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

2My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 5But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• let patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• entireὁλόκληροςholoklēros · wholeG3648
• wantingλείπωleipō · to lackG3007
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367

Cross-references for James 1:4

• James 5:7So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.
• Job 17:9But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
• Psalms 37:7Wait patiently for the Lord! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!
• Psalms 40:1I relied completely on the Lord, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help.
• Habakkuk 2:3For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out. Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass – it will not arrive late.
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
• Luke 8:15But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.
• Luke 21:19By your endurance you will gain your lives.
• Galatians 6:9So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.
• Proverbs 4:8Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.
• Matthew 5:48So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• John 17:23I in them and you in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature 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