James 4:16

James 4:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
• New International Version (NIV)As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
• English Standard Version (ESV)As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Context of James 4:16

14You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. 15You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.

James 4:16 word by word

νῦν δὲ καυχᾶσθε ἐν ταῖς ἀλαζονείαις ὑμῶν· πᾶσα καύχησις τοιαύτη πονηρά ἐστιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
• ye rejoiceκαυχάομαιkauchaomai · to boastG2744
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• boastingsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• boastingsἀλαζονείαalazoneia · boastingG212
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
• rejoicingκαύχησιςkauchēsis · prideG2746
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• evilπονηρόςponēros · evil/badG4190

Cross-references for James 4:16

• James 3:14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
• Psalms 52:1Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God’s loyal love protects me all day long!
• Proverbs 25:14Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.
• Proverbs 27:1Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
• Isaiah 47:7You said, ‘I will rule forever as permanent queen!’ You did not think about these things; you did not consider how it would turn out.
• 1 Corinthians 4:7For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?
• 1 Corinthians 5:6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough?
• Revelation 18:7As much as she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’

Commentaries on James 4:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings - Ye glory in your proud and self-sufficient conduct, exulting that ye are free from the trammels of superstition, and that ye can live independently of God Almighty. All such boasting is wicked, , is impious. In an old English work, entitled, The godly man's picture drawn by a Scripture pencil, there are these words: "Some of those who despise religion say, Thank God we are not of this holy number! They who thank God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings - That is, probably, in your boastings of what you can do; your reliance on your own skill and sagacity. You form your plans for the future as if with consummate wisdom, and are confident of success. You do not anticipate a failure; you do not see how plans so skilfully formed can fail. You form them as if you were certain that you would live; as if secure from the numberless casualties which may defeat your schemes…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. 16Christians can proudly share what God has done (1:9–10). But they should not brag about their own plans. When people make plans without considering God's will, they act as if they control their own future. These kinds of plans assume that God has no authority over people's lives.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. now--as it is. rejoice in ... boastings--"ye boast in arrogant presumptions," namely, vain confident fancies that the future is certain to you (Jas 4:13). rejoicing--boasting [Bengel].Read the comment

Topics related to James 4:16

• Boasting
• Covetousness
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

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

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