James

James 3:11–18

¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water^b flow from the same spring? ¹²My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring^c produce fresh water.

¹³Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. ¹⁵Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.^d

Footnotes

b 3:11 Literally Can both fresh and bitter
c 3:12 Literally Neither can salt
d 3:18 Literally But the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those making peace.

Read all of James 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

James 3:11

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
fresh	γλυκὺ	glyky	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G1099 sweet
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
salt	πικρόν	pikron	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G4089 bitter, acrid, malignant
flow	βρύει	bryei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1032 I cause to gush forth, send forth
from	ἐκ	ek	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
the	τῆς	tēs	Article - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3588 the
same	αὐτῆς	autēs	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
spring	πηγὴ	pēgē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G4077 a fountain, spring, well

James 3:12

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
My	μου	mou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
brothers	ἀδελφοί	adelphoi	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G80 a brother
can	δύναται	dynatai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G1410 I am powerful, am able
a fig tree	συκῆ	sykē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G4808 a fig-tree
grow	ποιῆσαι	poiēsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G4160 I do, make
olives	ἐλαίας	elaias	Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural	G1636 an olive tree
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
a grapevine	ἄμπελος	ampelos	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G288 a vine
figs	σῦκα	syka	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G4810 a fig
Neither	οὔτε	oute	Conjunction	G3777 and not, neither, nor
a salt	ἁλυκὸν	halykon	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular	G252 salty, saltine, bitter
produce	ποιῆσαι	poiēsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G4160 I do, make
fresh	γλυκὺ	glyky	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G1099 sweet
water	ὕδωρ	hydōr	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G5204 water

James 3:13

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Who	Τίς	Tis	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5101 who, which, what
wise	σοφὸς	sophos	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G4680 wise
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
understanding	ἐπιστήμων	epistēmōn	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1990 skillful, experienced
among	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
you	ὑμῖν	hymin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
Let him show it	δειξάτω	deixatō	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1166 I point out, show
by	ἐκ	ek	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
good	καλῆς	kalēs	Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular	G2570 beautiful, good, worthy
conduct	ἀναστροφῆς	anastrophēs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G391 behavior, manner of life
deeds	ἔργα	erga	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G2041 work, labor, action, deed
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
humility	πραΰτητι	prautēti	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G4240 mildness, gentleness
that comes from wisdom	σοφίας	sophias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom

James 3:14

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
if	εἰ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
you	ἔχετε	echete	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G2192 I have, hold, possess
bitter	πικρὸν	pikron	Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular	G4089 bitter, acrid, malignant
jealousy	ζῆλον	zēlon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G2205 eagerness, zeal, rivalry
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
selfish ambition	ἐριθείαν	eritheian	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G2052 ambition, rivalry
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
your	ὑμῶν	hymōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
hearts	καρδίᾳ	kardia	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G2588 the heart, inner life, intention
not	μὴ	mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
boast	κατακαυχᾶσθε	katakauchasthe	Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural	G2620 I boast against
or	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
deny	ψεύδεσθε	pseudesthe	Verb - Present Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural	G5574 I lie
the	τῆς	tēs	Article - Genitive Feminine Singular	G3588 the
truth	ἀληθείας	alētheias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G225 truth

James 3:15

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Such	αὕτη	hautē	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
wisdom	σοφία	sophia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
not	οὐκ	ouk	Adverb	G3756 no, not
come	κατερχομένη	katerchomenē	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2718 I come down
from above	ἄνωθεν	anōthen	Adverb	G509 from above, from the beginning, again
but	ἀλλὰ	alla	Conjunction	G235 but, except
earthly	ἐπίγειος	epigeios	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1919 earthly
unspiritual	ψυχική	psychikē	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G5591 animal, natural, sensuous
demonic	δαιμονιώδης	daimoniōdēs	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1141 demon-like

James 3:16

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
where	ὅπου	hopou	Adverb	G3699 where, whither
jealousy	ζῆλος	zēlos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2205 eagerness, zeal, rivalry
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
selfish ambition	ἐριθεία	eritheia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2052 ambition, rivalry
there	ἐκεῖ	ekei	Adverb	G1563 there, yonder, thither
disorder	ἀκαταστασία	akatastasia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G181 disturbance, upheaval, revolution
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
every	πᾶν	pan	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular	G3956 all, the whole, every kind of
evil	φαῦλον	phaulon	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular	G5337 worthless, wicked, base
practice	πρᾶγμα	pragma	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G4229 a thing done, a matter

James 3:17

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
wisdom	σοφία	sophia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G4678 wisdom
from above	ἄνωθεν	anōthen	Adverb	G509 from above, from the beginning, again
is	ἐστιν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
first	πρῶτον	prōton	Adverb - Superlative	G4412 first, before
pure	ἁγνή	hagnē	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G53 pure, chaste
then	ἔπειτα	epeita	Adverb	G1899 then, thereafter, afterwards
peace-loving	εἰρηνική	eirēnikē	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1516 peaceable, disposed to peace
gentle	ἐπιεικής	epieikēs	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1933 gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable
accommodating	εὐπειθής	eupeithēs	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2138 compliant
full	μεστὴ	mestē	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3324 full
of mercy	ἐλέους	eleous	Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular	G1656 pity, mercy
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
good	ἀγαθῶν	agathōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G18 good
fruit	καρπῶν	karpōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G2590 fruit, result, gain
impartial	ἀδιάκριτος	adiakritos	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G87 unambiguous
sincere	ἀνυπόκριτος	anypokritos	Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular	G505 unfeigned, without hypocrisy

James 3:18

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Peacemakers	εἰρήνην	eirēnēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1515 peace, peace of mind
sow	σπείρεται	speiretai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G4687 I sow, spread, scatter
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
peace	εἰρήνῃ	eirēnē	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G1515 peace, peace of mind
fruit	καρπὸς	karpos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2590 fruit, result, gain
of righteousness	δικαιοσύνης	dikaiosynēs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1343 justice, justness, righteousness