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Wednesday, November 27th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New Living Translation

James 1:14

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Lust;   Sin;   Temptation;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Temptation;   Testing;   Test-Tempt;   Thompson Chain Reference - Allurements of Sin;   Error;   Satan;   Sin;   Sin-Saviour;   Temptation;   Transgression;   The Topic Concordance - Temptation;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Lust;   Sin;   Tempt;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Guidance;   Sin;   Steal;   Temptation;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Providence of God;   Temptation, Test;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Goodness of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Sin;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Achan;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Concupiscence;   Fall;   James, the Letter;   Lust;   Temptation;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Desire;   Hellenism;   James Epistle of;   Lust;   Man;   Sin;   Sin (2);   Will;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Tempt, to;   ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Temptation;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Roman Catholics;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Beguile;   Fall, the;   Tempt;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for December 28;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 16;   Every Day Light - Devotion for May 16;   Today's Word from Skip Moen - Devotion for April 10;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
You are tempted by the evil things you want. Your own desire leads you away and traps you.
Revised Standard Version
but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But every ma is tepted drawne awaye and entysed of his awne concupiscece.
Hebrew Names Version
But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
New American Standard Bible
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
New Century Version
But people are tempted when their own evil desire leads them away and traps them.
Update Bible Version
but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own desire, and enticed.
Webster's Bible Translation
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
English Standard Version
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
World English Bible
But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own desire and inticed.
Weymouth's New Testament
But when a man is tempted, it is his own passions that carry him away and serve as a bait.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But ech man is temptid, drawun and stirid of his owne coueiting.
English Revised Version
but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
Berean Standard Bible
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
Contemporary English Version
We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us.
Amplified Bible
But each one is tempted when he is dragged away, enticed and baited [to commit sin] by his own [worldly] desire (lust, passion).
American Standard Version
but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
Bible in Basic English
But every man is tested when he is turned out of the right way by the attraction of his desire.
Complete Jewish Bible
Rather, each person is being tempted whenever he is being dragged off and enticed by the bait of his own desire.
Darby Translation
But every one is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own lust;
International Standard Version
Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it.
Etheridge Translation
But each man from his concupiscence tempteth himself, and desireth, and is drawn away.
Murdock Translation
But every man is tempted by his own lust; and he lusteth, and is drawn away.
King James Version (1611)
But euery man is tempted, when hee is drawen away of his owne lust, and entised.
New Life Bible
A man is tempted to do wrong when he lets himself be led by what his bad thoughts tell him to do.
New Revised Standard
But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it;
Geneva Bible (1587)
But euery man is tempted, when hee is drawen away by his owne concupiscence, and is entised.
George Lamsa Translation
But every man is tempted by his own lust; and he covets and is enticed.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, each one, is tempted, when, by his own coveting, he is drawn out and enticed,
Douay-Rheims Bible
But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But euery man is tempted, when he is drawen away, & entised of his owne concupiscence.
Good News Translation
But we are tempted when we are drawn away and trapped by our own evil desires.
Christian Standard Bible®
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.
King James Version
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Lexham English Bible
But each one is tempted when he is dragged away and enticed by his own desires.
Literal Translation
But each one is tempted by his own lusts, being drawn out and being seduced by them .
Young's Literal Translation
and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But euery ma is tepted, drawne awaye, & entysed of his awne cocupiscece.
Mace New Testament (1729)
a man is instigated, and drawn into the snare by his own vicious passions, which once indulg'd, are productive of sin,
New English Translation
But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.
New King James Version
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
Simplified Cowboy Version
We all go the bad way, not because of anything God does or doesn't do, but just because we have a natural desire for the wrong ways.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Contextual Overview

13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16 So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: James 4:1, James 4:2, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Joshua 7:21-24, 2 Samuel 11:2, 2 Samuel 11:3, 1 Kings 21:2-4, Job 31:9, Job 31:27, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 44:20, Hosea 13:9, Matthew 5:28, Matthew 15:18, Matthew 15:20, Mark 7:21, Mark 7:22, Romans 7:11, Romans 7:13, Ephesians 4:22, Hebrews 3:13

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:32 - General 2 Samuel 11:4 - he lay 2 Samuel 12:4 - a traveller 2 Samuel 24:1 - he 1 Kings 21:4 - And he laid him 2 Chronicles 18:19 - Who shall entice Job 15:12 - thine heart Job 31:1 - think Proverbs 6:25 - Lust Proverbs 9:17 - Stolen Proverbs 12:26 - but Isaiah 32:6 - and his heart Isaiah 65:2 - after Jeremiah 17:9 - General Jeremiah 22:17 - thine eyes Jeremiah 44:25 - ye will Ezekiel 11:21 - whose Zechariah 7:10 - imagine Malachi 2:15 - take Mark 7:20 - General Romans 6:12 - in the lusts Romans 7:8 - wrought Romans 8:6 - to be carnally minded Romans 8:13 - ye live 1 Thessalonians 3:5 - lest

