Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
the Week of Christ the King / Proper 29 / Ordinary 34
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New Living Translation

James 4:6

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gifts from God;   Humility;   Pride;   Quotations and Allusions;   Scofield Reference Index - Grace;   Thompson Chain Reference - God;   God's;   Grace;   Humble, Promises to;   Humility-Pride;   Promises, Divine;   Proud, the;   The Topic Concordance - Giving and Gifts;   Grace;   Humbleness;   Pride/arrogance;   Resistance;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gifts of God, the;   Grace;   Humility;   Pride;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Proverb, the Book of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Humility;   Pride;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Humility;   Pride;   Sin;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Humility;   Ordinances of the Gospel;   Pride;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Canon of the Old Testament;   James, the General Epistle of;   Peter, the Epistles of;   Proverbs, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Envy;   Humility;   James, the Letter;   Pride;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Humility;   Judas;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Commandment;   Humility ;   James ;   Lowliness;   Pride;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Humility;   James, Epistle of;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 13;   Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for March 22;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
But the kindness God shows is greater. As the Scripture says, "God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble."
Revised Standard Version
But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but geveth more grace.
Hebrew Names Version
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
New American Standard Bible
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
New Century Version
But God gives us even more grace, as the Scripture says, "God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34
Update Bible Version
But he gives more grace. Therefore [the scripture] says, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Webster's Bible Translation
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
English Standard Version
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
World English Bible
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But he giveth greater grace: therefore it saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Weymouth's New Testament
But He gives more abundant grace, as is implied in His saying, "God sets Himself against the haughty, but to the lowly He gives grace."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But he yyueth the more grace; for which thing he seith, God withstondith proude men, but to meke men he yyueth grace.
English Revised Version
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Berean Standard Bible
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Contemporary English Version
In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say, "God opposes everyone who is proud, but he is kind to everyone who is humble."
Amplified Bible
But 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]."
American Standard Version
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Bible in Basic English
But he gives more grace. So that the Writings say, God is against the men of pride, but he gives grace to those who make themselves low before him.
Complete Jewish Bible
But the grace he gives is greater, which is why it says, "God opposes the arrogant, but to the humble he gives grace."
Darby Translation
But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God sets himself against [the] proud, but gives grace to [the] lowly.
International Standard Version
But he gives all the more grace. And so he says,Job 1:22:29; Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; 29:23; Matthew 23:12; Luke 1:52; 14:11; 18:14; 1 Peter 5:5;">[xr] "God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble."Proverbs 3:34 (LXX)">[fn]
Etheridge Translation
But more excellent grace hath our Lord given unto us. Wherefore he saith, Aloha humbleth the proud, and to the humble he giveth grace.
Murdock Translation
But our Lord hath given us more grace. Therefore he said: The Lord humbleth the lofty, and giveth grace to the lowly.
King James Version (1611)
But he giueth more grace, wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proude, but giueth grace vnto the humble.
New Life Bible
But He gives us more loving-favor. For the Holy Writings say, "God works against the proud but gives loving-favor to those who have no pride."
New Revised Standard
But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the Scripture offereth more grace, and therefore sayth, God resisteth the proude, and giueth grace to the humble.
George Lamsa Translation
But our LORD has given us abundant grace. Therefore he said, God humbles the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Howbeit he giveth, greater, favour. Wherefore it saith - God, against the haughty, arrayeth himself, Whereas, unto the lowly, he giveth favour.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But [the scripture] offereth more grace, and therefore sayth, God resisteth the proude, but geueth grace vnto ye lowlie.
Good News Translation
But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Christian Standard Bible®
But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says:
King James Version
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Lexham English Bible
But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Literal Translation
But He gives greater grace. Because of this it says, "God sets Himself against proud ones , but He gives grace to humble ones ." Prov. 3:34
Young's Literal Translation
and greater grace he doth give, wherefore he saith, `God against proud ones doth set Himself up, and to lowly ones He doth give grace?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
but geueth more grace.
Mace New Testament (1729)
on the contrary, he heaps his favours upon you. wherefore 'tis said, "God defeats the proud, but is gracious to the humble."
New English Translation
But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, " God opposes the proud , but he gives grace to the humble ."
New King James Version
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34 ">[fn]
Simplified Cowboy Version
But the Boss is above and beyond generous. That's why the Good Book says, "God shuns the proud, but always makes a spot for the humble."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

