James 1:4

James 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
• New International Version (NIV)Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Context of James 1:4

2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:4 word by word

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω, ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι.Read the interlinear

• enduranceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• resultἔργονergon · workG2041
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• and completeὁλόκληροςholoklēros · wholeG3648
• lackingλείπωleipō · to lackG3007
• in nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367

Cross-references for James 1:4

• James 5:7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
• Job 17:9Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way, And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
• Psalms 37:7Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
• Psalms 40:1I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
• Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
• Matthew 10:22You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
• Luke 8:15But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
• Luke 21:19By your endurance you will gain your lives.
• Galatians 6:9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.
• Proverbs 4:8Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her.
• Matthew 5:48Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• John 17:23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

Commentaries on James 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Let patience have her perfect work - That is, Continue faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward; for in this sense is , which we translate work, to be understood. It is any effect produced by a cause, as interest from money, fruit from tillage, gain from labor, a reward for services performed; the perfect work is the full reward. See many examples in Kypke. That ye may be perfect and entire - , Fully instructed, in every part of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But let patience have her perfect work - Let it be fairly developed; let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Every one who is afflicted should desire that the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4Enduring challenges and temptations is a common theme (1:12–15; 5:7–12). Not enduring these challenges is like a person who "wander[s] from the truth" and requires someone to "save his soul from death" (5:19–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [Menochius], and enduring to the end (Mt 10:22) [Calvin]. ye may be perfect--fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [Bengel], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Decision
• Meekness
• Patience
• Perfection
• Perseverance
• Temptation

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