Cross-References

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:2
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Genesis 1:3
Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Genesis 1:4
And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:6
Then God said, "Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth."
Genesis 1:7
And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.
Genesis 1:8
God called the space "sky." And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.
Genesis 1:9
Then God said, "Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear." And that is what happened.
Genesis 1:12
The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:14
Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But every man is tempted,.... To sin, and he falls in with the temptation, and by it,

when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed; the metaphor is taken either from fishes, who are enticed by the bait, and drawn out by the hook; or from a lascivious woman, who meeting with a young man, entices him, and draws him away after her to commit iniquity with her: by "lust" is meant the principle of corrupt nature, which has its residence in the heart of man; is natural and hereditary to him, and therefore is called his own; he is conceived and shapen in it; he brings it into the world with him, and it continues in him, and is called his own heart's lust, Romans 1:24. Now this meeting with some bait, which entices and draws it out, or with some external object, which promises pleasure or profit, a man is allured, and ensnared, and drawn away by it, and so the temptation begins: thus, for instance, covetousness was the predominant lust in Judas; this meeting with an external object, or objects, which promised him profit, he is at once enticed and drawn away to betray his Lord and master for the sake of it: so sin often promises pleasure, though it is but an imaginary, and a short lived one; which takes with a man's own lust, and corruption within him, and so he is allured and drawn aside; and to this, and not to God, should he attribute temptation to sin.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust - That is, the fountain or source of all temptation is in man himself. It is true that external inducements to sin may be placed before him, but they would have no force if there was not something in himself to which they corresponded, and over which they might have power. There must be some “lust;” some desire; some inclination; something which is unsatisfied now, which is made the foundation of the temptation, and which gives it all its power. If there were no capacity for receiving food, or desire for it, objects placed before us appealing to the appetite could never be made a source of temptation; if there were nothing in the soul which could be regarded as the love of acquisition or possession, gold would furnish no temptation; if there were no sensual propensities, we should be in that quarter above the power of temptation.

In each case, and in every form, the power of the temptation is laid in some propensity of our nature, some desire of that which we do not now possess. The word rendered “lust” in this place (ἐπιθυμίας epithumias), is not employed here in the narrow sense in which it is now commonly used, as denoting libidinousness. It means desire in general; an earnest wish for anything. Notes, Ephesians 4:22. It seems here to be used with reference to the original propensities of our nature - the desires implanted in us, which are a stimulus to employment - as the desire of knowledge, of food, of power, of sensual gratifications; and the idea is, that a man may be drawn along by these beyond the prescribed limits of indulgence, and in the pursuit of objects that are forbidden. He does not stop at the point at which the law requires him to stop, and is therefore guilty of transgression. This is the source of all sin. The original propensity may not be wrong, but may be perfectly harmless - as in the case of the desire of food, etc. Nay, it may furnish a most desirable stimulus to action; for how could the human powers be called forth, if it were not for this? The error, the fault, the sin, is, not restraining the indulgence where we are commanded to do it, either in regard to the objects sought, or in regard to the degree of indulgence.

And enticed - Entrapped, caught; that is, he is seized by this power, and held fast; or he is led along and beguiled, until he falls into sin, as in a snare that springs suddenly upon him.

Επιθυμια Epithumia in the New Testament, is sometimes employed in a good sense, Luke 22:15; Phi 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; often in a bad sense, as in Mark 4:19; John 8:44; Romans 1:24; Romans 6:12; Romans 7:7; 1 John 2:16; but there is no difficulty in making the distinction; the context easily determining the matter. And this passage in James seems at once to fix down on επιθυμιας epithumias the sense of evil or corrupt desire. That it can mean a “harmless propensity;” or that it is a propensity on whose character the apostle does not at all pronounce, is incredible. It is said to “draw away a man and entice him;” to “conceive and bring forth sin:” and a principle from which such fruit springs cannot be very harmless. Without doubt, the apostle traces the whole evil of temptation, which some falsely ascribed to God, to the sinful desires of the human heart; and, as our author remarks, he seems to take the common sense view without entertaining any thought of nice philosophical distinction. We cannot for a moment suppose the apostle to say - “the evil is not to be traced to God, but to a harmless propensity.”

The whole passage, with the words and figures which are used, show that the idea in the apostle’s mind was that of an enticing harlot. The επιθυμια epithumia is personified. She persuades the understanding and will into her impure embrace. The result of this fatal union is the “conception” and ultimate “bringing forth” of actual sin, which again brings forth death. This is the true genealogy of sin (McKnight); and to say that the επιθυμια epithumia, or evil desire, of which the apostle says that it is the “origo mali,” is harmless, - is to contradict him, and Paul also, who in a parallel passage says that he had not known the επιθυμια epithumia, or inward desire after forbidden objects, to be sinful, unless the law had enlightened him and said “thou shalt not covet.” Mr. Scott has spoken in strong terms of the folly of some parties who understand επιθυμια epithumia. Here only of the desire of sensual gross indulgence, to the exclusion of other sinful desires; but the extreme of interpreting it as meaning nothing sinful at all, deserves equal reprehension. The reader, however, will notice that the author does not venture on this assertion. He says “it may be so,” and otherwise modifies his view.)

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. But every man is tempted — Successfully solicited to sin, when he is drawn away of his own lust-when, giving way to the evil propensity of his own heart, he does that to which he is solicited by the enemy of his soul.

Among the rabbins we find some fine sayings on this subject. In Midrash hanaalam, fol. 20, and Yalcut Rubeni, fol. 17, it is said: "This is the custom of evil concupiscence, יצר הרע yetser hara: To-day it saith, Do this; to-morrow, Worship an idol. The man goes and worships. Again it saith, Be angry."

"Evil concupiscence is, at the beginning, like the thread of a spider's web; afterwards it is like a cart rope." Sanhedrim, fol. 99.

In the words, drawn away by his own lust and enticed, ὑπο της ιδιας επιθυμιας εξελκομενος και δελεαζομενος, there is a double metaphor; the first referring to the dragging a fish out of the water by a hook which it had swallowed, because concealed by a bait; the second, to the enticements of impure women, who draw away the unwary into their snares, and involve them in their ruin. Illicit connections of this kind the writer has clearly in view; and every word that he uses refers to something of this nature, as the following verse shows.


 
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