James 1:6
What does James 1:6 mean?
A plain-English look at James 1:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 1:6 means
Asking God for wisdom must be done “in faith,” without doubting. James pictures the doubter as a surge of the sea—restless, driven, and tossed by external forces. Faith here is not perfect certainty about outcomes, but a settled trust in God’s character and promise. Doubt, by contrast, is a divided heart that alternates between trusting God and relying on self or circumstances. Such instability makes a person vulnerable to every gust of pressure or opinion. James urges a steady, Godward posture in prayer, confident that God hears and gives. The imagery warns us that inner vacillation, not unanswered prayer, is the real barrier.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let him make his request in faith, doubting nothing; for he who has doubt in his heart is like the waves of the sea, which are troubled by the driving of the wind.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890but let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about;
Context
After promising God’s generous gift of wisdom (verse 5), James qualifies how it should be sought. Verses 6–8 function as a pastoral caution: prayer is not magic; it is communion that requires trust. The sea image underlines the turmoil of a wavering heart. Verse 7 will state the sober implication—such a person should not expect to receive from the Lord. Verse 8 will name the condition as doublemindedness, broadening the concern to a life-pattern of instability.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 11:22
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
- Hebrews 10:23
let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:
- Matthew 21:21
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.
- 1 Timothy 2:8
I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.
- Ephesians 4:14
that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
- Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.
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