Devine Scripture

James 4:16

What does James 4:16 mean?

A plain-English look at James 4:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 4:16 means

To boast in our confident schemes is not harmless optimism; James calls it evil. Vaunting speech exalts self, marginalizes God, and treats uncertain plans as certainties. Such pride dishonors the Lord who alone directs outcomes and numbers our days. James continues to expose the heart beneath the words: arrogance that takes credit in advance and refuses dependence. Recognizing boastfulness as sin—not style—drives us to repentance and to the humble language of verse 15. God’s people are to be marked by sobriety, gratitude, and submission, not swagger. This reorders how we speak of success, shifting glory from our plans to God’s providence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But now you go on glorying in your pride: and all such glorying is evil.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and now ye glory in your pride; all such glorying is evil;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But now you rejoice in your arrogancies. All such rejoicing is wicked.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.

Context

This verse follows the call to say, “If the Lord will,” by condemning the opposite attitude—glorying in arrogant assertions. By naming such boasting as evil, James removes any ambiguity about its moral status. The final verse will broaden the principle to all of life: knowing the good and failing to do it is sin. Thus, humble dependence on God must translate into active obedience, not merely corrected speech.

v.15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.

v.16This passage

v.17To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Cross references

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

  • James 3:14

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

  • Isaiah 47:7

    And thou saidst, I shall be mistress for ever; so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end thereof.

  • Isaiah 47:10

    For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me; thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me.

  • Psalms 52:1

    Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endureth continually.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:7

    For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?

  • Proverbs 25:14

    As clouds and wind without rain, So ishe that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

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