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Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

James 4:6

More grace

(μειζονα χαριν). "Greater grace." Greater than what? "Greater grace in view of the greater requirement" (Ropes), like Romans 5:20. God does this.Wherefore

(διο). To prove this point James quotes Proverbs 3:34.God resisteth the proud

(ο θεος υπερηφανοις αντιτασσετα). Present middle (direct) indicative of αντιτασσω, old military term, to range in battle against, with dative case (Romans 13:2) as in James 5:6. Hυπερηφανοις (υπερ, φαινομα) is like our vernacular "stuck-up folks" (Romans 1:30), "haughty persons."But giveth grace to the humble

(ταπεινοις δε διδωσιν χαριν). Anarthrous adjective again, "to humble or lowly persons," for which word see James 1:9. Cf. James 2:5-7; James 5:1-6.

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See also James 4:6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 6. _BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE_] μειζονα χαριν, _A greater_ _benefit_, than all the goods that the world can bestow; for he gives genuine happiness, and this the world cannot confer. May this be S...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE - The reference here is undoubtedly to God. Some have regarded this clause as a continuation of the quotation in the previous verse, but it is rather to be considered as a dec...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    IV. FURTHER EXHORTATIONS TO RIGHT LIVING CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Fightings and worldliness rebuked (James 4:1)_ 2. The Godly walk (James 4:7) James 4:1 A strong rebuke follows the statements concerning the...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The climax of the last paragraph leads to a diagnosis of the disease that poisoned quarrelsome Jewish communities. Faction fights were the logical outcome of unbridled passions; they campaign against...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    MAN'S PLEASURE OR GOD'S WILL? (James 4:1-3)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Renegades to your vows, do you not know that love for this world is enmity to God? Whoever makes it his aim to be the friend of this world thereby becomes the enemy of God. Do you think that the sayin...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MORE. greater. GRACE. App-184. This has reference to the now nature. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:12. RESISTETH. Greek. _antitassomai._ See Acts 18:6. PROUD. See Romans 1:30. UNTO

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _But he giveth more grace_ Following the explanation already given, the sequence of thought seems to run thus: God loves us with a feeling analogous to the strongest form of jealousy, or even envy, bu...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΜΕΊΖΟΝΑ ΔῈ ΔΊΔΩΣΙΝ ΧΆΡΙΝ. BUT (God) GIVETH GREATER GRACE. These words are also obscure. Either (_a_) a larger favour, even than the indwelling Spirit, for He contends against the proud, who represent...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    CH. 4:1–12. THE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH WHICH ARE THE CAUSE OF EVIL CONTENTION...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _DO NOT BE GUILTY OF WORLDLINESS-- JAMES 4:6-10:_ James said, "God resisteth the proud." Pride is the great hindrance to righteousness. Pride leads the list of the seven things God hates. (Proverbs 6:...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΜΕΊΖΟΝΑ _асс. сотр. от_ ΜΈΓΑΣ (G3187) большой; _сотр._ больше, ΔΊΔΩΣΙΝ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΔΊΔΩΜΙ (G1325) давать. Iterat. _praes._, "давать снова и снова" или гномический, обозначающий постоянную и...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    DO YE THINK, &C.— Dr. Benson paraphrases the passage as follows: "Do you think that the scripture speaketh in vain, or without a very good reason, when it condemns such a worldly temper?—No, _that_ yo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    DEDICATION TO GOD ALONE IS THE ONLY ANSWER _Text 4:4-8a_ James 4:4. Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the wo...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    CHAPTER VIII _CAUSE AND REMEDY OF STRIFE_ James 4:1-12 _Introduction_ Can it be possible that the church of Jesus Christ could descend to the sins mentioned here so soon after Pentecost? In less th...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. BUT - Nay rather. HE - God. GIVETH MORE GRACE - ever increasing, the further ye depart fr...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 6 BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE. To reach a proper solution two questions may be propounded. Who is it that gives? To whom or on whom is the gift bestowed? Both these questions are pertinent, and wh...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5 This passage has puzzled the commentators, and there are many and various explanations offered to solve what seems to be one of the most difficult passages in the Scriptures. A simple explanation, w...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    4:6 says, (k-8) See Proverbs 3:34 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DENUNCIATION OF GREED AND LOVE OF PLEASURE 1. Lusts] better, 'pleasures.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    WHAT *FAITH SHOULD DO JAMES _IAN MACKERVOY_ The word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. CHAPTER 4 DESIRES AND DIVISIONS 4:1-10 V1 You know where all the fights and quarrels...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE — _i.e._, because of this very presence of the Holy Ghost within us. He, as the author and conveyer of all good gifts, in their mystic seven-fold order (Isaiah 11:2) adds to t...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 18 ST. JAMES AND PLATO ON LUSTS AS THE CAUSES OF STRIFE; THEIR EFFECT ON PRAYER. James 4:1 THE change from the close of the third chapter to the beginning of the fourth is startling. St. Jam...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 19 THE SEDUCTIONS OF THE WORLD AND THE JEALOUSY OF THE DIVINE LOVE. James 4:4 THE Revisers are certainly right in rejecting, without even mention in the margin, the reading, "Ye adulterers a...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν : these words further emphasise the developed doctrine of the Spirit referred to above; they point to the nature of divine grace, which is almost illimitable. These verses, 5,...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “DRAW NIGH TO GOD” James 4:1 The Apostle returns to “the jealousy and faction” of the previous chapter, James 3:14, and says that these evils are traceable to _lust_, that is, to inordinate desire. T...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The writer now dealt with the effect of faith on character. Everything depends on desire. To attempt to satisfy a natural desire without reference to God is futile, and issues in internal conflict and...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    STRONGLY WANTING WHAT BELONGS TO ANOTHER The first four verses of James 4:1-17 deal with worldly desire that is contrary to God's working. Verse 5 continues the thought by referring to a statement whi...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    But he giveth greater grace. The Holy Spirit which dwelleth in you, giveth you graces in proportion to your fidelity in complying with them, and according to your humility and the love which you bear...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    To the reader who enters on the consideration of the epistle of James from the epistles of Paul, the change is great and sudden, and by no means least of all from the epistle to the Hebrews, which, in...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In all that follows we have still the judgment of unbridled nature, of will in its different forms: contentions that arise from the lusts of the natural heart; request made to God proceeding from the...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE,.... The Arabic version adds, "to us"; the Ethiopic version, "to you"; and the Syriac version reads the whole thus; "but our Lord gives more grace to us"; or "greater grace";...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Ver. 6. _But he giveth_] Or, "it," that is, the Scripture "giveth," &c., transforming us into...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _But he_ God, _giveth more grace_ To all those who, while they shun those tempers, sincerely and earnestly pray for it. _Wherefore he saith_, [see the margins] _God, resisteth the proud_ The unhumbled...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    HE; God; or, according to the second of the above interpretations, the Holy Spirit. GIVETH MORE GRACE; to those who humbly seek him, to overcome this evil propensity. RESISTETH THE PROUD; repels tho...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A humble state of mind demanded of Christians:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    BUT HE GIVETH MORE GRACE. WHEREFORE HE SAITH, GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD, BUT GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE HUMBLE....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    This chapter, to the end of v.6, continues the subject begun in Ch.3:13. Sensual. devilish wisdom was accompanied by wars and fightings: but this proceeded from the lusts of the flesh active within th...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    How does God give grace? What is grace, as it is used in this verse? Is this the grace that saves? (Ephesians 2:8-9) Why do we “say grace” before we eat a meal? Who are the proud? What is the sin of p...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "But He gives. greater grace. Therefore it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble'"."But he gives. greater grace" -"Whatever God demands of us, he provides the means by whic...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-10 Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allo...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BUT HE; either the Spirit of God, if _spirit_ in the former verse be understood of the Spirit of God; or God, if _spirit_ be there taken for the spirit of man. GIVETH MORE GRACE; either, though we, ac...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    1 Clement all abominable lusts, detestable adultery, and execrable pride. "For God," saith [the Scripture], "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble."[121] Epistle of Ignatius to the Eph...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    James 4:6 But G1161 gives G1325 (G5719) more G3187 grace G5485 Therefore G1352 says G3004 (G5719) God...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    AS A CONSEQUENCE THEY ARE TO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL, AND DRAW NEAR TO GOD BY PURIFYING THEMSELVES AND TRULY REPENTING (JAMES 4:6). The condition of some of God's professed people...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But he gives more grace. Which is why the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”.' ‘He gives more grace.' The One Who jealously yearns over their spirits, offers them...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    James 4:6. BUT HE, that is, God, or rather the indwelling Spirit, the immediate antecedent. GIVETH MORE, or greater, GRACE. Here also there is a difficulty in determining what ‘more' refers to: this...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    James 4:1-12. St. James warns his readers against those evil passions which gave rise to wars and fightings among them. They must moderate their desires, and guard against self-gratification. If they...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    GRACE Grace (imparted). (1 Peter 2:19); (Romans 6:1); (2 Peter 3:18)....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    James 4:1. _From whence come wars and fightings among you?_ Whether between nations, or parties or individuals,-if there be wars and fightings, whence do they come? James 4:1. _Come they not hence,...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Rebuke of worldliness and exhortation to humility before God. CHARACTERS: God, Satan. CONCLUSION: Worldly and fleshly lusts are the distemper which will not allow contentment or satisfacti...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    James 4:1. _From whence come wars and fightings among you?_ St. James saw in the Spirit the bloody and cruel wars which would rise among christian powers, much the same as among the heathen. He had a...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BUT THE GRACE. "God gives us the grace to overcome our human spirit! And God shows us a better way of making converts to Christ!" GOD RESISTS THE PROUD. Proverbs 3:34. "God makes the schemes of the pr...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But He giveth more grace_ THE GREATNESS OF THE DIVINE GIFTS A SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGEMENT I. HE GIVETH MORE GRACE THAN WE DESERVE. That may seem a self-evident proposition. It is like saying H...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JAMES—NOTE ON JAMES 4:6 God’s GRACE will be extended to those who are HUMBLE before him (see v. James 4:10; also...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ James 4:5.—The precise rendering is doubtful. There is no passage either in the Canonical or Apocryphal Scriptures that is here referred to. The _Revised Version_ gives...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JAMES 4:1 REBUKE OF QUARRELS ARISING FROM PRIDE AND GREED. A terribly sadden transition from the "peace" with which James 3:1. closed....

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    This chapter could be entitled how to win friends and influence people. Guard your tongue, bring your tongue under control, use it for good, use it to encourage to build up, don't use it to tear down,...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 5:5; 1 Samuel 2:3; 2 Chronicles 32:26; 2 Chronicles 33:12;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Resisteth. See on 1 Peter 5:5. Proud. See on Mark 7:22. Humble. See on Matthew 7:29....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But he giveth greater grace — To all who shun those tempers. Therefore it — The scripture. Saith, God resisteth the proud — And pride is the great root of all unkind affections. Proverbs 3:34...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The sin of envy being censured before, our apostle next condemns the sin of pride; he uses. military term when he tells us, the God RESISTED THE PROUD; it signifies, that he sees himself as in battle...

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Old Testament