New International Version
James 1:9
9Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
James 1:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
- English Standard Version (ESV)Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.
Context of James 1:9
7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 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.
Read all of James 1James 1:9 word by word
καυχάσθω δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὁ ταπεινὸς ἐν τῷ ὕψει αὐτοῦ,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for James 1:9
- James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
- Deuteronomy 15:7If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.
- Psalms 62:9Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
- Proverbs 17:5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 19:1Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.
- Luke 1:52He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
- Jeremiah 9:23This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches,
- Romans 5:2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
- Philippians 3:3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
- 1 Samuel 2:8He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world.
- Psalms 113:7He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
- Luke 9:48Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”
- Luke 10:20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
- Romans 8:17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
- Philippians 3:14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Commentaries on James 1:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Let the brother of low degree - The poor, destitute Christian may glory in the cross of Christ, and the blessed hope laid up for him in heaven; for, being a child of God, he is an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Let the brother of low degree - This verse seems to introduce a new topic, which has no other connection with what precedes than that the apostle is discussing the general subject of trials. Compare James 1:2. Turning from the consideration of trials in general, he passes to the consideration of a particular kind of trials, that which results from a change of circumstances in life, from poverty to affluence, and from affluence to poverty. The idea which…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9should exult: In the New Testament, boasting is often seen as negative (3:14; 4:16; Ephesians 2:9). But here it refers to being proud of what God has done (James 2:5; Romans 15:18; 1 Corinthians 1:31; Galatians 6:14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-109-10. Translate, "But let the brother," &c. that is, the best remedy against double-mindedness is that Christian simplicity of spirit whereby the "brother," low in outward circumstances, may "rejoice" (answering to Jas 1:2) "in that he is exalted," namely, by being accounted a son and heir of God, his very sufferings being a pledge of his coming glory and crown (Jas 1:12), and the rich may rejoice "in that he is made low," by being stripped of his goods…Read the comment
Topics related to James 1:9
In the dictionaries
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
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