James 1:13

James 1:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.

Context of James 1:13

11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:13 word by word

Μηδεὶς πειραζόμενος λεγέτω ὅτι ἀπὸ θεοῦ πειράζομαι· ὁ γὰρ θεὸς ἀπείραστός ἐστιν κακῶν, πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς οὐδένα·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Let no manμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
• sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• whenὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he is temptedπειράζωpeirazō · to test/tempt: temptG3985
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• cannot be temptedἀπείραστοςapeirastos · untemptedG551
• with evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• neitherδέde · thenG1161
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• any manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762

Cross-references for James 1:13

• James 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
• Genesis 3:12The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
• Isaiah 63:17Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
• Habakkuk 2:12“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!
• Romans 9:19One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?”

Commentaries on James 1:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Let no man say - Lest the former sentiment should be misapplied, as the word temptation has two grand meanings, solicitation to sin, and trial from providential situation or circumstances, James, taking up the word in the former sense, after having used it in the latter, says: Let no man say, when he is tempted, (solicited to sin), I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he (thus) any man. Thus the author has explained…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God - See the remarks on the previous verse. The apostle here seems to have had his eye on whatever there was in trial of any kind to induce us to commit sin - whether by complaining, by murmuring, by apostacy, or by yielding to sin. So far as that was concerned, he said that no one should charge it on God. He did nothing in any way with a view to induce men to do evil. That was only an incidental thing…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. 13James is using diatribe, an old Greek rhetorical method where an imaginary opponent gives a different opinion. This lets him express and quickly counter the possible objections of the reader (also in 2:3, 16, 18; 4:13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. when ... tempted--tried by solicitation to evil. Heretofore the "temptation" meant was that of probation by afflictions. Let no one fancy that God lays upon him an inevitable necessity of sinning. God does not send trials on you in order to make you worse, but to make you better (Jas 1:16, 17). Therefore do not sink under the pressure of evils (1Co 10:13). of God--by agency proceeding from God. The Greek is not "tempted by," but, "from," implying…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:13

• God Continued...
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive

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