James 3:17

James 3:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Context of James 3:17

15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:17 word by word

Ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, ἀνυπόκριτος.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• the wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• that isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
• is firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• pureἁγνόςhagnos · pureG53
• thenἔπειταepeita · thenG1899
• peaceableεἰρηνικόςeirēnikos · peacefulG1516
• gentleἐπιεικήςepieikēs · gentleG1933
• easy to be intreatedεὐπειθήςeupeithēs · compliantG2138
• fullμεστόςmestos · fullG3324
• of mercyἔλεοςeleos · mercyG1656
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• fruitsκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
• without partialityἀδιάκριτοςadiakritos · impartialG87
• without hypocrisyἀνυπόκριτοςanupokritos · genuineG505

Cross-references for James 3:17

• James 3:15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
• James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
• Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
• Exodus 36:2Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.
• 1 Kings 3:9So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
• 1 Chronicles 22:12May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
• Job 28:12But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?
• Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Isaiah 11:2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
• Daniel 1:17To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
• Luke 21:15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
• James 4:8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Malachi 3:3He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,
• Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Commentaries on James 3:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The wisdom that is from above - The pure religion of the Lord Jesus, bought by his blood, and infused by his Spirit. See the rabbinical meaning of this phrase at the end of this chapter. Is first pure - ̔· Chaste, holy, and clean. Peaceable - · Living in peace with others, and promoting peace among men. Gentle - · Meek, modest, of an equal mind, taking every thing in good part, and putting the best construction upon all the actions of others. Easy to be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17But the wisdom that is from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. The wisdom which has a heavenly origin, or which is from God. The man who is characterised by that wisdom will be pure, peaceable, etc. This does not refer to the doctrines of religion, but to its spirit. Is first pure - That is, the first effect of it on the mind is to make it pure. The influence on the man is to make him upright, sincere, candid, holy. The word here used ( ̔…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-18Verses 13-18 These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such wisdom comes not down from…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. first pure--literally, "chaste," "sanctified": pure from all that is "earthly, sensual (animal), devilish" (Jas 3:15). This is put, "first of all," before "peaceable" because there is an unholy peace with the world which makes no distinction between clean and unclean. Compare "undefiled" and "unspotted from the world," Jas 1:27; 4:4, 8, "purify ... hearts"; 1Pe 1:22, "purified ... souls" (the same Greek). Ministers must not preach before a purifying…Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:17

• Gentleness
• Holiness
• Hypocrisy
• Meekness
• Minister, Christian
• Peace
• Righteousness
• Wisdom
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Course
• Fruit
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Clemency
• First
• Gentleness

Commentaries on James 3

• 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