James 4:7
What does James 4:7 mean?
A plain-English look at James 4:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 4:7 means
Grace does not lead to passivity. Because God gives more grace, James commands decisive allegiance: submit to God. Place yourself under His authority, trusting His wisdom and will. In the same breath, actively resist the devil; do not entertain his lies or yield to his schemes. The promise is striking: he will flee. Evil is not irresistible when believers stand under God’s reign. Submission and resistance go together; we cannot oppose the devil while clinging to self-rule, nor submit to God while accommodating temptation. James affirms the spiritual reality behind our conflicts and assures us that humble dependence on God is stronger than the adversary’s assaults.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862be subject, then, to God; stand up against the devil, and he will flee from you;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil: and he will fly from you.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Subject yourselves therefore toGod. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Context
Flowing from the promise of grace (v. 6), James now issues a series of imperatives (vv. 7–10) that describe true repentance. Verse 7 pairs a negative and positive: submit to God and resist the devil. This frames the battle as both relational (to God) and spiritual (against the evil one). The next verses will show what submission looks like—drawing near to God, cleansing hands, purifying hearts, and grieving over sin—culminating in God’s promise to exalt the humble.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Job 40:3
Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,
- Luke 4:2
during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.
- Romans 14:11
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.
- Daniel 4:32
and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
- Daniel 4:34
And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;
- 1 Peter 2:13
Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
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