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James 4:3

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend [it] in your pleasures.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend [it] in your pleasures.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask evilly, that ye may consume [it] in your pleasures.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Ye ask and receive not, because that, basely, ye ask, in order that, in your pleasures, ye may spend [it].
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— ye ask, and ye receive not, because evilly ye ask, that in your pleasures ye may spend [it].
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your concupiscences.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Ye aske, and receiue not, because ye aske amisse, that ye might lay the same out on your pleasures.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Ye aske and receiue not, because ye aske amisse, that yee may consume it vpon your lusts.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— You ask and you do not receive because you do not ask sincerely, you ask that you may satisfy your lusts.
John Etheridge Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1849)
— you ask and receive not, because you ask wickedly, as that you may cherish your lusts.
James Murdock Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1852)
— Ye ask, and receive not; because ye ask wickedly, that ye may pamper your lusts.

Strong's Numbers & Red-LettersGreek New TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
Ye ask, 154
{0154} Prime
αἰτέω
aiteo
{ahee-teh'-o}
Of uncertain derivation; to ask (in generally).
z5719
<5719> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Indicative (See G5791)
Count - 3019
and 2532
{2532} Prime
καί
kai
{kahee}
Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words.
receive 2983
{2983} Prime
λαμβάνω
lambano
{lam-ban'-o}
A prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively [probably objective or active, to get hold of; whereas G1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while G0138 is more violent, to seize or remove]).
z5719
<5719> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Indicative (See G5791)
Count - 3019
not, 3756
{3756} Prime
οὐ
ou
{oo}
A primary word; the absolutely negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not.
because 1360
{1360} Prime
διότι
dioti
{dee-ot'-ee}
From G1223 and G3754; on the very account that, or inasmuch as.
ye ask 154
{0154} Prime
αἰτέω
aiteo
{ahee-teh'-o}
Of uncertain derivation; to ask (in generally).
z5731
<5731> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774)
Voice - Middle (See G5785)
Mood - Indicative (See G5791)
Count - 69
amiss, 2560
{2560} Prime
κακῶς
kakos
{kak-oce'}
Adverb from G2556; badly (physically or morally).
that 2443
{2443} Prime
ἵνα
hina
{hin'-ah}
Probably from the same as the former part of G1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare G3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result).
ye may consume 1159
{1159} Prime
δαπανάω
dapanao
{dap-an-ah'-o}
From G1160; to expend, that is, (in a good sense) to incur cost, or (in a bad one) to waste.
z5661
<5661> Grammar
Tense - Aorist (See G5777)
Voice - Active (See G5784)
Mood - Subjunctive (See G5792)
Count - 512
[it] upon 1722
{1722} Prime
ἐν
en
{en}
A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537); 'in', at, (up-) on, by, etc.
your 5216
{5216} Prime
ὑμῶν
humon
{hoo-mone'}
Genitive case of G5210; of (from or concerning) you.
lusts. 2237
{2237} Prime
ἡδονή
hedone
{hay-don-ay'}
From ἁνδάνω [[handano]] (to please); sensual delight; by implication desire.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

James 4:3

_ _ Some of them are supposed to say in objection, But we do “ask” (pray); compare James 4:2. James replies, It is not enough to ask for good things, but we must ask with a good spirit and intention. “Ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it (your object of prayer) upon (literally, ‘in’) your lusts (literally, ‘pleasures’)”; not that ye may have the things you need for the service of God. Contrast James 1:5 with Matthew 6:31, Matthew 6:32. If ye prayed aright, all your proper wants would be supplied; the improper cravings which produce “wars and fightings” would then cease. Even believers’ prayers are often best answered when their desires are most opposed.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

See commentary on James 4:1-10.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

James 4:3

But if ye do ask, ye receive not, because ye ask amiss — That is, from a wrong motive.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

[[no comment]]

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
and:

James 1:6-7 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ... For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Job 27:8-10 For what [is] the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? ... Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
Job 35:12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
Psalms 18:41 They cried, but [there was] none to save [them: even] unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
Psalms 66:18-19 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me]: ... [But] verily God hath heard [me]; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Isaiah 1:15-16 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. ... Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Jeremiah 11:11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
Jeremiah 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear [them] in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
Jeremiah 14:12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
Micah 3:4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.
Zechariah 7:13 Therefore it is come to pass, [that] as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
Matthew 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mark 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

ye may:

Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luke 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
Luke 16:1-2 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. ... And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

lusts:
or, pleasures,
James 4:1 From whence [come] wars and fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your lusts that war in your members?
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Jb 27:8; 35:12. Ps 18:41; 66:18. Pv 1:28; 15:8; 21:13, 27. Is 1:15. Jr 11:11, 14; 14:12. Mi 3:4. Zc 7:13. Mt 20:22. Mk 10:38. Lk 15:13, 30; 16:1. Jm 1:6; 4:1. 1Jn 3:22; 5:14.

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