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WhoΤίςiswiseσοφὸςandκαὶunderstandingἐπιστήμωνamongἐνyou?ὑμῖνLet him showδειξάτωbyἐκhis goodτῆς καλῆςconductἀναστροφῆςhis worksτὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦinἐνthe gentlenessπραΰτητιof wisdom.σοφίας
James 3:13
Study it in the app“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.”
Wisdom from above shows in conduct, not in jealousy or rivalryWisdom
With the Greek beneath
James 3:13, word by word
- wiseσοφὸςsophos
wise
Wise, skilled, clever.
Where else “sophos” appears- understandingἐπιστήμωνepistēmōn
knowledgeable
Knowledgeable, understanding: someone who knows.
Where else “epistēmōn” appears- Let him showδειξάτωdeixatō
show
Show, point out.
Where else “deixatō” appears- his goodκαλῆςkalēs
beautiful
Lovely to look at.
Where else “kalēs” appears- conductἀναστροφῆςanastrophēs
conduct, way of life
Conduct, the way one lives day by day.
Where else “anastrophēs” appears- his worksἔργαerga
deed
What someone does, their conduct.
Where else “erga” appears- the gentlenessπραΰτητιpraytēti
gentleness
Gentleness: a mild and humble way of treating others.
Where else “praytēti” appears- of wisdomσοφίαςsophias
wisdom
Wisdom.
Where else “sophias” appears
The context
12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, or a vine figs, can it? Neither can salt water produce sweet water.
13 · This verse (above)
14But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.
To study James 3 in a group
1. What it says
What images does James use to describe the power of the tongue (v. 3-6)?
2. What it means
Why do you think James contrasts the wisdom "from above" with bitter jealousy and rivalry (v. 13-18)?
3. How I live it
James says blessing and cursing come from the same mouth (v. 9-10). What kind word could you say today?