James 3:13

James 3:13 in other versions

• New International Version (NIV)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

Context of James 3:13

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

James 3:13 word by word

Τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν; δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας.Read the interlinear

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• a wise manσοφόςsophos · wiseG4680
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• endued with knowledgeἐπιστήμωνepistēmōn · knowingG1990
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• let him shewδεικνύωdeiknuō · to showG1166
• out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• a goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• conversationἀναστροφήanastrophē · behaviourG391
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• meeknessπραΰτηςprautēs · gentlenessG4240
• of wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678

Cross-references for James 3:13

• James 3:1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
• Psalms 107:43Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.
• Ecclesiastes 8:1Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
• Jeremiah 9:12Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?
• Matthew 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
• 1 Corinthians 6:5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
• Galatians 6:4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
• 2 Chronicles 2:12Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.
• Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
• Isaiah 11:3And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
• Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
• James 2:18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
• Isaiah 60:6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 8:24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
• 1 Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
• Philippians 1:27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Commentaries on James 3:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Who is a wise man - One truly religious; who, although he can neither bridle nor tame other men's tongues, can restrain his own. And endued with knowledge - · And qualified to teach others. Let him show - Let him by a holy life and chaste conversation show, through meekness and gentleness, joined to his Divine information, that he is a Christian indeed; his works and his spirit proving that God is in him of a truth; and that, from the fullness of a holy…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? - This is spoken with reference to the work of public teaching; and the meaning of the apostle is, that if there were such persons among them, they should be selected for that office. The characteristics here stated as necessary qualifications, are wisdom and knowledge. Those, it would seem, on which reliance had been placed, were chiefly those which were connected with a ready elocution, or the mere…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. 13Who is wise and understanding among you: The wisdom from God is not only skill of intelligence or a collection of facts (1:5). It is practical insight and spiritual understanding that shows in moral behavior, as described in 3:17–18 (see also Job 28:28; Proverbs 1:2–4; 2:10–15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Who--(Compare Psa 34:12, 13). All wish to appear "wise": few are so. show--"by works," and not merely by profession, referring to Jas 2:18. out of a good conversation his works--by general "good conduct" manifested in particular "works." "Wisdom" and "knowledge," without these being "shown," are as dead as faith would be without works [Alford]. with meekness of wisdom--with the meekness inseparable from true "wisdom."Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:13

• Meekness
• Minister, Christian
• Righteousness
• Speaking
• Wisdom
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Wise, Man
• Course
• Governor
• Meekness
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Conversation
• good, right, pleasant, better, best, goodness

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