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the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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Mace New Testament

James 1:10

let the rich be humbled by his instability: for he is as transitory as a flower in the field.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Death;   Grass;   Humility;   Life;   Poor;   Resignation;   Rich, the;   Thompson Chain Reference - Grass, Man as;   Man;   Mortality;   Mortality-Immortality;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Flowers;   Riches;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Grass;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Flowers;   Humility;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Flowers;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Peter, the Epistles of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ecclesiastes, Book of;   Flowers;   James, the Letter;   Pride;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Beatitudes;   James, Epistle of;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Flowers;   Grass;   James Epistle of;   Socialism;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Temptation;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Flower;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Flowers;   Grass;   James, Epistle of;   Wealth;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for May 21;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Believers who are rich should be glad when bad things happen that humble them. Their riches won't keep them from disappearing as quickly as wildflowers.
Revised Standard Version
and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and the ryche in that he is made lowe. For eve as ye flower of the grasse shall he vanysshe awaye.
Hebrew Names Version
and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
New American Standard Bible
but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
New Century Version
Those who are rich should take pride that God has shown them that they are spiritually poor. The rich will die like a wild flower in the grass.
Update Bible Version
and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
Webster's Bible Translation
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
English Standard Version
and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
World English Bible
and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But the rich, in that he is made low; because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
Weymouth's New Testament
but a rich man should rejoice in being brought low, for like flowers among the herbage rich men will pass away.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and a riche man in his lownesse; for as the flour of gras he schal passe.
English Revised Version
and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
Berean Standard Bible
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
Contemporary English Version
But any who are rich should be glad when God makes them humble. Rich people will disappear like wild flowers
Amplified Bible
and the rich man is to glory in being humbled [by trials revealing human frailty, knowing true riches are found in the grace of God], for like the flower of the grass he will pass away.
American Standard Version
and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
Bible in Basic English
But the man of wealth, that he is made low; because like the flower of the grass he will come to his end.
Complete Jewish Bible
But let the rich brother boast about his being humbled; since, like a wildflower, he will pass away.
Darby Translation
and the rich in his humiliation, because as [the] grass's flower he will pass away.
International Standard Version
and a rich person in his lowliness, because he will fade away like a flower in the grass.Job 1:14:2; Psalm 37:2; 90:5-6; 102:11; 103:15; Isaiah 40:6; 1 Corinthians 7:31; James 4:14; 1 Peter 1:24; 1 John 2:17;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and the rich in his humility; for as the flower of an herb, so he passeth.
Murdock Translation
and the rich, in his depression; because, like the flower of an herb, so he passeth away.
King James Version (1611)
But the rich, in that hee is made low: because as the floure of the grasse he shall passe away.
New Living Translation
And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field.
New Life Bible
But a rich man should be happy even if he loses everything. He is like a flower that will die.
New Revised Standard
and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe hee that is rich, in that hee is made lowe: for as the flower of the grasse, shall he vanish away.
George Lamsa Translation
Let the rich man rejoice in his humbleness: because as the flower of the grass, so shall he pass away.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Whereas the rich, in his being brought low, - because, as a flower of grass, he will pass away;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the rich, in his being low: because as the flower of the grass shall he pass away.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Agayne, the riche, in that he is made lowe: Because as the flowre of the grasse he shall passe away.
Good News Translation
and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant.
Christian Standard Bible®
but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
King James Version
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
Lexham English Bible
but the rich person in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a flower of the grass.
Literal Translation
and the rich one rejoice in his humiliation, because he will pass away like the flower of the grass.
Young's Literal Translation
and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and the rich, in yt he is made lowe. For eue as the flor of ye grasse shal he vanyshe awaye.
New English Translation
But the rich person's pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.
New King James Version
but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But them rich folks better have a humble air about 'em because they ain't no different in the grand scheme of things than any other blade of grass by the pond.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.

Contextual Overview

2 Consider the various tryals that surround you, my brethren, as matter of great joy; knowing this, 3 that the bringing your faith to the test, produces constancy. 4 but constancy should be brought to its perfection, that you may be entirely accomplished, without any defect. 5 If any of you is deficient in prudence, let him ask it of God, who liberally gives to all without upbraiding: and he will give it. 6 but let him be fully persuaded of the lawfulness of what he asks: for he that is diffident about that, is like the waves that fluctuate with the wind. 7 such a man must not expect any answer from the Lord. 8 a diffident man is inconstant in all his actions. 9 Let him that is poor triumph in the advantages of being a christian. 10 let the rich be humbled by his instability: for he is as transitory as a flower in the field. 11 the sun is up and darts its rays, the grass is wither'd, its flowers droop, and all their beautiful appearance vanishes away. just so the rich man fades with all his projects.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in: Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2, Matthew 5:3, Philippians 3:8, 1 Timothy 6:17

