Bible Strands
James 4:5
Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — James addresses a community entangled with worldly alliances, speaking immediately after identifying such friendship as hostility toward God. He poses a direct question to confront their presumption about divine jealousy and scriptural authority.
The words — The Greek term κενῶς (kenōs) literally means "in vain" or "without reason," modifying how Scripture speaks. The verb δοκεῖτε (dokeite) translates to "you think," framing the passage as a challenge to human assumption.
The thread — The text's claim that God's Spirit dwells within and yearns with jealousy aligns with the temple imagery of 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. The theme of divine jealousy also appears in Numbers 11:29, where God's zealous claim on His people is highlighted.
Why it lands — The verse states that Scripture does not speak without cause regarding the indwelling Spirit's jealous yearning. It requires readers to reject self-directed reasoning and submit to God's exclusive claim over their allegiance.
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
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
- Numbers 11:29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!”
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Genesis 8:21 When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
- Psalms 37:1 Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
- Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.
- Genesis 26:14 He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.
- Genesis 30:1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob.
- Genesis 37:11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.