James 3:17
What does James 3:17 mean?
A plain-English look at James 3:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 3:17 means
Wisdom from above has a recognizable character. It is first pure—untainted by selfish motive—then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated (open to reason and willing to yield). It is full of mercy and good fruits, impartial (without variance), and sincere (without hypocrisy). This list describes wisdom not as a technique but as a moral quality that shapes relationships. Such wisdom heals rather than inflames, listens as well as speaks, and acts with consistent fairness. It bears concrete fruits of goodness because it springs from God. Where this wisdom governs the heart, the tongue and conduct align with God’s character, and communities experience wholesome harmony.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: --
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But the wisdom that is from above, first indeed is chaste, then peaceable, modest, easy to be persuaded, consenting to the good, full of mercy and good fruits, without judging, without dissimulation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
Context
Standing over against the earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom of verses 14–16, this verse provides the positive alternative. It answers the earlier problems of the tongue by describing the heart’s posture that produces wholesome speech and action. The qualities listed anticipate the outcome in verse 18: peace and righteousness growing together. Thus, James moves from controlling the tongue to cultivating the wisdom that makes such control natural and sustained.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
- Job 28:23
God understandeth the way thereof, And he knoweth the place thereof.
- 1 Chronicles 22:12
Only Jehovah give thee discretion and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel; that so thou mayest keep the law of Jehovah thy God.
- John 1:47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
- Luke 6:36
Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
- Isaiah 32:6
For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise profaneness, and to utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
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