the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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King James Version
James 3:13
Bible Study Resources
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Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
So can no fountayne geve bothe salt water and fresshe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you let him shewe the workes of his good conversacio in meknes that ys coupled with wisdome.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life.
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show, by his good life, his works in meekness of wisdom.
Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by a good deportment his works with meekness of wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life.
Who is a wise and knowing man among you? Let him shew by a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Which of you is a wise and well-instructed man? Let him prove it by a right life with conduct guided by a wisely teachable spirit.
Who is wijs, and tauyt among you? schewe he of good lyuyng his worching, in myldenesse of his wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him shew by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do.
Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him demonstrate it by his good way of life, by actions done in the humility that grows out of wisdom.
Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good life that his works are done in humility born of wisdom.Galatians 6:4; James 1:21; 2:18;">[xr]
Who of you is wise and instructed ? let him show his works in good conversations in meek wisdom.
Who is wise and instructed among you? Let him show his works in praiseworthy actions, with modest wisdom.
Who is a wise man and indued with knowledge amongst you? let him shew out of a good conuersation his workes with meekenes of wisedome.
If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Who among you is wise and understands? Let that one show from a good life by the things he does that he is wise and gentle.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
Who is a wise man & endued with knowledge among you? let him shew by good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisdome.
Who is wise among you and has training? let him prove his words by his good deeds, in the humbleness of wisdom.
Who is wise and well-instructed-among you? Let him show, out of his comely behaviour, his works, in meekness of wisdom.
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge, among you? Let him shew, by a good contestation, his work in the meekness of wisdom.
Who is a wise man, and endued with knoweledge among you? let him shewe his workes out of good conuersation with mekenesse of wisdome.
Are there any of you who are wise and understanding? You are to prove it by your good life, by your good deeds performed with humility and wisdom.
Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.
Who is wise and knowing among you? Let him show his works by his good behavior, in meekness of wisdom.
Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water and fresshe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you, let him shewe the workes of his good couersacion in meknes that is coupled with wissdome.
Whoever is a skilful moralist, let him show by his virtuous conduct, that he practises the humble precepts of wisdom.
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Who among you cowboys rides with wisdom and understanding? Good manners and honest ways, with a gentle countenance, mark the ride of a wise cowboy.
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
is a: James 3:1, Psalms 107:43, Ecclesiastes 8:1, Ecclesiastes 8:5, Jeremiah 9:12, Jeremiah 9:23, Matthew 7:24, 1 Corinthians 6:5, Galatians 6:4
endued: 2 Chronicles 2:12, 2 Chronicles 2:13, Job 28:28, Isaiah 11:3, Daniel 2:21
let: James 2:18, Isaiah 60:6, 2 Corinthians 8:24, 1 Peter 2:9
a good: Philippians 1:27, 1 Timothy 4:12, Hebrews 13:5, 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 3:1, 1 Peter 3:2, 1 Peter 3:16
with meekness: James 3:17, James 1:21, Numbers 12:3, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 45:4, Psalms 149:4, Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 29:19, Isaiah 61:1, Zephaniah 2:3, Matthew 5:5, Matthew 11:29, Matthew 21:5, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 5:23, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12, 1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:25, Titus 3:2, 1 Peter 3:4, 1 Peter 3:15
Reciprocal: Genesis 13:9 - if thou wilt Deuteronomy 4:6 - this is your Judges 8:2 - What 2 Samuel 16:23 - all the counsel 2 Chronicles 1:11 - that thou mayest Job 11:12 - would Job 15:2 - a wise man Psalms 37:11 - the meek Psalms 50:23 - ordereth his conversation Psalms 119:34 - Give me Psalms 119:66 - Teach me Psalms 119:100 - because Psalms 119:125 - give Psalms 122:8 - General Proverbs 10:8 - wise Proverbs 14:8 - wisdom Proverbs 15:21 - a man Proverbs 28:26 - but Ecclesiastes 1:18 - For in Ecclesiastes 7:16 - neither Ezekiel 28:12 - full Matthew 5:24 - there Luke 11:35 - General John 7:49 - General Romans 2:10 - to every Romans 12:16 - Be not Romans 14:19 - follow Romans 14:22 - thou Romans 16:19 - yet 1 Corinthians 1:5 - and in 1 Corinthians 1:10 - that ye 1 Corinthians 1:26 - that 2 Corinthians 1:12 - not Ephesians 5:15 - not Colossians 4:5 - Walk 1 Peter 1:15 - in 2 Peter 3:11 - in all
Cross-References
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Who is a wise man. Meaning, not in things natural and civil, or merely moral, but in things spiritual: and he is a wise man, who is both wise to do good, and wise unto salvation; who has learned to know his own ignorance, folly, and stupidity; for the first lesson in the school of spiritual wisdom is for a man to know that he is a fool: and he is a wise man who considers his latter end, thinks of a future state, and what will become of him in another world; and who builds his faith and hope of eternal salvation on the sure and only foundation, the rock Christ Jesus; and who takes up a profession of religion upon principles of grace, and with views to the glory of God, and, upon mature deliberation, reckoning the cost, and what he must expect to meet with; and which he holds fast, without wavering, and yet does not depend upon it; and who walks circumspectly, and with wisdom, towards them that are without; and who observes both providences and promises, for the encouragement of his faith; and keeps looking to the mark for the prize, preferring heavenly things to earthly ones.
