive because Jesus Christ has come back to life.
• James 1:21So get rid of all immoral behavior and all the wicked things you do. Humbly accept the word that God has placed in you. This word can save you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don’t have many ⌞spiritual⌟ fathers. I became your father in the Christian life by telling you the Good News about Christ Jesus.
• Ephesians 1:12He planned all of this so that we who had already focused our hope on Christ would praise him and give him glory.
• 1 Peter 1:23You have been born again, not from a seed that can be destroyed, but through God’s everlasting word that can’t be destroyed. That’s why ⌞Scripture says⌟,
• 1 John 3:9Those who have been born from God don’t live sinful lives. What God has said lives in them, and they can’t live sinful lives. They have been born from God.
• Leviticus 23:10“Tell the Israelites: When you come to the land I am going to give you and you harvest grain, bring the priest a bundle of the first grain you harvest.
• Jeremiah 2:3Israel was set apart for the Lord. It was the best part of the harvest. All who devoured it became guilty, and disaster struck them,’ ” declares the Lord.

Commentaries on James 1:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Of his own will begat he us - God's will here is opposed to the lust of man, James 1:15; his truth, the means of human salvation, to the sinful means referred to in the above verse; and the new creatures, to the sin conceived and brought forth, as above. As the will of God is essentially good, all its productions must be good also; as it is infinitely pure, all its productions must be holy. The word or doctrine of truth, what St. Paul calls the word of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Of his own will - Greek “willing.” ̀ boulētheisThe idea is, that the fact that we are “begotten” to be his children is to be traced solely to his will. He purposed it, and it was done. The antecedent in the case on which all depended was the sovereign will of God. See this sentiment explained in the notes at John 1:13. Compare the notes at Ephesians 1:5. When it is said, however, that he has done this by his mere will, it is not to be inferred that there…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. 18The word of truth is the good news about Jesus (1:21–23; 1 Peter 1:23–25). give us birth: The image of a mother giving birth shows the full extent of God’s parental love for his children (compare Luke 13:34; John 1:13; 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:23). a kind of firstfruits (compare Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:9–14; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Colossians 1:18): Christians are examples of the ultimate restoration of all creation (Romans 8:20–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Joh 1:13). The believer's regeneration is the highest example of nothing but good proceeding from God. Of his own will--Of his own good pleasure (which shows that it is God's essential nature to do good, not evil), not induced by any external cause. begat he us--spiritually: a once-for-all accomplished act (1Pe 1:3, 23). In contrast to "lust when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin, and sin ... death" (Jas 1:15). Life follows naturally in…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:18

• Blessing
• First Fruits
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Predestination
• Regeneration
• Word of God

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