Devine Scripture

James 3:18

What does James 3:18 mean?

A plain-English look at James 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 3:18 means

Righteousness grows like a harvest, and its seed is sown in peace by those who make peace. James concludes with an agricultural picture: peacemakers create the conditions in which right relationships and just deeds can take root and flourish. Peace here is not mere quiet but the active pursuit of harmony anchored in purity and mercy (as in verse 17). The verse links process and product—peaceful methods produce righteous outcomes. This is the antidote to the confusion and vile deeds of earthly wisdom. Instead of sparks that set forests ablaze, wisdom from above plants seeds that, over time, yield a life and community marked by righteousness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace for those who make peace.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that make peace.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.

Context

This closing image gathers the chapter’s themes into a hopeful end. After warning about the tongue’s fires and exposing false wisdom’s chaos, James shows the alternative: a peaceable sowing that results in righteousness. It wraps the transition from speech to wisdom into a single picture—what we cultivate in our hearts and communities will be revealed in our words and works. The chapter thus ends by pointing to the ongoing, patient work of peacemaking as the path to a righteous harvest.

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.

v.18This passage

Cross references

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

  • Amos 6:12

    Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plowtherewith oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;

  • Proverbs 11:30

    The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.

  • Galatians 6:8

    For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.

  • Proverbs 11:28

    He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

  • James 1:20

    for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

  • Matthew 5:9

    Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

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