New King James Version
James 3:17
17But 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.
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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- 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 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
15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 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. 18Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Read all of James 3James 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 3:15This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
- James 1:5If 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.
- Genesis 41:38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
- Exodus 36:2Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.
- 1 Kings 3:9Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
- 1 Chronicles 22:12Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.
- Job 28:12“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
- Proverbs 2:6For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
- Isaiah 11:2The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
- Daniel 1:17As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 12:8for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
- James 4:8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Malachi 3:3He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.
- Matthew 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries