James 4:4New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— Adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore is minded to be [the] friend of the world is constituted enemy of God.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— Adulteresses! Know ye not that, the friendship of the world, is, enmity to God? Whosoever, therefore, is minded to be, a friend, of the world, an enemy of God, doth constitute himself.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— Adulterers and adulteresses! have ye not known that friendship of the world is enmity with God? whoever, then, may counsel to be a friend of the world, an enemy of God he is set.
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Ye adulterers and adulteresses, knowe ye not that the amitie of the world is the enimitie of God? Whosoeuer therefore will be a friend of the world, maketh himselfe the enemie of God.
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— Ye adulterers, and adulteresses, know yee not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoeuer therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— O you adulterers! Do you not know that the love for worldly things is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, esteems worldly things is the enemy of God.
John Etheridge Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1849)
— Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is enmity with Aloha? He, therefore, who willeth to be the friend of this world, hath become the enemy of Aloha.
James Murdock Peshitta-Aramaic NT (1852)
— Ye adulterers, know ye not, that the love of the world is hostility towards God? He therefore who chooseth to be a lover of this world, is the enemy of God. |
Ye adulterers
3432 {3432} Primeμοιχόςmoichos{moy-khos'}
Perhaps a primary word; a (male) paramour; figuratively apostate.
and
2532 {2532} Primeκαίkai{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.
adulteresses,
3428 {3428} Primeμοιχαλίςmoichalis{moy-khal-is'}
A prolonged form of the feminine of G3432; an adulteress (literally or figuratively).
know
x1492 (1492) Complementεἰδῶeido{i-do'}
A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know.
ye
y1492 [1492] Standardεἰδῶeido{i-do'}
A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, G3700 and G3708; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know.
z5758 <5758> Grammar
Tense - Perfect (See G5778) Voice - Active (See G5784) Mood - Indicative (See G5791) Count - 516
not
3756 {3756} Primeοὐou{oo}
A primary word; the absolutely negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not.
that
3754 {3754} Primeὅτιhoti{hot'-ee}
Neuter of G3748 as conjugation; demonstrative that (sometimes redundant); causatively because.
the
x3588 (3588) Complementὁho{ho}
The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
friendship
5373 {5373} Primeφιλίαphilia{fil-ee'-ah}
From G5384; fondness.
of the
x3588 (3588) Complementὁho{ho}
The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
world
2889 {2889} Primeκόσμοςkosmos{kos'-mos}
Probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]).
is
2076 {2076} Primeἐστίesti{es-tee'}
Third person singular present indicative of G1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are.
z5748 <5748> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774) Voice - No Voice Stated (See G5799) Mood - Indicative (See G5791) Count - 1612
enmity
2189 {2189} Primeἔχθραechthra{ekh'-thrah}
Feminine of G2190; hostility; by implication a reason for opposition.
with God?
2316 {2316} Primeθεόςtheos{theh'-os}
Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very.
whosoever
3739 {3739} Primeὅςhos{hos}
Probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article G3588); the relative (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that.
302 {0302} Primeἄνan{an}
A primary particle, denoting a supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty.
therefore
3767 {3767} Primeοὖνoun{oon}
Apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjugationally) accordingly.
will
x1014 (1014) Complementβούλομαιboulomai{boo'-lom-ahee}
Middle voice of a primary verb; to ' will', that is, (reflexively) be willing.
be
1511 {1511} Primeεἶναιeinai{i'-nahee}
Present infinitive from G1510; to exist.
z5750 <5750> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774) Voice - No Voice Stated (See G5799) Mood - Infinitive (See G5795) Count - 135
y1014 [1014] Standardβούλομαιboulomai{boo'-lom-ahee}
Middle voice of a primary verb; to ' will', that is, (reflexively) be willing.
z5680 <5680> Grammar
Tense - Aorist (See G5777) Voice - Passive Deponent (See G5789) Mood - Subjunctive (See G5792) Count - 15
a friend
5384 {5384} Primeφίλοςphilos{fee'-los}
Properly dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.).
of the
x3588 (3588) Complementὁho{ho}
The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
world
2889 {2889} Primeκόσμοςkosmos{kos'-mos}
Probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]).
is
2525 {2525} Primeκαθίστημιkathistemi{kath-is'-tay-mee}
From G2596 and G2476; to place down (permanently), that is, (figuratively) to designate, constitute, convoy.
z5743 <5743> Grammar
Tense - Present (See G5774) Voice - Passive (See G5786) Mood - Indicative (See G5791) Count - 271
the enemy
2190 {2190} Primeἐχθρόςechthros{ech-thros'}
From a primary word ἔχθω [[echtho]] (to hate); hateful (passively odious, or actively hostile); usually as a noun, an adversary (especially Satan).
of God.
2316 {2316} Primeθεόςtheos{theh'-os}
Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very. |
James 4:4
_ _ The oldest manuscripts omit “adulterers and,” and read simply, “Ye adulteresses.” God is the rightful husband; the men of the world are regarded collectively as one adulteress, and individually as adulteresses.
_ _ the world — in so far as the men of it and their motives and acts are aliens to God, for example, its selfish “lusts” (James 4:3), and covetous and ambitious “wars and fightings” (James 4:1).
_ _ enmity — not merely “inimical”; a state of enmity, and that enmity itself. Compare 1 John 2:15, “love ... the world ... the love of the Father.”
_ _ whosoever ... will be — The Greek is emphatic, “shall be resolved to be.” Whether he succeed or not, if his wish be to be the friend of the world, he renders himself, becomes (so the Greek for “is”) by the very fact, “the enemy of God.” Contrast “Abraham the friend of God.” |
James 4:4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses — Who have broken your faith with God, your rightful spouse. Know ye not that the friendship or love of the world — The desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, or courting the favour of worldly men, is enmity against God? Whosoever desireth to be a friend of the world — Whosoever seeks either the happiness or favour of it, does thereby constitute himself an enemy of God; and can he expect to obtain anything of him? |
James 4:4
(3) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
(3) Another reason why such unbridled lusts and pleasures are utterly to be condemned, that is, because he who gives himself to the world divorces himself from God, and breaks the band of that holy and spiritual marriage. |
- adulterers:
Psalms 50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
Psalms 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Isaiah 57:3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.
Jeremiah 9:2 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they [be] all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.
Hosea 3:1 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
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- the friendship:
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ... For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
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- enmity:
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
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- whosoever:
Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
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- is the:
Psalms 21:8 Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.
Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.
John 15:23-24 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. ... If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
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