WHENCE (ποθεν). This old interrogative adverb (here twice) asks for the origin of wars and fights. James is full of interrogatives, like all diatribes.WARS (πολεμο)--FIGHTINGS (μαχα).WAR (πολεμος, old word, Matthew 24:6) pictures the chronic state or campaign, while μαχη (also old word, 2 C... [ Continue Reading ]
YE LUST (επιθυμειτε). Present active indicative of επιθυμεω, old word (from επι, θυμος, yearning passion for), not necessarily evil as clearly not in Luke 22:15 of Christ, but usually so in the N.T., as here. Coveting what a man or nation does not have is the cause of war according to James.YE KI... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE YE ASK AMISS (διοτ κακως αιτεισθε). Here the indirect middle does make sense, "ye ask for yourselves" and that is "evilly" or amiss (κακως), as James explains.THAT YE MAY SPEND IT IN YOUR PLEASURES (ινα εν ταις ηδοναις υμων δαπανησητε). Purpose clause with ινα and the first aorist subju... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ADULTERESSES (μοιχαλιδες). Μοιχο κα (ye adulterers) is spurious (Syrian text only). The feminine form here is a common late word from the masculine μοιχο. It is not clear whether the word is to be taken literally here as in Romans 7:3, or figuratively for all unfaithful followers of Christ (lik... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCRIPTURE (η γραφη). Personification as in Galatians 3:8; James 2:23. But no O.T. passage is precisely like this, though it is "a poetical rendering" (Ropes) of Exodus 20:5. The general thought occurs also in Genesis 6:3-5; Isaiah 63:8-16, etc. Paul has the same idea also (Galatians 5:17; Gala... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE GRACE (μειζονα χαριν). "Greater grace." Greater than what? "Greater grace in view of the greater requirement" (Ropes), like Romans 5:20. God does this.WHEREFORE (διο). To prove this point James quotes Proverbs 3:34.GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD (ο θεος υπερηφανοις αντιτασσετα). Present middle ... [ Continue Reading ]
BE SUBJECT THEREFORE UNTO GOD (υποταγητε ουν τω θεω). Second aorist (ingressive) passive imperative of υποτασσω, old verb, to range under (military term also). Same form in 1 Peter 2:23; 1 Peter 5:5. With the dative case θεω (unto God). The aorist has the note of urgency in the imperative. Note t... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW NIGH TO GOD (εγγισατε τω θεω). First aorist active imperative of εγγιζω, late verb from εγγυς (near) as in Matthew 3:2. With dative case again of personal relation. The priests in the sanctuary drew nigh to God (Exodus 19:22), as we should now.CLEANSE YOUR HANDS (καθαρισατε χειρας). First a... [ Continue Reading ]
BE AFFLICTED (ταλαιπωρησατε). First aorist active imperative ταλαιπωρεω, old verb from ταλαιπωρος (Romans 7:24), to endure toils, here only in N.T. Cf. ταλαιπωριαις in James 5:1.MOURN (πενθησατε). First aorist active imperative of πενθεω, old verb from πενθος (mourning, James 4:9), as in Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
HUMBLE YOURSELVES (ταπεινωθητε). First aorist passive imperative of ταπεινοω, old verb from ταπεινος (James 1:9), as in Matthew 18:4. The passive here has almost the middle or reflexive sense. The middle voice was already giving way to the passive. See 1 Peter 5:6 for this same form with the same... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER (μη καταλαλειτε αλληλων). Prohibition against such a habit or a command to quit doing it, with μη and the present imperative of καταλαλεω, old compound usually with the accusative in ancient Greek, in N.T. only with the genitive (here, 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:16). Of... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE ONLY (εις). No "only" in the Greek, but εις here excludes all others but God.THE LAWGIVER (ο νομοθετης). Old compound (from νομοσ, τιθημ), only here in N.T. In Psalms 9:20. Cf. νομοθετεω in Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 8:6.TO SAVE (σωσα, first aorist active infinitive of σωζω)AND TO DESTROY (κα... [ Continue Reading ]
GO TO NOW (αγε νυν). Interjectional use of αγε (from αγω) as in James 5:1 (only N.T. instances) with a plural verb (ο λεγοντες, present active articular participle, ye that say) as is common in ancient Greek like ιδε νυν ηκουσατε (Matthew 26:65).TODAY OR TOMORROW (σημερον η αυριον). Correct tex... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREAS YE KNOW NOT (οιτινες ουκ επιστασθε). The longer relative οστις defines here more precisely (like Latin _qui_) ο λεγοντες (ye who say) of verse James 4:13 in a causal sense, as in Acts 10:47, "who indeed do not know" (present middle indicative of επισταμα).WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW (τη... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THAT YE OUGHT TO SAY (αντ του λεγειν υμας). "Instead of the saying as to you" (genitive of the articular infinitive with the preposition αντ and the accusative of general reference with λεγειν), "instead of your saying."IF THE LORD WILL (εαν ο κυριος θελη). Condition of the third class with... [ Continue Reading ]
IN YOUR VAUNTINGS (εν ταις αλαζονιαις υμων). Old word for braggart talk (from αλαζονευομα, to act the αλαζων empty boaster Romans 1:30), common in Aristophanes, in N.T. only here and 1 John 2:16.GLORYING (καυχησις). Act of glorying, late word from καυχαομα, good if for Christ (1 Thessalonians 2... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM THAT KNOWETH (ειδοτ). Dative case of second perfect participle ειδως (from οιδα), and with the infinitive to know how, "to one knowing how."TO DO GOOD (καλον ποιειν). "To do a good deed."AND DOETH IT NOT (κα μη ποιουντ). Dative again of the present active participle of ποιεω, "and to o... [ Continue Reading ]