James 1:18

James 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• New International Version (NIV)He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Context of James 1:18

16Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will he hath begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

James 1:18 word by word

βουληθεὶς ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς λόγῳ ἀληθείας, εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων.¶Read the interlinear

• willβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• begottenἀποκυέωapokueō · to generateG616
• usἡμᾶςhēmas · usG2248
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• thatεἰςeis · towardG1519
• beεἶναιeinai · to existG1511
• kindτιςtis · oneG5100
• firstfruitsἀπαρχήaparchē · firstfruitsG536
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• creaturesκτίσμαktisma · creatureG2938

Cross-references for James 1:18

• John 1:13Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
• John 3:3Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
• Romans 4:17As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth those things which are not as though they were.
• Romans 8:29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
• Romans 9:15For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
• Ephesians 2:4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
• Colossians 1:20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they are things on earth, or things in heaven.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
• 1 Peter 1:3Blessedbe the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
• James 1:21Therefore put away all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
• Ephesians 1:12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
• 1 Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
• 1 John 3:9Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
• Leviticus 23:10Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When ye shall have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its harvest, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest:
• Jeremiah 2:3Israel was holiness to the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

Commentaries on James 1:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Of his own will begat he us - God's will here is opposed to the lust of man, James 1:15; his truth, the means of human salvation, to the sinful means referred to in the above verse; and the new creatures, to the sin conceived and brought forth, as above. As the will of God is essentially good, all its productions must be good also; as it is infinitely pure, all its productions must be holy. The word or doctrine of truth, what St. Paul calls the word of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Of his own will - Greek “willing.” ̀ boulētheisThe idea is, that the fact that we are “begotten” to be his children is to be traced solely to his will. He purposed it, and it was done. The antecedent in the case on which all depended was the sovereign will of God. See this sentiment explained in the notes at John 1:13. Compare the notes at Ephesians 1:5. When it is said, however, that he has done this by his mere will, it is not to be inferred that there…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this world fully recompensed in that world above…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The word of truth is the good news about Jesus (1:21–23; 1 Peter 1:23–25). give us birth: The image of a mother giving birth shows the full extent of God’s parental love for his children (compare Luke 13:34; John 1:13; 3:3–8; 1 Peter 1:23). a kind of firstfruits (compare Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:9–14; 1 Corinthians 15:20; Colossians 1:18): Christians are examples of the ultimate restoration of all creation (Romans 8:20–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. (Joh 1:13). The believer's regeneration is the highest example of nothing but good proceeding from God. Of his own will--Of his own good pleasure (which shows that it is God's essential nature to do good, not evil), not induced by any external cause. begat he us--spiritually: a once-for-all accomplished act (1Pe 1:3, 23). In contrast to "lust when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin, and sin ... death" (Jas 1:15). Life follows naturally in…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:18

• Blessing
• First Fruits
• God Continued...
• Gospel
• Predestination
• Regeneration
• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Entice
• Fade
• Lack
• Lay
• Liberally
• Lust
• Pure
• Receive
• Religion
• Swift

Commentaries on James 1

• 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
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• 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