James 1:11
What does James 1:11 mean?
A plain-English look at James 1:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 1:11 means
James paints a scene familiar in the ancient Near East: the sun rises with scorching wind, the grass withers, the flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So too the rich man fades in his pursuits. Wealth and its projects seem vigorous but are quickly undone by forces beyond control. The lesson is humility and urgency: do not anchor life to what cannot last. Earthly prosperity is transient; godly character endures. For the rich, this is a call to hold possessions loosely and pursue eternal treasures. For all, it cautions against envy and reminds us that God’s kingdom measures success differently than the world.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass; and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For when the sun comes up with its burning heat, the grass gets dry and the grace of its form is gone with the falling flower; so the man of wealth comes to nothing in his ways.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for the sun did rise with the burning heat, and did wither the grass, and the flower of it fell, and the grace of its appearance did perish, so also the rich in his way shall fade away!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the sun rose with a burning heat and parched the grass: and the flower thereof fell off, and the beauty of the shape thereof perished. So also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the sun has risen with its burning heat, and has withered the grass, and its flower has fallen, and the comeliness of its look has perished: thus the rich also shall wither in his goings.
Context
This verse concludes the mini-section on the lowly and the rich (verses 9–11), reinforcing the leveling effect of trials and time. The fleeting flower sets the stage for the next promise: true blessedness comes to those who endure trial (verse 12). The flow moves from status relativized by mortality to reward secured by God. With that pivot, James will also clarify the source of temptation, lest anyone blame God for moral failures during testing (verses 13–15).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 13:6
and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
- 1 Peter 5:4
And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.
- Mark 4:6
and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
- Psalms 37:35
I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
- Isaiah 40:7
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass.
- Ecclesiastes 5:15
As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
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