God’s Word Translation
James 3:18
18A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.
James 3:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
- New International Version (NIV)Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Context of James 3:18
16Wherever there is jealousy and rivalry, there is disorder and every kind of evil. 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. A harvest that has God’s approval comes from the peace planted by peacemakers.
Read all of James 3James 3:18 word by word
καρπὸς δὲ δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for James 3:18
- James 1:20An angry person doesn’t do what God approves of.
- Proverbs 11:18A wicked person earns dishonest wages, but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.
- Isaiah 32:16Then justice will live in the wilderness, and righteousness will be at home in the fertile field.
- Hosea 10:12“Break new ground. Plant righteousness, and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me.” It’s time to seek the Lord! When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you.
- Matthew 5:9Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called God’s children.
- John 4:36The person who harvests the crop is already getting paid. He is gathering grain for eternal life. So the person who plants the grain and the person who harvests it are happy together.
- Philippians 1:11Jesus Christ will fill your lives with everything that God’s approval produces. Your lives will then bring glory and praise to God.
- Hebrews 12:11We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.
Commentaries on James 3:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown - The whole is the principle of righteousness in the soul, and all the above virtues are the fruits of that righteousness. Is sown in peace - When the peace of God rules the heart, all these virtues and graces grow and flourish abundantly. Of them that make peace - The peace-makers are continually recommending this wisdom to others, and their own conduct is represented as a sowing of heavenly seed, which brings forth…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18And the fruit of righteousness - That which the righteousness here referred to produces, or that which is the effect of true religion. The meaning is, that righteousness or true religion produces certain results on the life like the effects of seed sown in good ground. Righteousness or true religion as certainly produces such effects, as seed that is sown produces a harvest. Is sown in peace - Is scattered over the world in a peaceful manner. That is, it…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. 18James uses a farming image to highlight the benefits of living by wisdom from above. Those who sow in peace in relationships will reap a rich harvest of righteousness in those relationships (see Matthew 5:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. "The peaceable fruit of righteousness." He says "righteousness"; because it is itself the true wisdom. As in the case of the earthly wisdom, after the characteristic description came its results; so in this verse, in the case of the heavenly wisdom. There the results were present; here, future. fruit ... sown--Compare Psa 97:11; Is 61:3, "trees of righteousness." Anticipatory, that is, the seed whose "fruit," namely, "righteousness," shall be…Read the comment
Topics related to James 3:18
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries