James 4:7

Amplified Bible

So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

King James Version (1611)
Submit your selues therefore to God: resist the deuill, and hee will flee from you.

King James Version
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

English Standard Version
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

New American Standard Bible
Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

New Century Version
So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Berean Standard Bible
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Contemporary English Version
Surrender to God! Resist the devil, and he will run from you.

Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, submit to God. Moreover, take a stand against the Adversary, and he will flee from you.

Darby Translation
Subject yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Easy-to-Read Version
So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Submit your selues to God: resist the deuill, and he will flee from you.

George Lamsa Translation
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist Satan, and he will flee from you.

Good News Translation
So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore subject yourselves to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Literal Translation
Then be subject to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

American Standard Version
Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Bible in Basic English
For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.

Hebrew Names Version
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

International Standard Version
Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.Ephesians 4:27; 6:11; 1 Peter 5:9;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
BE subject, therefore, unto Aloha; withstand Satana, and he will flee from you;

Murdock Translation
Subject yourselves therefore to God; and stand firm against Satan, and he will flee from you.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Submit your selues therfore to God: but resist the deuyll, and he wyll flee from you.

English Revised Version
Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

World English Bible
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Submit yourselves, therefore, to God: resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Weymouth's New Testament
Submit therefore to God: resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor be ye suget to God; but withstonde ye the deuel, and he schal fle fro you.

Update Bible Version
Be subject therefore to God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

New English Translation
So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.

New King James Version
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

New Living Translation
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

New Life Bible
So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil and he will run away from you.

New Revised Standard
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Range yourselves, therefore, under God, but withstand the adversary, and he will flee from you:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil: and he will fly from you.

Revised Standard Version
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Submit youre selves to god and resist the devyll and he will flye from you.

Young's Literal Translation
be subject, then, to God; stand up against the devil, and he will flee from you;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Submit youre selues to God, and resist the deuell, & he wil flye fro you.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Surrender therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

THE MESSAGE
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.

Simplified Cowboy Version
So ride in the way the Boss has told you to. Turn your back on the devil and he will hightail it away from you.

Contextual Overview

¹What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? ²You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. ³You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. ⁴You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? ⁶But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD and HAUGHTY, BUT [continually] GIVES [the gift of] GRACE TO THE HUMBLE [who turn away from self-righteousness]." ⁷So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.⁸Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. ⁹Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. ¹⁰Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Submit: 1 Samuel 3:18, 2 Samuel 15:26, 2 Kings 1:13-15, 2 Chronicles 30:8, 2 Chronicles 33:12, 2 Chronicles 33:13, Job 1:21, Job 40:3-5, Job 42:1-6, Psalms 32:3-5, Psalms 66:3, Psalms 68:30, Jeremiah 13:18, Daniel 4:25, Daniel 4:32, Daniel 4:34-37, Matthew 11:29, Acts 9:6, Acts 16:29-31, Acts 26:19, Romans 10:3, Romans 14:11, Ephesians 5:21, Hebrews 12:9, 1 Peter 2:13

Resist: Matthew 4:3-11, Luke 4:2-13, Ephesians 4:27, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:12, 1 Peter 5:8, 1 Peter 5:9, Revelation 12:9-11

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 10:16 - stiffnecked 2 Samuel 22:28 - but thine Job 8:5 - thou wouldest Job 9:13 - the proud helpers Job 42:6 - I Psalms 32:9 - Be ye Psalms 99:2 - high Daniel 4:37 - those that walk Matthew 4:10 - Get Luke 4:8 - Get Luke 4:13 - General Luke 23:41 - we indeed Acts 3:19 - be Acts 5:3 - why Hebrews 13:17 - submit James 4:10 - Humble 1 John 5:17 - and

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth; In pain you will give birth to children; Yet your desire and longing will be for your husband, And he will rule [with authority] over you and be responsible for you."

Genesis 4:6
And the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed?