Contextual Overview

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. 4 You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

God: Exodus 10:3, Exodus 10:4, Exodus 15:9, Exodus 15:10, Exodus 18:11, 1 Samuel 2:3, Job 22:29, Job 40:10-12, Psalms 138:6, Proverbs 3:34, Proverbs 6:16, Proverbs 6:17, Proverbs 29:23, Isaiah 2:11, Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 2:17, Isaiah 10:8-14, Isaiah 16:6, Isaiah 16:7, Daniel 4:37, Daniel 5:20-23, Matthew 23:12, Luke 1:52, Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14, 1 Peter 5:5

giveth grace: 2 Chronicles 32:26, 2 Chronicles 33:12, 2 Chronicles 33:19, 2 Chronicles 33:23, 2 Chronicles 34:27, Job 22:29, Psalms 9:12, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 18:12, Proverbs 22:4, Isaiah 57:15

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:41 - humbled Deuteronomy 8:2 - to humble Deuteronomy 10:16 - stiffnecked Judges 7:2 - Israel Judges 8:1 - the men 2 Samuel 22:28 - but thine 2 Kings 14:10 - thine heart 2 Kings 22:19 - thine heart 2 Chronicles 12:6 - humbled 2 Chronicles 25:19 - heart Nehemiah 9:29 - yet they Job 5:11 - those Job 9:13 - the proud helpers Job 26:12 - he smiteth Job 40:11 - behold Psalms 10:17 - humble Psalms 31:20 - from Psalms 37:1 - neither Psalms 99:2 - high Psalms 119:21 - rebuked Proverbs 13:10 - Only Proverbs 16:5 - that Proverbs 24:1 - not Proverbs 27:4 - but Isaiah 23:9 - to stain Isaiah 25:11 - he shall bring Isaiah 65:5 - These Jeremiah 13:9 - the pride Jeremiah 43:2 - all the Jeremiah 44:10 - are not Jeremiah 48:29 - his loftiness Jeremiah 50:31 - O thou Ezekiel 7:10 - pride Ezekiel 28:17 - heart Ezekiel 31:9 - envied Ezekiel 31:10 - and his Daniel 5:22 - though Jonah 3:6 - and he arose Jonah 4:1 - General Micah 6:8 - walk humbly Micah 7:19 - subdue Habakkuk 2:5 - a proud man Zechariah 12:7 - save Matthew 6:5 - Verily Matthew 20:24 - they Mark 9:35 - If Luke 7:6 - for Luke 14:32 - and desireth Luke 22:24 - General John 3:26 - he that Acts 9:6 - what Romans 7:17 - sin Romans 11:20 - Be Romans 12:3 - not to 2 Corinthians 1:12 - not Galatians 5:17 - the flesh Philippians 1:15 - even Philippians 2:3 - nothing 1 Timothy 6:4 - words 2 Timothy 3:2 - proud James 4:10 - Humble

