James 1:13

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — James addresses believers navigating trials, immediately after promising the crown of life to those who endure. He interrupts the discussion of testing to correct a potential misunderstanding about the source of temptation.

The words — Μηδεὶς (Mēdeis) means "no one," and πειραζόμενος (peirazomenos) means "being tempted." The text explicitly commands that no one should claim God is the agent of temptation.

The thread — This theme connects to James 1:12, which frames trials as tests that produce perseverance, and James 1:14, which locates the origin of temptation in a person's own evil desires. It intersects with Romans 9:19, where a question about God's will arises, and Habakkuk 2:12, which pronounces woe on those who build through violence and injustice.

Why it lands — The verse demands that readers stop attributing their sinful enticements to God and instead examine their own desires. It requires taking full responsibility for the source of temptation while maintaining trust in God's unchanging nature.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ΜηδεὶςMēdeisNo one πειραζόμενοςpeirazomenosbeing tempted λεγέτωlegetōshould say ὅτιhotithat ἀπὸapoBy τοῦtou<the>θεοῦtheouGod πειράζομαι·peirazomaiI am being tempted;ὁho<the>γὰρgarFor θεὸςtheosGod ἀπείραστόςapeirastosunable to be tempted ἐστινestinis κακῶν,kakōnby evils,πειράζειpeirazeitempts δὲdenow αὐτὸςautosHe Himself οὐδένα·oudenano [one];

King James Version

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Cross-references

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Habakkuk 2:12 Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by iniquity!
Romans 9:19 One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?”
Genesis 3:12 And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
Isaiah 63:17 Why, O LORD, do You make us stray from Your ways and harden our hearts from fearing You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.