Devine Scripture

James 3:16

What does James 3:16 mean?

A plain-English look at James 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 3:16 means

Where jealousy and faction operate, the result is confusion—disorder, instability—and every vile deed. Strife at the center breeds chaos at the edges. James identifies a moral ecosystem: toxic motives generate toxic environments, and then further sin flourishes. The verse serves as a diagnostic tool for communities and individuals. If turmoil and wrongdoing are multiplying, the fuel is likely envious rivalry. Rather than admire results achieved by such energy, we must recognize the ruin it sows. Only by rejecting this false wisdom can a community escape the spiral of fragmentation and moral decay it inevitably brings.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For where envy is, and the desire to get the better of others, there is no order, but every sort of evil-doing.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for where zeal and rivalry <FI>are<Fi> , there is insurrection and every evil matter;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For where envying and contention is: there is inconstancy and every evil work.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.

Context

This verse concludes the negative portrait begun in verses 14–15 by specifying the fruits of earthly wisdom. It primes the reader to hear the contrast in verse 17 with relief: there is a different kind of wisdom that produces the opposite environment. The structure moves from diagnosis to prescription, from the chaos of jealousy to the ordered, merciful peace of wisdom from above, culminating in verse 18’s image of a harvest of righteousness.

v.15This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

v.16This passage

v.17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 11:9

    Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

  • Galatians 5:20

    idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?

  • James 3:14

    But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.

  • 1 John 3:12

    not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:33

    for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

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