James 4:15

James 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
• New International Version (NIV)Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

Context of James 4:15

13Pay attention to this! You’re saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go into some city, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money.” 14You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. What is life? You are a mist that is seen for a moment and then disappears. Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.” 16However, you brag because you’re arrogant. All such bragging is evil. 17Whoever knows what is right but doesn’t do it is sinning.

James 4:15 word by word

ἀντὶ τοῦ λέγειν ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν ὁ κύριος θελήσῃ καὶ ζήσομεν καὶ ποιήσομεν τοῦτο ἢ ἐκεῖνο.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• For thatἀντίanti · forG473
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• to sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• we shall liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• orἤē · orG2228
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565

Cross-references for James 4:15

• 2 Samuel 15:25The king told Zadok, “Take God’s ark back to the city. If the Lord looks favorably on me, he will allow me to come back and see both it and its dwelling place again.
• Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the Lord will endure.
• Lamentations 3:37Who was it who spoke and it came into being? It was the Lord who gave the order.
• Acts 18:21As he left, he told them, “I’ll come back to visit you if God wants me to.” Paul took a boat from Ephesus
• Romans 1:10every time I pray. I ask that somehow God will now at last make it possible for me to visit you.
• Romans 15:32Also pray that by the will of God I may come to you with joy and be refreshed when I am with you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:19If it’s the Lord’s will, I’ll visit you soon. Then I’ll know what these arrogant people are saying and what power they have.
• 1 Corinthians 16:7Right now all I could do is visit you briefly, but if the Lord lets me, I hope to spend some time with you.
• Hebrews 6:3If God permits, we will do this.

Commentaries on James 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For that ye ought to say - ̔· Instead of saying, or instead of which ye should say, If the Lord will, we shall live - I think St. James had another example from the rabbins in view, which is produced by Drusius, Gregory, Cartwright, and Schoettgen, on this clause: "The bride went up to her chamber, not knowing what was to befall her there." On which there is this comment: "No man should ever say that he will do this or that, without the condition If God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For that ye ought to say - Instead of what you do say, “we will go into such a city,” you ought rather to recognise your absolute dependence on God, and feel that life and success are subject to his will. The meaning is not that we ought always to be saying that in so many words, for this might become a mere ostentatious form, offensive by constant unmeaning repetition; but we are, in the proper way, to recognise our dependence on him, and to form all our…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-17Verses 11-17 Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. Christians are brethren. And to break God's commands, is to speak evil of them, and to judge them, as if they laid too great a restraint upon us. We have the law of God, which is a rule to all; let us not presume to set up our own notions and opinions as a rule to those about us, and let us be careful that we be not condemned of the Lord. "Go to now," is a call to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The Lord controls life and death (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Matthew 10:28).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Literally, "instead of your saying," &c. This refers to "ye that say" (Jas 4:13). we shall live--The best manuscripts read, "We shall both live and do," &c. The boasters spoke as if life, action, and the particular kind of action were in their power, whereas all three depend entirely on the will of the Lord.Read the comment

Topics related to James 4:15

• Commandments
• Confidence
• Covetousness
• Death
• Life
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Adulterer
• Amiss
• Consume
• Enmity
• Flee
• Hence
• Lust
• Providence
• Resist
• Sin

Commentaries on James 4

• 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