Bible Strands
James 1:6
But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author addresses believers who lack wisdom, instructing them on the proper posture for requesting divine guidance.
The words — ἐν πίστει (en pistei) translates to "in faith," while διακρινόμενος (diakrinomenos) literally means "doubting" or being divided in judgment.
The thread — The link between faith and the absence of doubt appears in Matthew 21:21, and the requirement of faith when approaching God is stated in Hebrews 11:6.
Why it lands — The text requires a petitioner to trust completely without internal division, noting that hesitation renders a person unstable and prevents them from receiving anything from the Lord.
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
King James Version
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Cross-references
- Matthew 21:21 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
- Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
- Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them.
- Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
- Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
- Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
- 1 Timothy 2:8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
- 2 Peter 2:17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
- Jude 1:12 These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted.
- Genesis 49:4 Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.