James 4:7

James 4:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• New International Version (NIV)Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Context of James 4:7

5Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 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. 9Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

James 4:7 word by word

ὑποτάγητε οὖν τῷ θεῷ. ἀντίστητε δὲ τῷ διαβόλῳ καὶ φεύξεται ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Submit yourselvesὑποτάσσωhupotassō · to subjectG5293
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• Resistἀνθίστημιanthistēmi · to opposeG436
• the devilδιάβολοςdiabolos · devilish/the DevilG1228
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• he will fleeφεύγωpheugō · to fleeG5343
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• youσύsu · youG4771

Cross-references for James 4:7

• 1 Samuel 3:18So Samuel told Eli everything; he didn’t hold anything back. “It is the Lord’s will,” Eli replied. “Let him do what he thinks best.”
• 2 Samuel 15:26But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”
• 2 Kings 1:13Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants.
• 2 Chronicles 30:8Do not be stubborn, as they were, but submit yourselves to the Lord. Come to his Temple, which he has set apart as holy forever. Worship the Lord your God so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.
• 2 Chronicles 33:12But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.
• Job 1:21He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”
• Job 40:3Then Job replied to the Lord,
• Job 42:1Then Job replied to the Lord:
• Psalms 32:3When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.
• Psalms 66:3Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power.
• Psalms 68:30Rebuke these enemy nations— these wild animals lurking in the reeds, this herd of bulls among the weaker calves. Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
• Jeremiah 13:18Say to the king and his mother, “Come down from your thrones and sit in the dust, for your glorious crowns will soon be snatched from your heads.”
• Daniel 4:25You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.
• Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
• Acts 9:6Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
• Acts 16:29The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.

Commentaries on James 4:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Submit - to God - Continue to bow to all his decisions, and to all his dispensations. Resist the devil - He cannot conquer you if you continue to resist. Strong as he is, God never permits him to conquer the man who continues to resist him; he cannot force the human will. He who, in the terrible name of Jesus, opposes even the devil himself, is sure to have a speedy and glorious conquest. He flees from that name, and from his conquering blood.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God - That is, in his arrangements for obtaining his favor. Yield to what he has judged necessary for your welfare in the life that is, and your salvation in the life to come. The duty here enjoined is that of entire acquiescence in the arrangements of God, whether in his providence or grace. All these are for our good, and submission to them is required by the spirit of true humility. The object of the command here, and in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Resist the devil: See also Ephesians 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Submit to ... God--so ye shall be among "the humble," Jas 4:6; also Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:6. Resist ... devil--Under his banner pride and envy are enlisted in the world; resist his temptations to these. Faith, humble prayers, and heavenly wisdom, are the weapons of resistance. The language is taken from warfare. "Submit" as a good soldier puts himself in complete subjection to his captain. "Resist," stand bravely against. he will flee--Translate, "he shall…Read the comment

Topics related to James 4:7

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Commandments
• Resignation
• Satan
• Temptation
• War

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Adulterer
• Amiss
• Consume
• Enmity
• Flee
• Hence
• Lust
• Resist

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