James 4:6

James 4:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
• New International Version (NIV)But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Context of James 4:6

4Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. 5Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” 7So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.

James 4:6 word by word

μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν· διὸ λέγει· ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• he givethδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• moreμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
• Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
• he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• resistethἀντιτάσσωantitassomai · to resistG498
• the proudὑπερήφανοςhuperēphanos · arrogantG5244
• unto the humbleταπεινόςtapeinos · lowlyG5011

Cross-references for James 4:6

• Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and told him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews: ‘How long do you refuse to humble yourself before me? Release my people so that they may serve me!
• Exodus 15:9The enemy said, ‘I will chase, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire will be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.’
• Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them he has destroyed them.”
• 1 Samuel 2:3Don’t keep speaking so arrogantly, letting proud talk come out of your mouth! For the Lord is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do.
• Job 22:29When people are brought low and you say ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast;
• Job 40:10Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency, and clothe yourself with glory and honor!
• Psalms 138:6Though the Lord is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away.
• Proverbs 3:34Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble.
• Proverbs 6:16There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him:
• Proverbs 29:23A person’s pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.
• Isaiah 2:11Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
• Isaiah 10:8Indeed, he says: “Are not my officials all kings?
• Isaiah 16:6We have heard about Moab’s pride, their great arrogance, their boasting, pride, and excess. But their boastful claims are empty!
• Daniel 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live in pride.
• Daniel 5:20And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him.
• Matthew 23:12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Commentaries on James 4:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6But he giveth more grace - , A greater benefit, than all the goods that the world can bestow; for he gives genuine happiness, and this the world cannot confer. May this be St. James' meaning? God resisteth the proud - · Sets himself in battle array against him. Giveth grace unto the humble - The sure way to please God is to submit to the dispensation of his grace and providence; and when a man acknowledges him in all his ways, he will direct all his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6But he giveth more grace - The reference here is undoubtedly to God. Some have regarded this clause as a continuation of the quotation in the previous verse, but it is rather to be considered as a declaration of the apostle himself. The writer had just spoken of envy, and of the crimes which grew out of it. He thought of the wars and commotions of the earth, and of the various lusts which reigned among men. In the contemplation of these things, it seems…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-10James explains the causes of conflict among people: love for the world, divided loyalty, and arrogant criticism (4:11–12). He gives instructions that will fix these problems and lead to peace.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. But--"Nay, rather." he--God. giveth more grace--ever increasing grace; the farther ye depart from "envy" [Bengel]. he saith--The same God who causes His spirit to dwell in believers (Jas 4:5), by the Spirit also speaks in Scripture. The quotation here is probably from Pr 3:34; as probably Pr 21:10 was generally referred to in Jas 4:5. In Hebrew it is "scorneth the scorners," namely, those who think "Scripture speaketh in vain." resisteth--literally…Read the comment

Topics related to James 4:6

• Gifts from God
• Humility
• Pride
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adulterer
• Amiss
• Consume
• Enmity
• Flee
• Hence
• Lust
• Resist

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