New International Version
James 4:6
6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
James 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
- New King James Version (NKJV)But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Context of James 4:6
4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Read all of James 4James 4:6 word by word
μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν· διὸ λέγει· ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- he givethδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- moreμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- graceχάριςcharis · graceG5485
- Whereforeδιόdio · thereforeG1352
- he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- resistethἀντιτάσσωantitassomai · to resistG498
- the proudὑπερήφανοςhuperēphanos · arrogantG5244
- unto the humbleταπεινόςtapeinos · lowlyG5011
Cross-references for James 4:6
- Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
- Exodus 15:9The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’
- Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”
- 1 Samuel 2:3“Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
- Job 22:29When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast.
- Job 40:10Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
- Psalms 138:6Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
- Proverbs 3:34He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
- Proverbs 6:16There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:
- Proverbs 29:23Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
- Isaiah 2:11The eyes of the arrogant will be humbled and human pride brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
- Isaiah 10:8‘Are not my commanders all kings?’ he says.
- Isaiah 16:6We have heard of Moab’s pride— how great is her arrogance!— of her conceit, her pride and her insolence; but her boasts are empty.
- Daniel 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
- Daniel 5:20But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
- Matthew 23:12For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Commentaries on James 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6But he giveth more grace - , A greater benefit, than all the goods that the world can bestow; for he gives genuine happiness, and this the world cannot confer. May this be St. James' meaning? God resisteth the proud - · Sets himself in battle array against him. Giveth grace unto the humble - The sure way to please God is to submit to the dispensation of his grace and providence; and when a man acknowledges him in all his ways, he will direct all his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6But he giveth more grace - The reference here is undoubtedly to God. Some have regarded this clause as a continuation of the quotation in the previous verse, but it is rather to be considered as a declaration of the apostle himself. The writer had just spoken of envy, and of the crimes which grew out of it. He thought of the wars and commotions of the earth, and of the various lusts which reigned among men. In the contemplation of these things, it seems…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-10James explains the causes of conflict among people: love for the world, divided loyalty, and arrogant criticism (4:11–12). He gives instructions that will fix these problems and lead to peace.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. But--"Nay, rather." he--God. giveth more grace--ever increasing grace; the farther ye depart from "envy" [Bengel]. he saith--The same God who causes His spirit to dwell in believers (Jas 4:5), by the Spirit also speaks in Scripture. The quotation here is probably from Pr 3:34; as probably Pr 21:10 was generally referred to in Jas 4:5. In Hebrew it is "scorneth the scorners," namely, those who think "Scripture speaketh in vain." resisteth--literally…Read the comment
Topics related to James 4:6
In the dictionaries
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
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