James 3:15

James 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
• New International Version (NIV)Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
• English Standard Version (ESV)This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

Context of James 3:15

13If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17But 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.

James 3:15 word by word

οὐκ ἔστιν αὕτη ἡ σοφία ἄνωθεν κατερχομένη, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπίγειος ψυχικὴ δαιμονιώδης.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• wisdomὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• wisdomσοφίαsophia · wisdomG4678
• ·εἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• descendethκατέρχομαιkaterchomai · to descendG2718
• notοὐou · noG3756
• from aboveἄνωθενanōthen · from above/againG509
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• earthlyἐπίγειοςepigeios · earthlyG1919
• sensualψυχικόςpsuchikos · naturalG5591
• devilishδαιμονιώδηςdaimoniōdēs · demonicG1141

Cross-references for James 3:15

• James 3:17But 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.
• James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
• John 3:17God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?
• Philippians 3:19They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
• 2 Samuel 13:3But Amnon had a very crafty friend—his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea.
• 2 Samuel 15:31When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”
• 2 Samuel 16:23Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God.
• Jeremiah 4:22“My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord. “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!”
• Luke 16:8“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
• Romans 1:22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
• 1 Corinthians 1:19As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.
• 1 Corinthians 3:19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
• 2 Corinthians 1:12We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
• Jude 1:19These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.

Commentaries on James 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above - God is not the author of it, because it is bitter - not meek. See at the end of this chapter. Is earthly - Having this life only in view. Sensual - · Animal - having for its object the gratification of the passions and animal propensities. Devilish - · Demoniacal - inspired by demons, and maintained in the soul by their indwelling influence.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above - Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 3:3. The wisdom here referred to is that carnal or worldly wisdom which produces strife and contention; that kind of knowledge which leads to self-conceit, and which prompts a man to defend his opinions with over-heated zeal. In the contentions which are in the world, in church and state, in neighborhoods and families, at the bar, in political life, and in theological disputes…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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15Earthly wisdom is not part of God's good creation. It is the opposite of heavenly wisdom because it leaves out God. It is unspiritual because it does not acknowledge or respond to God's Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14; Jude 1:19). It is demonic because it comes from the devil, who is the ultimate source of this wisdom that destroys (James 3:6; 4:6; 1 Timothy 4:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. This wisdom--in which ye "glory," as if ye were "wise" (Jas 3:13, 14). descendeth not from above--literally, "is not one descending," &c.: "from the Father of lights" (true illumination and wisdom), Jas 1:17; through "the Spirit of truth," Joh 15:26. earthly--opposed to heavenly. Distinct from "earthy," 1Co 15:47. Earthly is what is IN the earth; earthy, what is of the earth. sensual--literally, "animal-like": the wisdom of the "natural" (the same…Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:15

• Righteousness
• Strife

In the dictionaries

• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Earthly
• James, Epistle of
• Sensual
• demon, evil spirit, unclean spirit

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