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, "With the Lord 's help, I have produced a man!"
Genesis 4:3
When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord .
Genesis 4:4
Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
Genesis 4:5
but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
Genesis 4:8
One day Cain suggested to his brother, "Let's go out into the fields." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother's blood.
Genesis 4:13
Cain replied to the Lord , "My punishment is too great for me to bear!
Job 5:2
Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple.
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let's settle this," says the Lord . "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.
Jeremiah 2:5
This is what the Lord says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray so far from me? They worshiped worthless idols, only to become worthless themselves.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he giveth more grace,.... The Arabic version adds, "to us"; the Ethiopic version, "to you"; and the Syriac version reads the whole thus; "but our Lord gives more grace to us"; or "greater grace"; than the world can give, whose friendship is courted by men; the least measure of grace, of faith, and hope, and love, and of a spiritual knowledge of Christ, and interest in him, and of peace, joy, and comfort, is more worth than all the world, and everything in it: or greater grace, more favours than the saints are able to ask or think; so Solomon had more favours given him than he could think of asking for: or greater grace, and larger measures of it, even of spiritual light and knowledge, under the Gospel dispensation, than under the former dispensation; or where God bestows gifts qualifying for service and usefulness, and these are made use of and employed for such purposes, he gives more: or this may refer to internal grace wrought by the Spirit of God, in the hearts of his people; more of which he may be said to give, when he causes it to abound, as to its acts and exercises; when faith grows exceedingly, hope revives, and is lively, and abounds through his power and influence, and love to God and Christ, and one another, abounds yet more and more; when there is a growth in every grace, and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, so that this grace becomes a well of living waters, springing up into eternal life, which at last will have its perfection in glory:

wherefore he saith; either the Spirit that gives more grace, or the Scripture, or God in the Scripture, in Proverbs 3:34,

God resisteth the proud: or scorns the scorners; he rejects them that trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others; that say, Stand by thyself, I am holier than thou; that are proud of themselves, their enjoyments, their gifts, their external righteousness, and holiness, and are full, and rich, and increased with goods, and stand in need of nothing; these he opposes, he sets himself against, he thrusts them away from him, he sends them away empty, and scatters them in the imagination of their own hearts; and in the things in which they deal proudly, he is above them; he sits in the heavens and laughs at them, and frustrates all their schemes:

but he giveth grace unto the humble; who are sensible of their own vileness and meanness, and acknowledge it; who think the meanest of themselves, and the best of others; and do not envy the gifts and graces of God bestowed upon others, but rejoice at them; and ascribe all they have, and are, to the free grace of God; and ingenuously confess the deficiency of their duties, and the insufficiency of their righteousness to justify them before God; and that when they have done all they can, or are assisted to do, they are but unprofitable servants: now to these God gives grace; he not only gives grace at first, to make them humble, but he gives them more grace, or increases what he gives: grace is God's gift; he gives all the grace that is in Christ, and all the blessings of grace that are in the covenant, and all the grace that is in the hearts of his people; as faith, hope, love, repentance, humility, patience, self-denial, resignation to his will, and every degree of spiritual knowledge; and grace is only his gift; men cannot give it to themselves, nor can the best of men give it to others; not godly parents to their children; nor ministers to those to whom they preach; no, nor the angels in heaven; nor is it to be obtained by the works of men: it is a free gift; it is given of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God, to whom, and when, and in what measure he pleases; to which he is not induced by any motives in men, for they have nothing in them to move him to it; and it is given by him absolutely, without conditions, not suspending it till the performance of them; and he gives it cheerfully and not grudgingly, largely, bountifully, and in great abundance.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But he giveth more grace - The reference here is undoubtedly to God. Some have regarded this clause as a continuation of the quotation in the previous verse, but it is rather to be considered as a declaration of the apostle himself. The writer had just spoken of envy, and of the crimes which grew out of it. He thought of the wars and commotions of the earth, and of the various lusts which reigned among men. In the contemplation of these things, it seems suddenly to have occurred to him that all were not under the influence of these things; that there were cases where men were restrained, and where a spirit opposite to these things prevailed. Another passage of Scripture struck his mind, containing the truth that there was a class of men to whom God gave grace to restrain these passions, and to subdue these carnal propensities. They were the humble, in contradistinction to the proud; and he states the fact that “God giveth more grace;” that is, that in some instances he confers more grace than in the cases referred to; to some he gives more grace to overcome their evil passions, and to subdue their corrupt inclinations, than he does to others. The meaning may be thus expressed: - “It is true that the natural spirit in man is one that tends to envy, and thus leads to all the sad consequences of envy. But there are instances in which higher grace or favor is conferred; in which these feelings are subdued, and these consequences are prevented. They are not indeed to be found among the proud, whom God always resists; but they are to be found among the meek and the humble. Wherefore submit yourselves to his arrangements; resist the devil; draw nigh to God; purify yourselves, and weep over your past offences, and you shall find that the Lord will lift you up, and bestow his favor upon you,” James 4:10.

