James 4:5 Parallel Translations

NASB:

GWT:

Do you think this passage means nothing? It says, "The Spirit that lives in us wants us to be his own."(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

ASV:

Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?

BBE:

Or does it seem to you that it is for nothing that the holy Writings say, The spirit which God put into our hearts has a strong desire for us?

DBY:

Think ye that the scripture speaks in vain? Does the Spirit which has taken his abode in us desire enviously?

ERV:

Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?

WEY:

Or do you suppose that it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "The Spirit which He has caused to dwell in our hearts yearns jealously over us"?

WBS:

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

WEB:

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?

YLT:

Do ye think that emptily the Writing saith, 'To envy earnestly desireth the spirit that did dwell in us,'

James 4:5 Cross References

XREF:

Numbers 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

2 Corinthians 6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

4:5 {4} Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
(4) The taking away of an objection: in deed our minds run headlong into these vices, but we ought so much the more diligently take heed of them: whose care and study shall not be in vain, seeing that God resists the stubborn and gives the grace to the modest and humble that surmounts all those vices.

PNT:

4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain? The reference is to De 32:1-47, where God's love and jealousy of his people are described.
The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? Long unto envying (Revised Version). Long for our love even to the envy of the worldly objects which have secured it. The Revised Version suggests the idea, which harmonizes with the thought in Jas 4:4. A freer translation will make it plainer. The spirit that he (God) hath placed in us desireth us jealously, that is, desires we should not commit adultery with the world, but be wholly devoted to God, as those espoused to God in Christ, and even envies the world which has secured our love.

WES:

4:5 Do you think that the scripture saith in vain - Without good ground. St. James seems to refer to many, not any one particular scripture. The spirit of love that dwelleth in all believers lusteth against envy - Gal 5:17; is directly opposite to all those unloving tempers which necessarily flow from the friendship of the world.

MHC:

4:1-10 Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty. Here is a decided warning to avoid all criminal friendships with this world. Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. An enemy may be reconciled, but enmity never can be reconciled. A man may have a large portion in things of this life, and yet be kept in the love of God; but he who sets his heart upon the world, who will conform to it rather than lose its friendship, is an enemy to God. So that any one who resolves at all events to be upon friendly terms with the world, must be the enemy of God. Did then the Jews, or the loose professors of Christianity, think the Scripture spake in vain against this worldly-mindedness? or does the Holy Spirit who dwells in all Christians, or the new nature which he creates, produce such fruit? Natural corruption shows itself by envying. The spirit of the world teaches us to lay up, or lay out for ourselves, according to our own fancies; God the Holy Spirit teaches us to be willing to do good to all about us, as we are able. The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit by nature in us; and where he gives grace, he gives another spirit than that of the world. The proud resist God: in their understanding they resist the truths of God; in their will they resist the laws of God; in their passions they resist the providence of God; therefore, no wonder that God resists the proud. How wretched the state of those who make God their enemy! God will give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, pray for it are thankful for it, and such shall have it. Submit to God, ver. 7. Submit your understanding to the truth of God; submit your wills to the will of his precept, the will of his providence. Submit yourselves to God, for he is ready to do you good. If we yield to temptations, the devil will continually follow us; but if we put on the whole armour of God, and stand out against him, he will leave us. Let sinners then submit to God, and seek his grace and favour; resisting the devil. All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or, hereafter, in eternal misery. And the Lord will not refuse to comfort one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt one who humbles himself before him.

CONC:

Abode Caused Desire Desires Desireth Dwell Dwelleth Earnestly Emptily Envies Enviously Envy Envying Hearts Holy Intensely Jealously Lusteth Nothing Purpose Reason Says Scripture Seem Speaketh Speaks Spirit Strong Suppose Vain Writing Writings Yearns

Abode Caused Desire Desires Dwell Dwelleth Emptily Envies Envy Envying Hearts Holy Intensely Lusteth Purpose Reason Scripture Seem Speaketh Speaks Spirit Strong Suppose Think Vain Writings Yearns

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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