And endued with knowledge amongst you? as he is, who is endued with the knowledge of himself; of the impurity of his nature, and the plague of his heart; and of his impotency and inability to do any thing that is spiritually good of himself; and of the imperfection and insufficiency of his righteousness to justify him before God; and of his lost state and condition by nature, how deserving of the wrath of God, and obnoxious to the curses of the law; and how miserable he must be without the grace of God and righteousness of Christ: and who is also endued with the knowledge of Christ, so as to see a fulness, suitableness, and ability in him as a Saviour; so as to love him, approve of him, as such, and trust in him; which knowledge is always practical and soul humbling; and the least degree of it saving; and though it is imperfect, it is growing, and will at last come to perfection: now such a man is a Gnostic, in the best sense; for this question is put with a view to the Gnostics of those times, who valued themselves upon their knowledge, and despised practical religion and godliness: hence it follows,
let him show out of a good conversation his works, with meekness of wisdom; such an one ought to perform good works, and he will perform them; and it is right in him to show them forth, that they may be a means of others glorifying God upon the sight of them; and that they may be evidences of the truth of faith in themselves to others; and that they may be for the imitation of others; and that they may put to silence, and stop the mouths of false accusers, and adorn the Gospel, and recommend religion: and these should be shown forth "out of a good conversation"; not in a single act or two, but in a series and course of living; which may be said to be good, when it is ordered aright, according to the word of God, and is honest among the Gentiles, and upright and holy; and is as becomes the Gospel of Christ, and is worthy of the calling of God to grace and glory; and when it is influenced by the grace of God: and the works shown out of it, and in it, are done in faith, from love in the strength of Christ, and are directed to the glory of God: and all this should be "with meekness of wisdom"; in a wise and humble manner, without trusting to, and depending upon, such works for justification and salvation; and without glorying in them, and boasting of them; acknowledging the deficiency and imperfection of them, and his own weakness in the performance of them; and ascribing them to the power and grace of God, by the assistance of which they are performed.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? - This is spoken with reference to the work of public teaching; and the meaning of the apostle is, that if there were such persons among them, they should be selected for that office. The characteristics here stated as necessary qualifications, are wisdom and knowledge. Those, it would seem, on which reliance had been placed, were chiefly those which were connected with a ready elocution, or the mere faculty of speaking. The apostle had stated the dangers which would follow if reliance were placed on that alone, and he now says that something more is necessary, that the main qualifications for the office are wisdom and knowledge. No mere power of speaking, however eloquent it might be, was a sufficient qualification. The primary things to be sought in reference to that office were wisdom and knowledge, and they who were endowed with these things should be selected for public instructors.
Let him show out of a good conversation - From a correct and consistent life and deportment. On the meaning of the word “conversation,” see the notes at Philippians 1:27. The meaning here is, that there should be an upright life, and that this should be the basis in forming the judgment in appointing persons to fill stations of importance, and especially in the office of teaching in the church.
His works - His acts of uprightness and piety. He should be a man of a holy life.
With meekness of wisdom - With a wise and prudent gentleness of life; not in a noisy, arrogant, and boastful manner. True wisdom is always meek, mild, gentle; and that is the wisdom which is needful, if men would become public teachers. It is remarkable that the truly wise man is always characterized by a calm spirit, a mild and placid demeanor, and by a gentle, though firm, enunciation of his sentiments. A noisy, boisterous, and stormy declaimer we never select as a safe counsellor. He may accomplish much in his way by his bold eloquence of manner, but we do not put him in places where we need far-reaching thought, or where we expect the exercise of profound philosophical views. In an eminent degree, the ministry of the gospel should be characterized by a calm, gentle, and thoughtful wisdom - a wisdom which shines in all the actions of the life.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Who is a wise man — One truly religious; who, although he can neither bridle nor tame other men's tongues, can restrain his own.
And endued with knowledge — και επιστημων. And qualified to teach others.
Let him show — Let him by a holy life and chaste conversation show, through meekness and gentleness, joined to his Divine information, that he is a Christian indeed; his works and his spirit proving that God is in him of a truth; and that, from the fulness of a holy heart, his feet walk, his hands work; and his tongue speaks. We may learn from this that genuine wisdom is ever accompanied with meekness and gentleness. Those proud, overbearing, and disdainful men, who pass for great scholars and eminent critics, may have learning, but they have not wisdom. Their learning implies their correct knowledge of the structure of language, and of composition in general; but wisdom they have none, nor any self-government. They are like the blind man who carried a lantern in daylight to keep others from jostling him in the street. That learning is not only little worth, but despicable, that does not teach a man to govern his own spirit, and to be humble in his conduct towards others.
