Skip to content
Scripture Mapping

James 4

World English Bible

WEB

1Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? 2You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. 3You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”? 6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another? 13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” 14Yet you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.” 16But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. 17To him therefore who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

James Chapter 4 addresses the conflicts and desires that arise among believers, emphasizing the need for humility and submission to God. The chapter opens by questioning the source of quarrels and fights among Christians, attributing them to selfish desires and passions that wage war within. James reminds us that friendship with the world is enmity with God, urging believers to resist worldly temptations and draw near to God instead. This call to repentance is a central theme, as James encourages the faithful to humble themselves before the Lord, promising that He will lift them up.

The chapter also warns against speaking ill of one another, highlighting the importance of unity and love within the body of Christ. James emphasizes that judging others is akin to judging the law, which is a serious matter. He reminds us that our lives are but a vapor, and we should not boast about tomorrow, as we do not know what the future holds. Instead, we are called to live in accordance with God's will, acknowledging His sovereignty over our plans. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the need for humility, repentance, and a steadfast commitment to God's ways in our daily lives. #James #humility #submission #conflict #repentance.

Study

14 dimensions

Referenced by

  1. Exodus 10:3v6Exodus 10:3 highlights God's demand for humility from Pharaoh, which aligns with James 4:6 where God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  2. Leviticus 5:17v17Leviticus 5:17 speaks to the guilt of sinning unknowingly, which is related to James 4:17, where knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it is also considered sin.
  3. 2 Chronicles 12:6v102 Chronicles 12:6 shows the humility of the leaders of Israel, which aligns with James 4:10's teaching that humbling oneself before the Lord leads to exaltation.
  4. 2 Chronicles 15:2v82 Chronicles 15:2 emphasizes that the Lord is with those who are with Him, a principle echoed in James 4:8, which encourages believers to draw near to God, promising that He will draw near to them.
  5. Job 11:13-14v8Job 11:13-14 advises turning to God and removing iniquity, which parallels James 4:8's call to draw near to God and purify one's heart.
  6. Job 22:21v8Job 22:21 advises to 'acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace,' which parallels James 4:8's call to 'draw near to God.' Both emphasize the importance of seeking a close relationship with God for peace and spiritual well-being.
  7. Psalms 39:4v14Psalm 39:4 reflects on the brevity of life, a theme echoed in James 4:14, which describes life as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
  8. Psalms 90:10v14Psalm 90:10 reflects on the brevity of human life, a theme also found in James 4:14, which describes life as a vapor that appears briefly.
  9. Psalms 101:5v11Psalm 101:5 warns against slandering others, which is echoed in James 4:11 where believers are instructed not to speak evil against one another.
  10. Psalms 138:6v6Psalm 138:6 highlights God's regard for the lowly, which is echoed in James 4:6 where God gives grace to the humble, emphasizing humility as a valued trait.
  11. Psalms 144:4v14Psalm 144:4 describes human life as fleeting, like a shadow, which is echoed in James 4:14 where life is compared to a vapor, underscoring the brevity and transience of human existence.
  12. Psalms 145:18v8Psalm 145:18 promises that the Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth, which is echoed in James 4:8, encouraging believers to draw near to God with sincerity.
  13. Proverbs 3:6v15Proverbs 3:6 advises acknowledging God in all ways, promising that He will direct paths. James 4:15 reflects this by encouraging believers to submit their plans to the Lord's will, recognizing His sovereignty over their lives.
  14. Proverbs 16:18v6Proverbs 16:18 warns that pride leads to destruction, which is echoed in James 4:6, where God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  15. Proverbs 19:21v13Proverbs 19:21 highlights that while humans make many plans, it is the Lord's purpose that prevails, a theme echoed in James 4:13-15 which advises believers to submit their plans to God's will.
  16. Proverbs 27:1v13Proverbs 27:1 advises against boasting about tomorrow, emphasizing the uncertainty of the future. James 4:13-15 echoes this sentiment, urging believers to acknowledge God's will in their plans.
  17. Proverbs 29:23v10Proverbs 29:23 teaches that pride brings a person low, while humility brings honor, a theme also found in James 4:10, which promises exaltation to the humble.
  18. Ecclesiastes 1:14v14Ecclesiastes 1:14 observes that all is vanity and a striving after wind, similar to James 4:14 which describes life as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
  19. Ecclesiastes 6:12v14Ecclesiastes 6:12 questions what is good for a man during his fleeting life. James 4:14 similarly describes life as a mist that appears briefly and then vanishes, highlighting the brevity and uncertainty of life.
  20. Isaiah 2:17v6Isaiah 2:17 emphasizes the humbling of human pride, a theme echoed in James 4:6, which states that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  21. Isaiah 33:22v12Isaiah 33:22 declares the Lord as judge, lawgiver, and king, which is echoed in James 4:12 where God is the only lawgiver and judge, emphasizing His sovereign authority.
  22. Jeremiah 4:14v8Jeremiah 4:14 calls for the cleansing of the heart, which is echoed in James 4:8, urging believers to purify their hearts and draw near to God.
  23. Jeremiah 13:15-17v6Jeremiah 13:15-17 warns against pride and calls for humility before God, which aligns with James 4:6, where it is stated that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  24. Daniel 4:37v6Daniel 4:37 concludes with Nebuchadnezzar praising God and acknowledging His justice, which resonates with James 4:6, where God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  25. Zechariah 1:3v8Zechariah 1:3 calls for the people to return to God, promising that He will return to them. James 4:8 echoes this call to draw near to God, with the promise that He will draw near to us.
  26. Matthew 23:12v10Matthew 23:12 teaches that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted, a principle also found in James 4:10.
  27. Luke 18:14v10Luke 18:14 teaches that those who humble themselves will be exalted, a principle also found in James 4:10, which encourages believers to humble themselves before the Lord.
  28. Romans 14:4v12Romans 14:4 emphasizes that God is the only judge of His servants, paralleling James 4:12, which states that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge.
  29. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31v14Paul speaks of the shortness of time and the transient nature of the world, which resonates with James 4:14's reminder of life being a vapor, urging believers to live with an eternal perspective.
  30. 1 Peter 5:5v61 Peter 5:5 instructs believers to clothe themselves with humility, quoting 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble,' which is also found in James 4:6, highlighting the importance of humility in the Christian life.
  31. 1 John 2:15v41 John 2:15 warns against loving the world, which is similarly addressed in James 4:4 where friendship with the world is equated with enmity against God.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

Your study

Take it with you

This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.

Download the analysisDownload it with your notes and highlights