Genesis 4:8
Cain talked with Abel his brother [about what God had said]. And when they were [alone, working] in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him.

Genesis 4:9
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he [lied and] said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

Genesis 4:10
The LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice].

Genesis 4:11
"And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's [shed] blood from your hand.

Genesis 4:12
"When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast]."

Genesis 4:13
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Genesis 19:21
And the angel said to him, "Behold, I grant you this request also; I will not destroy this town of which you have spoken.

Numbers 32:23
"But if you do not do this, behold, you will have sinned against the LORD; and be sure that your sin will find you out.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God,.... To the will of God, with respect to worldly things, and be content with such things as are enjoyed, and be satisfied with the portion that is allotted; it is right and best for the people of God to leave themselves with him, to choose their inheritance for them, since by all their anxious cares, their striving and struggling, their impatient desires, wars and fightings, as they cannot add one cubit to their stature, so nothing to their worldly substance; and it becomes them to submit to God in all afflictive dispensations of his providence, and be still and know that he is God; as well as to submit to his way and method of salvation by Christ, and particularly to the righteousness of Christ, for justification; and to depend upon him for supplies of grace in the discharge of every duty, and the exercise of every grace:

resist the devil, [and] he will flee from you; Satan is to be looked upon as an enemy, and to be opposed as such, and to be watched and guarded against; the whole armour of God should be taken and made use of, particularly the weapon of prayer, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and the shield of faith; and also the grace of humility, than which nothing is more opposite to him: he is a proud spirit, and he endeavours to swell men with pride of themselves; and when he has worked them up to such a pitch, he is then master of them, and can manage them as he pleases; but a poor humble believer, with whom God dwells, to whom he gives more grace, and who comes forth not in his own strength, but in the strength of the Lord God, as David against Goliath, and who owns his vileness and sinfulness, and flies to the grace of God, and blood of Christ, Satan knows not what to do with him, he is puzzled, baffled, and confounded; such he leaves, from such he flees; he does not like the power of prayer, nor the strength of faith, nor the sharpness of the twoedged sword, the word of God, nor the humble believer's staff, bag, scrip, and sling.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Submit yourselves therefore to God - That is, in his arrangements for obtaining his favor. Yield to what he has judged necessary for your welfare in the life that is, and your salvation in the life to come. The duty here enjoined is that of entire acquiescence in the arrangements of God, whether in his providence or grace. All these are for our good, and submission to them is required by the spirit of true humility. The object of the command here, and in the succeeding injunctions to particular duties, is to show them how they might obtain the grace which God is willing to bestow, and how they might overcome the evils against which the apostle had been endeavoring to guard them. The true method of doing this is by submitting ourselves in all things to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you - While you yield to God in all things, you are to yield to the devil in none. You are to resist and oppose him in whatever way he may approach you, whether by allurements, by flattering promises, by the fascinations of the world, by temptation, or by threats. See 1 Peter 5:9. Satan makes his way, and secures his triumphs, rather by art, cunning, deception, and threatenings, than by true courage; and when opposed manfully, he flies. The true way of meeting him is by direct resistance, rather than by argument; by steadfastly refusing to yield in the slightest degree, rather than by a belief that we can either convince him that he is wrong, or can return to virtue when we have gone a certain length in complying with his demands. No one is safe who yields in the least to the suggestions of the tempter; there is no one who is not safe if he does not yield. A man, for example, is always safe from intemperance if he resists all allurements to indulgence in strong drink, and never yields in the slightest degree; no one is certainly safe if he drinks even moderately.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. Submit - to God — Continue to bow to all his decisions, and to all his dispensations.

Resist the devil — He cannot conquer you if you continue to resist. Strong as he is, God never permits him to conquer the man who continues to resist him; he cannot force the human will. He who, in the terrible name of JESUS, opposes even the devil himself, is sure to have a speedy and glorious conquest. He flees from that name, and from his conquering blood.