God’s Word Translation
James 3:17
17However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere.
James 3:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
- New International Version (NIV)But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Context of James 3:17
15That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic. 16Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil. However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure. Then it is peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good deeds, impartial, and sincere. 18A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.
Read all of James 3James 3:17 word by word
Ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- the wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
- that isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
- is firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- pureἁγνόςhagnos · pureG53
- thenἔπειταepeita · thenG1899
- peaceableεἰρηνικόςeirēnikos · peacefulG1516
- gentleἐπιεικήςepieikēs · gentleG1933
- easy to be intreatedεὐπειθήςeupeithēs · compliantG2138
- fullμεστόςmestos · fullG3324
- of mercyἔλεοςeleos · mercyG1656
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- fruitsκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
- without partialityἀδιάκριτοςadiakritos · impartialG87
- without hypocrisyἀνυπόκριτοςanupokritos · genuineG505
Cross-references for James 3:17
- James 3:15That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic.
- James 1:5If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them.
- Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked his servants, “Can we find anyone like this—a man who has God’s Spirit in him?”
- Exodus 36:2Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every other craftsman to whom the Lord had given these skills and who was willing to come and do the work.
- 1 Kings 3:9Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
- 1 Chronicles 22:12The Lord will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of the Lord your God.
- Job 28:12“Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding live?
- Proverbs 2:6The Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Isaiah 11:2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of advice and power, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
- Daniel 1:17God gave these four men knowledge, wisdom, and the ability to understand all kinds of literature. Daniel could also understand all kinds of visions and dreams.
- Luke 21:15I will give you words and wisdom that none of your enemies will be able to oppose or prove wrong.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow.
- 1 Corinthians 12:8The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another person the ability to speak with knowledge.
- James 4:8Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners, and clear your minds, you doubters.
- Malachi 3:3He will act like a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify Levi’s sons and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will bring acceptable offerings to the Lord.
- Matthew 5:8Blessed are those whose thoughts are pure. They will see God.
Commentaries on James 3:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The wisdom that is from above - The pure religion of the Lord Jesus, bought by his blood, and infused by his Spirit. See the rabbinical meaning of this phrase at the end of this chapter. Is first pure - ̔· Chaste, holy, and clean. Peaceable - · Living in peace with others, and promoting peace among men. Gentle - · Meek, modest, of an equal mind, taking every thing in good part, and putting the best construction upon all the actions of others. Easy to be…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17But the wisdom that is from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. The wisdom which has a heavenly origin, or which is from God. The man who is characterised by that wisdom will be pure, peaceable, etc. This does not refer to the doctrines of religion, but to its spirit. Is first pure - That is, the first effect of it on the mind is to make it pure. The influence on the man is to make him upright, sincere, candid, holy. The word here used ( ̔…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
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. first pure--literally, "chaste," "sanctified": pure from all that is "earthly, sensual (animal), devilish" (Jas 3:15). This is put, "first of all," before "peaceable" because there is an unholy peace with the world which makes no distinction between clean and unclean. Compare "undefiled" and "unspotted from the world," Jas 1:27; 4:4, 8, "purify ... hearts"; 1Pe 1:22, "purified ... souls" (the same Greek). Ministers must not preach before a purifying…Read the comment
Topics related to James 3:17
In the dictionaries
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
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