James 1:4

James 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
• New International Version (NIV)Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Context of James 1:4

2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:4 word by word

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω, ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• let patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• workἔργονergon · workG2041
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye may beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• entireὁλόκληροςholoklēros · wholeG3648
• wantingλείπωleipō · to lackG3007
• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367

Cross-references for James 1:4

• James 5:7Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
• Job 17:9Yet the righteous will hold to his way, And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.
• Psalms 37:7Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
• Psalms 40:1I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.
• Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
• Luke 8:15But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
• Luke 21:19By your patience possess your souls.
• Galatians 6:9And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
• Proverbs 4:8Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
• Matthew 5:48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
• John 17:23I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
• Philippians 3:12Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
• Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Commentaries on James 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Let patience have her perfect work - That is, Continue faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward; for in this sense is , which we translate work, to be understood. It is any effect produced by a cause, as interest from money, fruit from tillage, gain from labor, a reward for services performed; the perfect work is the full reward. See many examples in Kypke. That ye may be perfect and entire - , Fully instructed, in every part of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But let patience have her perfect work - Let it be fairly developed; let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Every one who is afflicted should desire that the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4Enduring challenges and temptations is a common theme (1:12–15; 5:7–12). Not enduring these challenges is like a person who "wander[s] from the truth" and requires someone to "save his soul from death" (5:19–20).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [Menochius], and enduring to the end (Mt 10:22) [Calvin]. ye may be perfect--fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [Bengel], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:4

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Decision
• Meekness
• Patience
• Perfection
• Perseverance
• Temptation

In the dictionaries

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

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