Wherefore he saith - The reference here is to Proverbs 3:34, “Surely he scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” The quotation is made exactly from the Septuagint, which, though not entirely literal, expresses the sense of the Hebrew without essential inaccuracy. This passage is also quoted in 1 Peter 5:5.

God resisteth the proud - The proud are those who have an inordinate self-esteem; who have a high and unreasonable conceit of their own excellence or importance. This may extend to anything; to beauty, or strength, or attainments, or family, or country, or equipage, or rank, or even religion. A man may be proud of anything that belongs to him, or which can in any way be construed as a part of himself, or as pertaining to him. This does not, of course, apply to a correct estimate of ourselves, or to the mere knowledge that we may excel others. One may know that he has more strength, or higher attainments in learning or in the mechanic arts, or greater wealth than others, and yet have properly no pride in the case. He has only a correct estimate of himself, and he attaches no undue importance to himself on account of it. His heart is not lifted up; he claims no undue deference to himself; he concedes to all others what is their due; and he is humble before God, feeling that all that he has, and is, is nothing in his sight. He is willing to occupy his appropriate place in the sight of God and men, and to be esteemed just as he is. Pride goes beyond this, and gives to a man a degree of self-estimation which is not warranted by anything that he possesses. God looks at things as they are; and hence he abhors and humbles this arrogant claim, Leviticus 26:19; Job 33:17; Psalms 59:12; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 16:18; Proverbs 29:13; Isaiah 23:9; Isaiah 28:1; Daniel 4:37; Zechariah 10:11. This resistance of pride he shows not only in the explicit declarations of his word, but in the arrangements of his providence and grace:

  1. In his providence, in the reverses and disappointments which occur; in the necessity of abandoning the splendid mansion which we had built, or in disappointing us in some favorite plan by which our pride was to be nurtured and gratified.

(2)In sickness, taking away the beauty and strength on which we had so much valued ourselves, and bring us to the sad condition of a sick bed.

(3)In the grave, bringing us down to corruption and worms. Why should one be proud who will soon become so offensive to his best friends that they will gladly hide him in the grave?

(4)In the plan of salvation he opposes our pride. Not a feature of that plan is fitted to foster pride, but all is adapted to make us humble.

(a) The necessity for the plan - that we are guilty and helpless sinners;

(b) the selection of a Saviour - one who was so poor, and who was so much despised by the world, and who was put to death on a cross;

(c) our entire dependence on him for salvation, with the assurance that we have no merit of our own, and that salvation is all of grace;

(d) the fact that we are brought to embrace it only by the agency of the Holy Spirit, and that if we were left to ourselves we should never have one right thought or holy desire - all this is fitted to humble us, and to bring us low before God. God has done nothing to foster the self-estimation of the human heart; but how much has he done to “stain the pride of all glory? See the notes at Isaiah 23:9.

But giveth grace unto the humble - The meaning is, that he shows them favor; he bestows upon them the grace needful to secure their salvation. This he does:

(1)Because they feel their need of his favor;

(2)Because they will welcome his teaching and value his friendship;

(3)Because all the arrangements of his grace are adapted only to such a state of mind. You cannot teach one who is so wise that he already supposes he knows enough; you cannot bestow grace on one who has no sense of the need of it. The arrangements of salvation are adapted only to an humble heart.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 6. But he giveth more grace — μειζονα χαριν, A greater benefit, than all the goods that the world can bestow; for he gives genuine happiness, and this the world cannot confer. May this be St. James' meaning?

God resisteth the proud — αντιτασσεται. Sets himself in battle array against him.

Giveth grace unto the humble. — The sure way to please God is to submit to the dispensation of his grace and providence; and when a man acknowledges him in all his ways, he will direct all his steps. The covetous man grasps at the shadow, and loses the substance.


 
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