New Living Translation
James 3:17
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 3:17 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 King James Version (NKJV)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.
Context of James 3:17
15For 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. 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. 18And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
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 3:15For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
- James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
- Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”
- Exodus 36:2So Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and all the others who were specially gifted by the Lord and were eager to get to work.
- 1 Kings 3:9Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
- 1 Chronicles 22:12And may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding, that you may obey the Law of the Lord your God as you rule over Israel.
- Job 28:12“But do people know where to find wisdom? Where can they find understanding?
- Proverbs 2:6For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- Isaiah 11:2And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
- Daniel 1:17God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!
- 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 12:8To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
- James 4:8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
- Malachi 3:3He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.
- Matthew 5:8God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will 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
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