James 4:15

James 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
• New Living Translation (NLT)What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

Context of James 4:15

13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 4:15 word by word

ἀντὶ τοῦ λέγειν ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν ὁ κύριος θελήσῃ καὶ ζήσομεν καὶ ποιήσομεν τοῦτο ἢ ἐκεῖνο.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• For thatἀντίanti · forG473
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• to sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• we shall liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• orἤē · orG2228
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565

Cross-references for James 4:15

• 2 Samuel 15:25Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again.
• Proverbs 19:21Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
• Lamentations 3:37Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it?
• Acts 18:21But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.
• Romans 1:10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
• Romans 15:32so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed.
• 1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
• 1 Corinthians 16:7For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
• Hebrews 6:3And God permitting, we will do so.

Commentaries on James 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For that ye ought to say - ̔· Instead of saying, or instead of which ye should say, If the Lord will, we shall live - I think St. James had another example from the rabbins in view, which is produced by Drusius, Gregory, Cartwright, and Schoettgen, on this clause: "The bride went up to her chamber, not knowing what was to befall her there." On which there is this comment: "No man should ever say that he will do this or that, without the condition If God…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For that ye ought to say - Instead of what you do say, “we will go into such a city,” you ought rather to recognise your absolute dependence on God, and feel that life and success are subject to his will. The meaning is not that we ought always to be saying that in so many words, for this might become a mere ostentatious form, offensive by constant unmeaning repetition; but we are, in the proper way, to recognise our dependence on him, and to form all our…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-17Verses 11-17 Our lips must be governed by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. Christians are brethren. And to break God's commands, is to speak evil of them, and to judge them, as if they laid too great a restraint upon us. We have the law of God, which is a rule to all; let us not presume to set up our own notions and opinions as a rule to those about us, and let us be careful that we be not condemned of the Lord. "Go to now," is a call to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15The Lord controls life and death (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Matthew 10:28).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. Literally, "instead of your saying," &c. This refers to "ye that say" (Jas 4:13). we shall live--The best manuscripts read, "We shall both live and do," &c. The boasters spoke as if life, action, and the particular kind of action were in their power, whereas all three depend entirely on the will of the Lord.Read the comment

Topics related to James 4:15

• Commandments
• Confidence
• Covetousness
• Death
• Life
• Presumption

In the dictionaries

• Adulterer
• Amiss
• Consume
• Enmity
• Flee
• Hence
• Lust
• Providence
• Resist
• Sin

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