James 1:15

James 1:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
• New International Version (NIV)Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Context of James 1:15

13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”—for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He himself tempts no one. 14But each one is tempted when he is dragged away and enticed by his own desire. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is full grown, it brings forth death. 16Do not be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1:15 word by word

εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν, ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα ἀποκύει θάνατον.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Then whenεἶταeita · thenG1534
• lustἐπιθυμίαepithumia · desireG1939
• hath conceivedσυλλαμβάνωsullambanō · to seize/conceive/helpG4815
• it bringeth forthτίκτωtiktō · to give birth toG5088
• sinἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• andδέde · thenG1161
• when it is finishedἀποτελέωapoteleō · to completeG658
• bringeth forthἀποκυέωapokueō · to generateG616
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288

Cross-references for James 1:15

• Genesis 3:6Now the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a thing of lust for the eyes, and that the tree was desirable for imparting wisdom. So she took of its fruit and she ate. She also gave to her husband who was with her and he ate.
• Genesis 4:5but upon Cain and his offering He did not look favorably. Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
• Job 15:35They conceive mischief and bring forth evil and their belly prepares deception.”
• Psalms 7:14He prepares His own deadly weapons. He makes His fiery arrows.
• Isaiah 59:4No one sues justly, and none pleads a case honestly. They trust in confusion and speak lies. They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
• Micah 2:1Oy to them who scheme wickedness, who work out evil upon their beds! In the light of the morning, they do it, for the power is in their hands.
• Matthew 26:14Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judah of Kriot, went to the ruling kohanim
• Acts 5:1On the other hand, a man named Ananias together with his wife, Sapphira, sold a property.
• Genesis 2:17But of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil you must not eat. For when you eat from it, you most assuredly will die!
• Genesis 3:17Then to the man He said, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate of the tree which I commanded you, saying, ‘You must not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground because of you— with pain will you eat of it all the days of your life.
• Psalms 9:17Adonai is known for executing judgment. The wicked one is trapped in the work of his own hands. Selah
• Romans 5:12So then, just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, in the same way death spread to all men because all sinned.
• Romans 6:21So then, what outcome did you have that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.
• Revelation 20:14Then death and Sheol were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.

Commentaries on James 1:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15When lust hath conceived - When the evil propensity works unchecked, it bringeth forth sin - the evil act between the parties is perpetrated. And sin, when it is finished - When this breach of the law of God and of innocence has been a sufficient time completed, it bringeth forth death - the spurious offspring is the fruit of the criminal connection, and the evidence of that death or punishment due to the transgressors. Any person acquainted with the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Then when lust hath conceived - Compare Job 15:35. The allusion here is obvious. The meaning is, when the desire which we have naturally is quickened, or made to act, the result is that sin is produced. As our desires of good lie in the mind by nature, as our propensities exist as they were created, they cannot be regarded as sin, or treated as such; but when they are indulged, when plans of gratification are formed, when they are developed in actual…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. 15Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin: James describes sin as if it were a baby. If this “baby” sin becomes mature, it results in death. This spiritual death stands in direct opposition to "crown of life" (1:12).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. The guilty union is committed by the will embracing the temptress. "Lust," the harlot, then, "brings forth sin," namely, of that kind to which the temptation inclines. Then the particular sin (so the Greek implies), "when it is completed, brings forth death," with which it was all along pregnant [Alford]. This "death" stands in striking contrast to the "crown of life" (Jas 1:12) which "patience" or endurance ends in, when it has its "perfect work"…Read the comment

Topics related to James 1:15

• Death
• Lust
• Sin
• Temptation
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

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

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