14
Butδὲifεἰyou haveἔχετεbitterπικρὸνjealousyζῆλονandκαὶrivalryἐριθείανinἐνyour heart,τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶνdo notμὴboastκατακαυχᾶσθεandκαὶlieψεύδεσθεagainstκατὰthe truth.τῆς ἀληθείας
James 3:14
Study it in the app“But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth.”
Wisdom from above shows in conduct, not in jealousy or rivalryWisdom
With the Greek beneath
James 3:14, word by word
- you haveἔχετεechete
have
To count something or someone as one's own: goods, family, faith, power.
Where else “echete” appears- bitterπικρὸνpikron
resentful
Full of resentment that harms within.
Where else “pikron” appears- jealousyζῆλονzēlon
jealousy
Envy, resentment at another's good.
Where else “zēlon” appears- rivalryἐριθείανeritheian
selfish ambition
Selfish ambition, rivalry: seeking one's own interest or that of one's party.
Where else “eritheian” appears- your heartκαρδίᾳkardiai
heart
Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
Where else “kardiai” appears- boastκατακαυχᾶσθεkatakauchasthe
boast over
To set oneself above another with pride and scorn.
Where else “katakauchasthe” appears- lieψεύδεσθεpseudesthe
lie
To lie.
Where else “pseudesthe” appears- the truthἀληθείαςalētheias
truth
What God reveals of himself and his plan, received by believing.
Where else “alētheias” appears
The context
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.
14 · This verse (above)
15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but it is earthly, natural, demonic.
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?