James 1:15

James 1:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
• New Living Translation (NLT)These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Context of James 1:15

13When 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. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:15 word by word

εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν, ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα ἀποκύει θάνατον.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Then whenεἶταeita · thenG1534
• lustἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
• hath conceivedσυλλαμβάνωsullambanō · to seize/conceive/helpG4815
• it bringeth forthτίκτωtiktō · to give birth toG5088
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• andδέde · thenG1161
• when it is finishedἀποτελέωapoteleō · to completeG658
• bringeth forthἀποκυέωapokueō · to generateG616
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288

Cross-references for James 1:15

• Genesis 3:6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
• Genesis 4:5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
• Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb fashions deceit.”
• Psalms 7:14Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
• Isaiah 59:4No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
• Micah 2:1Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
• Matthew 26:14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests
• Acts 5:1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
• Genesis 2:17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
• Genesis 3:17To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
• Psalms 9:17The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.
• Romans 5:12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
• Romans 6:21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
• Revelation 20:14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Commentaries on James 1:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15When lust hath conceived - When the evil propensity works unchecked, it bringeth forth sin - the evil act between the parties is perpetrated. And sin, when it is finished - When this breach of the law of God and of innocence has been a sufficient time completed, it bringeth forth death - the spurious offspring is the fruit of the criminal connection, and the evidence of that death or punishment due to the transgressors. Any person acquainted with the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Then when lust hath conceived - Compare Job 15:35. The allusion here is obvious. The meaning is, when the desire which we have naturally is quickened, or made to act, the result is that sin is produced. As our desires of good lie in the mind by nature, as our propensities exist as they were created, they cannot be regarded as sin, or treated as such; but when they are indulged, when plans of gratification are formed, when they are developed in actual…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. 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin: James describes sin as if it were a baby. If this “baby” sin becomes mature, it results in death. This spiritual death stands in direct opposition to "crown of life" (1:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. The guilty union is committed by the will embracing the temptress. "Lust," the harlot, then, "brings forth sin," namely, of that kind to which the temptation inclines. Then the particular sin (so the Greek implies), "when it is completed, brings forth death," with which it was all along pregnant [Alford]. This "death" stands in striking contrast to the "crown of life" (Jas 1:12) which "patience" or endurance ends in, when it has its "perfect work"…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:15

• Death
• Lust
• Sin
• Temptation
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion
• Sin

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