because: James 4:14, Job 14:2, Psalms 37:2, Psalms 37:35, Psalms 37:36, Psalms 90:5, Psalms 90:6, Psalms 102:11, Psalms 103:15, Isaiah 40:6, Matthew 6:30, 1 Corinthians 7:31, 1 Peter 1:24, 1 John 2:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 2:21 - content 1 Samuel 2:7 - bringeth 2 Kings 19:26 - they were Job 8:12 - General Psalms 49:12 - in honour Psalms 58:8 - pass Psalms 86:1 - for I am Psalms 92:7 - wicked Proverbs 27:24 - riches Isaiah 28:4 - shall be Isaiah 37:27 - as the grass of Isaiah 51:12 - man which Isaiah 64:6 - we all Jonah 3:6 - and he arose Habakkuk 3:18 - I will rejoice Matthew 21:20 - How Luke 1:52 - put Luke 6:20 - Blessed Luke 12:27 - the lilies Luke 19:8 - Behold Acts 8:31 - How Acts 8:39 - and he Acts 17:12 - honourable 2 Corinthians 10:17 - General 1 Peter 5:6 - that

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the rich, in that he is made low,.... That is, the rich brother; for there were rich men in the churches in those times, and which James often takes notice of in this epistle. Such an one should rejoice or glory in his lowness, or low estate; in the consideration of the low estate, out of which he was raised, by the good providence of God, and was not owing to any merit of his; and in the low estate into which he may be at present reduced, through the violence of persecution being stripped of all his riches for Christ's sake, of which he might make his boast, and count it his greatest glory; or in that low estate he may quickly expect he shall be brought into, either in the above manner, or by some calamity or another, and at least by death, which will put him upon a level with others: or this may have respect to the temper of his mind, which he has, through the grace of God, and the station he is in, in the church of God, being a brother, and no more than a brother, and upon an equal foot with the meanest member in it; and which yet is matter of rejoicing, that he is one, and that he is so blessed with the grace of humility, as not to lift up himself above others, not to mind high things, but to condescend to men of low estate; and such a deportment the apostle exhorts rich saints unto, from the consideration of the instability and inconstancy of worldly riches.

Because, as the flower of the grass he shall pass away; shortly, and suddenly; either he himself by death, or his riches at death, or before, and therefore are not to be gloried in; nor should the possessors of them be proud and haughty and elate themselves with them, but should behave humbly and modestly to their fellow creatures and Christians, as knowing that in a short time they will all be upon a par, or in an equal state; See Job 14:2. The metaphor here used is enlarged upon in the following verse, for the further illustration of the fickleness, perishing, and transitory nature of earthly enjoyments.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But the rich, in that he is made low - That is, because his property is taken away, and he is made poor. Such a transition is often the source of the deepest sorrow; but the apostle says that even in that a Christian may find occasion for thanksgiving. The reasons for rejoicing in this manner, which the apostle seems to have had in view, were these:

(1)Because it furnished a test of the reality of religion, by showing that it is adapted to sustain the soul in this great trial; that it can not only bear prosperity, but that it can bear the rapid transition from that state to one of poverty; and,

(2)Because it would furnish to the mind an impressive and salutary illustration of the fact that all earthly glory is soon to fade away.

I may remark here, that the transition from affluence to poverty is often borne by Christians with the manifestation of a most lovely spirit, and with an entire freedom from murmuring and complaining. Indeed, there are more Christians who could safely bear a transition from affluence to poverty, from prosperity to adversity, than there are who could bear a sudden transition from poverty to affluence. Some of the loveliest exhibitions of piety which I have ever witnessed have been in such transitions; nor have I seen occasion anywhere to love religion more than in the ease, and grace, and cheerfulness, with which it has enabled those accustomed long to more elevated walks, to descend to the comparatively humble lot where God places them. New grace is imparted for this new form of trial, and new traits of Christian character are developed in these rapid transitions, as some of the most beautiful exhibitions of the laws of matter are brought out in the rapid transitions in the laboratory of the chemist.

Because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away - That is, since it is a fact that he will thus pass away, he should rejoice that he is reminded of it. He should, therefore, esteem it a favor that this lesson is brought impressively before his mind. To learn this effectually, though by the loss of property, is of more value to him than all his wealth would be if he were forgetful of it. The comparison of worldly splendor with the fading flower of the field, is one that is common in Scripture. It is probable that James had his eye on the passage in Isaiah 40:6-8. See the notes at that passage. Compare the notes at 1 Peter 1:24-25. See also Psalms 103:15; Matthew 6:28-30.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. But the rich, in that he is made low — εν τη ταπεινωσει. In his humiliation - in his being brought to the foot of the cross to receive, as a poor and miserable sinner, redemption through the blood of the cross: and especially let him rejoice in this, because all outward glory is only as the flower of the field, and, like that, will wither and perish.


 
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