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Selected Verse: James 3:16 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Jas 3:16 |
Strong Concordance |
For [1063] where [3699] envying [2205] and [2532] strife [2052] is, there [1563] is confusion [181] and [2532] every [3956] evil [5337] work [4229]. |
| |
King James |
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
envying--So English Version translates the Greek, which usually means "zeal"; "emulation," in Rom 13:13. "The envious man stands in his own light. He thinks his candle cannot shine in the presence of another's sun. He aims directly at men, obliquely at God, who makes men to differ."
strife--rivalry [ALFORD].
confusion--literally, "tumultuous anarchy": both in society (translated "commotions," Luk 21:9; "tumults," Co2 6:5), and in the individual mind; in contrast to the "peaceable" composure of true "wisdom," Jam 3:17. James does not honor such effects of this earthly wisdom with the name "fruit," as he does in the case of the wisdom from above. Jam 3:18; compare Gal 5:19-22, "works of the flesh . . . fruit of the Spirit." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion - Margin, tumult or unquietness. Everything is unsettled and agitated. There is no mutual confidence; there is no union of plan and effort; there is no co-operation in promoting a common object; there is no stability in any plan; for a purpose, though for good, formed by one portion, is defeated by another.
And every evil work - Of the truth of this no one can have any doubt who has observed the effects in a family or neighborhood where a spirit of strife prevails. All love and harmony of course are banished; all happiness disappears; all prosperity is at an end. In place of the peaceful virtues which ought to prevail, there springs up every evil passion that tends to mar the peace of a community. Where this spirit prevails in a church, it is of course impossible to expect any progress in divine things; and in such a church any effort to do good is vain.
"The Spirit, like a peaceful dove,
Flies from the realms of noise and strife." |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Confusion (ἀκαταστασία)
See on restless, Jam 3:8.
Evil (φαῦλον)
An inadequate rendering, because it fails to bring out the particular phase of evil which is dominant in the word: worthlessness, good-for-nothingness. In classical Greek it has the meanings slight, trivial, paltry, which run into bad. In the New Testament it appears in this latest stage, and is set over against good. See Joh 3:20; Joh 5:29; Tit 2:8. Rev., vile, which, according to its etymology, Lat., vilis, follows the same process of development from cheap, or paltry, to bad. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| For where envying and strife is - Ζηλος και εριθεια· Zeal - fiery, inflammatory passion, and contention - altercations about the different points of the law, of no use for edification, such as those mentioned, Tit 3:9. The Jews were the most intolerant of all mankind; it was a maxim with them to kill those who would not conform to their law; and their salvation they believed to be impossible. This has been the spirit of Popery, and of the Romish Church at large; in vain do they attempt to deny it; they have written it in characters of blood and fire even in this country, (England), when they were possessed of political power. With them it is still an established maxim, that out of their Church there is no redemption; and fire and faggot have been in that Church legal means of conversion or extinction. In the short popish reign of Mary in this country, besides multitudes who suffered by fine, imprisonment, confiscation, etc., two hundred and seventy-seven were burnt alive, among whom were one archbishop, four bishops, twenty-one clergymen, eight lay gentlemen, eighty-four tradesmen, one hundred husbandmen, fifty-five women, and four children! O earth! thou hast not drunk their blood; but their ashes have been strewed on the face of the field. |
19 Now [1161] the works [2041] of the flesh [4561] are [2076] manifest [5318], which [3748] are [2076] these; Adultery [3430], fornication [4202], uncleanness [167], lasciviousness [766],
20 Idolatry [1495], witchcraft [5331], hatred [2189], variance [2054], emulations [2205], wrath [2372], strife [2052], seditions [1370], heresies [139],
21 Envyings [5355], murders [5408], drunkenness [3178], revellings [2970], and [2532] such [5125] like [3664]: of the which [3739] I tell [4302] you [5213] before [4302], as [2531] I have [4277] also [2532] told you in time past [4277], that [3754] they which do [4238] such things [5108] shall [2816] not [3756] inherit [2816] the kingdom [932] of God [2316].
22 But [1161] the fruit [2590] of the Spirit [4151] is [2076] love [26], joy [5479], peace [1515], longsuffering [3115], gentleness [5544], goodness [19], faith [4102],
18 And [1161] the fruit [2590] of righteousness [1343] is sown [4687] in [1722] peace [1515] of them that make [4160] peace [1515].
17 But [1161] the wisdom [4678] that is from above [509] is [2076] first [4412] pure [3303] [53], then [1899] peaceable [1516], gentle [1933], and easy to be intreated [2138], full [3324] of mercy [1656] and [2532] good [18] fruits [2590], without partiality [87], and [2532] without hypocrisy [505].
5 In [1722] stripes [4127], in [1722] imprisonments [5438], in [1722] tumults [181], in [1722] labours [2873], in [1722] watchings [70], in [1722] fastings [3521];
9 But [1161] when [3752] ye shall hear [191] of wars [4171] and [2532] commotions [181], be [4422] not [3361] terrified [4422]: for [1063] these things [5023] must [1163] first [4412] come to pass [1096]; but [235] the end [5056] is not [3756] by and by [2112].
13 Let us walk [4043] honestly [2156], as [5613] in [1722] the day [2250]; not [3361] in rioting [2970] and [2532] drunkenness [3178], not [3361] in chambering [2845] and [2532] wantonness [766], not [3361] in strife [2054] and [2532] envying [2205].
8 Sound [5199] speech [3056], that cannot be condemned [176]; that [2443] he that is of [1537] the contrary part [1727] may be ashamed [1788], having [2192] no [3367] evil [5337] thing [3367] to say [3004] of [4012] you [5216].
29 And [2532] shall come forth [1607]; they that have done [4160] good [18], unto [1519] the resurrection [386] of life [2222]; and [1161] they that have done [4238] evil [5337], unto [1519] the resurrection [386] of damnation [2920].
20 For [1063] every one [3956] that doeth [4238] evil [5337] hateth [3404] the light [5457], neither [2532] [3756] cometh [2064] to [4314] the light [5457], lest [3363] his [846] deeds [2041] should be reproved [1651].
8 But [1161] the tongue [1100] can [1410] no [3762] man [444] tame [1150]; it is an unruly [183] evil [2556], full [3324] of deadly [2287] poison [2447].
9 But [1161] avoid [4026] foolish [3474] questions [2214], and [2532] genealogies [1076], and [2532] contentions [2054], and [2532] strivings about [3163] the law [3544]; for [1063] they are [1526] unprofitable [512] and [2532] vain [3152].