9
Be wretchedταλαιπωρήσατεandκαὶmournπενθήσατεandκαὶweep.κλαύσατεLet your laughterὁ γέλως ὑμῶν μετατραπήτωbe turnedμετατραπήτωintoεἰςmourningπένθοςandκαὶyour joyἡ χαρὰintoεἰςgloom.κατήφειαν
James 4:9
Study it in the app“Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into gloom.”
James: draw near to God and he will draw near to youTurning back to God
With the Greek beneath
James 4:9, word by word
- Be wretchedταλαιπωρήσατεtalaipōrēsate
be miserable
Be miserable, feel one's wretchedness; suffer hardship.
Where else “talaipōrēsate” appears- mournπενθήσατεpenthēsate
mourn
Mourn, grieve for the dead or for a loss.
Where else “penthēsate” appears- weepκλαύσατεklausate
weep
Weep, cry.
Where else “klausate” appears- Let your laughterγέλωςgelōs
laughter
Laughter.
Where else “gelōs” appears- mourningπένθοςpenthos
mourning
Mourning, grief.
Where else “penthos” appears- your joyχαρὰchara
joy
Joy, gladness.
Where else “chara” appears- gloomκατήφειανkatēpheian
gloom
Gloom, dejection.
Where else “katēpheian” appears
The context
8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 · This verse (above)
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
To study James 4 in a group
1. What it says
Where does James say the fights and quarrels among you come from (v. 1-3)?
2. What it means
James says "draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" (v. 8). What other instructions does he give around that phrase (v. 7-10)?
3. How I live it
James invites us to make plans saying "if the Lord wills" (v. 15). What plan of yours today can you put in God's hands?