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James 3:13

Whoever is a skilful moralist, let him show by his virtuous conduct, that he practises the humble precepts of wisdom.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Meekness;   Minister, Christian;   Righteousness;   Speaking;   Wisdom;   Works;   Thompson Chain Reference - Conduct, Christian;   Consistent Life;   Life;   Living Consistently;   Meekness;   Meekness-Retaliation;   The Topic Concordance - Confusion;   Envy;   Evil;   Strife;   Wisdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Meekness;   Works, Good;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom;   World;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fool, Foolishness, Folly;   Hypocrisy;   Meekness;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - James, the General Epistle of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - James, the Letter;   Meekness;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hosea;   James, Epistle of;   World;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - James Epistle of;   Meekness;   Self-Denial;   Teaching ;   Truth;   Winter ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 34 Meekness Quietness;   48 To Know, Perceive, Understand;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Conversation;   Meekness;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for May 12;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
Simplified Cowboy Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
Darby Translation
Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
World English Bible
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Who is a wise and knowing man among you? Let him shew by a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Weymouth's New Testament
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.
King James Version (1611)
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.
Literal Translation
Who is wise and knowing among you? Let him show his works by his good behavior, in meekness of wisdom.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
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.
THE MESSAGE
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.
Amplified Bible
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.
American Standard Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
Revised Standard Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
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.
Update Bible Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show, by his good life, his works in meekness of wisdom.
Webster's Bible Translation
Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show by a good deportment his works with meekness of wisdom.
Young's Literal Translation
Who [is] wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
New Century Version
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.
New English Translation
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do.
Complete Jewish Bible
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.
English Standard Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Who is a wise man & endued with knowledge among you? let him shew by good conuersation his workes in meekenesse of wisdome.
George Lamsa Translation
Who is wise among you and has training? let him prove his words by his good deeds, in the humbleness of wisdom.
Christian Standard Bible®
Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness.
Hebrew Names Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds done in gentleness of wisdom by his good life.
International Standard Version
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]
Etheridge Translation
Who of you is wise and instructed ? let him show his works in good conversations in meek wisdom.
Murdock Translation
Who is wise and instructed among you? Let him show his works in praiseworthy actions, with modest wisdom.
New King James Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
New Living Translation
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.
New Life Bible
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.
English Revised Version
Who is wise and understanding among you? let him shew by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
New Revised Standard
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Who is wise and well-instructed-among you? Let him show, out of his comely behaviour, his works, in meekness of wisdom.
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.
King James Version
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Lexham English Bible
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works, with the humility of wisdom.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Who is a wise man, and endued with knoweledge among you? let him shewe his workes out of good conuersation with mekenesse of wisdome.
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
New American Standard Bible
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.
Good News Translation
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Who is wijs, and tauyt among you? schewe he of good lyuyng his worching, in myldenesse of his wisdom.

Contextual Overview

13 Whoever is a skilful moralist, let him show by his virtuous conduct, that he practises the humble precepts of wisdom. 14 but if envy and contention imbitter your minds, don't think your false pretences can stand against the truth: 15 such wisdom is not derived from heaven; but is terrestrial, sensual, demoniacal. 16 where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail. 17 but wisdom deriv'd from heaven is first dispassionate, then pacific, equitable, and obsequious: full of beneficence, and all social virtue, free from partiality, and hypocrisy. 18 they who cultivate peace, enjoy the reward of their virtue.

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

John 18:35
Pilate answered, am I a Jew? your own nation, and the chief priests have delivered thee up to me: what hast thou done?
1 Timothy 2:14
Adam was not seduc'd, but the woman, who was the cause of his 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.


 
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