James 1:18

James 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• New International Version (NIV)He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Context of James 1:18

16Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters. 17All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. 20For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

James 1:18 word by word

βουληθεὶς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Of his own willβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• begat heἀποκυέωapokueō · to generateG616
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• with the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
• should beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a kindτιςtis · oneG5100
• of firstfruitsἀπαρχήaparchē · firstfruitsG536
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• creaturesκτίσμαktisma · creatureG2938

Cross-references for James 1:18

• John 1:13– children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.
• John 3:3Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
• Romans 4:17(as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed – the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.
• Romans 8:29because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
• Romans 9:15For he says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
• Ephesians 2:4But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,
• Colossians 1:20and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
• 1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
• James 1:21So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
• Ephesians 1:12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory.
• 1 Peter 1:23You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
• 1 John 3:9Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God.
• Leviticus 23:10“Speak to the Israelites and tell them, ‘When you enter the land that I am about to give to you and you gather in its harvest, then you must bring the sheaf of the first portion of your harvest to the priest,
• Jeremiah 2:3Israel was set apart to the Lord; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,” says the Lord.’”

Commentaries on James 1:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Of his own will begat he us - God's will here is opposed to the lust of man, James 1:15; his truth, the means of human salvation, to the sinful means referred to in the above verse; and the new creatures, to the sin conceived and brought forth, as above. As the will of God is essentially good, all its productions must be good also; as it is infinitely pure, all its productions must be holy. The word or doctrine of truth, what St. Paul calls the word of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Of his own will - Greek “willing.” ̀ boulētheisThe idea is, that the fact that we are “begotten” to be his children is to be traced solely to his will. He purposed it, and it was done. The antecedent in the case on which all depended was the sovereign will of God. See this sentiment explained in the notes at John 1:13. Compare the notes at Ephesians 1:5. When it is said, however, that he has done this by his mere will, it is not to be inferred that there…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this world fully recompensed in that world above…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The word of truth is the good news about Jesus (1:21–23; 1 Peter 1:23–25). give us birth: The image of a mother giving birth shows the full extent of God’s parental love for his children (compare Luke 13:34; John 1:13; 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:23). a kind of firstfruits (compare Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:9–14; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Colossians 1:18): Christians are examples of the ultimate restoration of all creation (Romans 8:20–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Joh 1:13). The believer's regeneration is the highest example of nothing but good proceeding from God. Of his own will--Of his own good pleasure (which shows that it is God's essential nature to do good, not evil), not induced by any external cause. begat he us--spiritually: a once-for-all accomplished act (1Pe 1:3, 23). In contrast to "lust when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin, and sin ... death" (Jas 1:15). Life follows naturally in…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:18

• Blessing
• First Fruits
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Predestination
• Regeneration
• Word of God

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