1.
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
wars . Greek. polemos. See Matthew 24:6 .
and . The texts add "whence".
fightings . Greek. mache. See 2 Corinthians 7:5 .
among . App-104 .
lusts = pleasures. Greek. hedone . See Titus 3:3 .
war . Greek. strateuomai. See 1 Corinthians 9:7 .
2.
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
desire to have = covet earnestly. Greek. zeloo. See Acts 7:9 .
cannot = are not ( App-105 ) able to.
obtain . See Romans 11:7 .
fight . Greek. machomai. See Acts 7:26 .
war . Greek. polemeo. Only here and Revelation 2:16 ; Revelation 12:7 ; Revelation 13:4 ; Revelation 17:14 ; Revelation 19:11 . Note the different words for war in these two verses.
because, &c . = on account of ( App-104 .James 4:2; James 4:2 ) your not asking.
ask . App-134 .
not . App-105 .
3.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
amiss = with evil intent. Greek. kakos . Compare App-128 .
that = in order that. Greek. hina .
consume = spend. See Luke 15:14 .
upon = in (gratifying). App-104 .
4.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Ye adulterers and . The texts omit.
adulteresses . Compare Matthew 12:39 . Jeremiah 3:9 . Ezekiel 16 ; Ezekiel 23 .Hosea 2 ; &c.
know . App-132 .
friendship . Greek. philia. Only here.
world . App-129 .
enmity . Greek. echthra. See Romans 8:7 .
God . App-98 .
will . App-102 .
is = is constituted, or constitutes himself, as in James 3:6 .
5.
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Do ye = Greek.do ye.
in vain . Greek. kenos . Only here. The adjective occurs frequently.
spirit . App-101 .
to . App-104 . This can only refer to the general testimony of Scripture that the natural man is prone to selfish desires, leading to envy of others who possess the things desired Compare Genesis 6:5 ; Genesis 8:21 .
6.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
more = greater.
grace . App-184 . This has reference to the now nature. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:12 .
resisteth . Greek. antitassomai. See Acts 18:6 .
proud . See Romans 1:30 .
unto = to.
humble = lowly. Compare James 1:9 . Matthew 11:29 . Quoted from Proverbs 3:34 .
7.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
purify . Greek. hagnizo. See Acts 21:24 . Used of Levitical purifying four times. Used here, 1Pe 1:22 . 1 John 3:3 , in a spiritual sense.
double minded . See James 1:8 .
9.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Be afflicted . Greek. talaiporeo. Only here. Compare James 5:1 .Romans 7:24 .
laughter . Greek. gelos. Only here.
be turned . See Acts 2:20 .
heaviness . Greek. katepheia. Only here. It means casting down the eyes. Compare Luke 18:13 .
10.
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Humble yourselves . Greek. tapeinoo. See 2 Corinthians 11:7 .
LORD . App-98 . A (B according to texts).
lift . . . up . Greek. hupsoo. See John 12:32 .
11.
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Speak . . . evil = Speak against, or backbite. Greek. katalaleo. Only here and 1 Peter 2:12 ; 1 Peter 3:16 . Compare Romans 1:30 . 2 Corinthians 12:20 .
one of another = one another.
judgeth . App-122 .
if . Greek. ei . App-118 .
12.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Lawgiver . Greek. nomothetes. Only here. Compare Romans 9:4 .Hebrews 7:11 .
destroy . Compare James 1:11 (perish).
another = the other. App-124 . The texts read "neighbour", as in James 2:8 .
13.
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Go to = Come. Greek. age . Imperative mood of ago , used as an adverb. Here and James 5:1 .
such a = this.
and . Note the Fig, Polysyndeton. App-6 .
continue . Literally make, or do. Compare Acts 20:3 . Figure of speech Synecdoche. App-6 .
buy and sell = trade. Greek. emporeuomai. Only here and 2 Peter 2:3 . Compare Matthew 22:5 .John 2:16 . This eagerness to travel for trade purposes is a prominent characteristic of the Jew of to-day.
14.
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Whereas ye = Such as ye are.
know . App-132 .
life . App-170 .
It is even = For it is. The texts read "For ye are".
vapour . Greek. atmis . See Acts 2:19 .
appeareth . App-106 .
vanisheth away . See Acts 13:41 .
15.
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
For that, &c . = Instead of ( App-104 . ) your saying.
will . App-102 .
16.
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
rejoice = boast. Greek. kauchaomai. See Romans 2:17 ; Romans 5:2 .
boastings . Greek. alazoneia. Only here and 1 John 2:16 . Compare Romans 1:30 .
rejoicing = boasting. Greek. kauchesis. See Romans 3:27 .
evil . App-128 .
17.
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
sin . App-128 .