New King James Version
James 4:6
6But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace 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.
- New International Version (NIV)But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to 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 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
4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse 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 came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.
- Exodus 15:9The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’
- Exodus 18:11Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”
- 1 Samuel 2:3“Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, For the Lord is the God of knowledge; And by Him actions are weighed.
- Job 22:29When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person.
- Job 40:10Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
- Psalms 138:6Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
- Proverbs 3:34Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.
- Proverbs 6:16These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
- Proverbs 29:23A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
- Isaiah 2:11The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Isaiah 10:8For he says, ‘Are not my princes altogether kings?
- Isaiah 16:6We have heard of the pride of Moab— He is very proud— Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so.
- Daniel 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
- Daniel 5:20But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
- Matthew 23:12And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries