The Meaning of James 1:4 Explained

James 1:4

KJV: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

YLT: and let the endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire -- in nothing lacking;

Darby: But let endurance have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

ASV: And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  let  patience  have  [her] perfect  work,  that  ye may be  perfect  and  entire,  wanting  nothing. 

What does James 1:4 Mean?

Study Notes

perfect
mature and complete.
The word implies full development, growth into maturity of godliness, not sinless perfection. Ephesians 4:12 ; Ephesians 4:13 . In this passage the Father's kindness, not His sinlessness, is the point in question. Luke 6:35 ; Luke 6:36

Context Summary

James 1:1-11 - Steadfast Faith
This Epistle is marked by the austere features of the Jerusalem church, which refused to be affected by that wider contact with the Gentile world, by which the life and teachings of St. Paul were so powerfully influenced. "Brother to Jesus" was the designation that James might have used, but he preferred the more modest title of bond-servant. The slaves of such a king are nobles! The times were full of severe testing. Each believer had to face ignominy, loss and death for his testimony to Jesus and His saving power. But James encourages these harried souls by the immense revenues that would accrue, more especially in the acquisition of patience. While patience is drawn out almost to the breaking-point, God is developing our characters with perfect beauty, so that no side is incomplete.
There are three urgent requirements for us all: (1) Wisdom to act and speak wisely in the hour of trial; (2) faith that refuses to respond to the surging billows of doubt; (3) humility and contentment with God's dealings. [source]

Chapter Summary: James 1

1  James greets the twelve tribes among the nations;
2  exhorts to rejoice in trials and temptations;
5  to ask patience of God;
13  and in our trials not to impute our weakness, or sins, to him,
19  but rather to hearken to the word, to meditate on it, and to do thereafter
26  Otherwise men may seem, but never be, truly religious

Greek Commentary for James 1:4

Let have [εχετω]
Present active imperative of εχω — echō let it keep on having. [source]
Perfect [τελειον]
See Romans 5:3. for a like chain of blessings. Carry on the work to the end or completion (from τελος — telos end) as in John 17:4 Purpose clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of ειμι — eimi This is the goal of patience.Perfect and entire Perfected at the end of the task “Perfected all over.” These two adjectives often occur together in Philo, Plutarch, etc. See Acts 3:16 for ολοκληριαν — holoklērian (perfect soundness).Lacking in nothing (εν μηδενι λειπομενοι — en mēdeni leipomenoi). Present passive participle of λειπω — leipō to leave. Negative statement of the preceding positive as often in James (cf. James 1:6). There is now a digression (James 1:5-8) from the discussion of πειρασμος — peirasmos which is taken up again in James 1:9. The word λειπομενοι — leipomenoi (lacking) suggests the digression. [source]
That ye may be [ινα ητε]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of ειμι — eimi This is the goal of patience. [source]
Perfect and entire [τελειοι και ολοκληροι]
Perfected at the end of the task “Perfected all over.” These two adjectives often occur together in Philo, Plutarch, etc. See Acts 3:16 for ολοκληριαν — holoklērian (perfect soundness).Lacking in nothing (εν μηδενι λειπομενοι — en mēdeni leipomenoi). Present passive participle of λειπω — leipō to leave. Negative statement of the preceding positive as often in James (cf. James 1:6). There is now a digression (James 1:5-8) from the discussion of πειρασμος — peirasmos which is taken up again in James 1:9. The word λειπομενοι — leipomenoi (lacking) suggests the digression. [source]
Lacking in nothing [εν μηδενι λειπομενοι]
Present passive participle of λειπω — leipō to leave. Negative statement of the preceding positive as often in James (cf. James 1:6). There is now a digression (James 1:5-8) from the discussion of πειρασμος — peirasmos which is taken up again in James 1:9. The word λειπομενοι — leipomenoi (lacking) suggests the digression. [source]
Perfect work [ἔργον τέλειον]
“This is followed by a perfect man. The man himself is characterized from his condition and work” (Bengel). Work ( ἔργον ) is the word with which κατεργάζεται , worketh, is compounded. It is the accomplished result of patience in moral purification and ennobling. Compare work of faith, 1 Thessalonians 1:3. [source]
Perfect and entire [τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι]
The two words express different shades of thought. Τέλειοι , perfect, from τέλος , fulfilment or completion (perfect, from perfectus, per factus, made throughout )denotes that which, h has reached its maturity or fulfilled the end contemplated. Ολόκληροι , from ὅλος , entire, and κλῆρος , a lot or allotment; that which has all which properly belongs to it; its entire allotment, and is, therefore, intact in all its parts. Thus Peter (Acts 3:16) says of the restored cripple, “faith has given him this perfect soundness ( ὁλοκληρίαν )Compare the familiar phrase, an accomplished man. Note, also, James' repetition of the key-words of his discourse, rejoice, joy, patience, perfect. [source]
Wanting nothing [ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι]
Rev., more literally, lacking in nothing. Note James' characteristic corroboration of a positive statement by a negative clause: entire, lacking in nothing; God that giveth and upbraideth not; in faith, nothing doubting. The conditional negative μηδενὶ , nothing, is used, rather than the absolute negative οὐδενὶ , as implying nothing which may be supposed; no possible thing. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 1:4

John 1:3 That was made [ὁ γέγονεν]
Rev., more correctly, that hath been made, observing the force of the perfect tense as distinguished from the aorist ( ἐγένετο ) The latter tense points back to the work of creation considered as a definite act or series of acts in the beginning of time. The perfect tense indicates the continuance of things created; so that the full idea is, that which hath been made and exists. The combination of a positive and negative clause (compare John 1:20) is characteristic of John's style, as also of James'. See note on “wanting nothing,” James 1:4. [source]
Acts 3:16 His name [το ονομα αυτου]
Repeats the word name to make the point clear. Cf. Acts 3:6 where Peter uses “the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” when he healed the man. Made strong (εστερεωσεν — estereōsen). Same verb used in Acts 3:7 (and Acts 16:5). Nowhere else in the N.T. Old verb from στερεος — stereos firm, solid. Through him Through Jesus, the object of faith and the source of it. Perfect soundness (ολοκληριαν — holoklērian). Perfect in all its parts, complete, whole (from ολος — holos whole, κληρος — klēros allotment). Late word (Plutarch) once in lxx (Isaiah 1:6) and here alone in the N.T., but adjective ολοκληρος — holoklēros old and common (James 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). [source]
Acts 3:16 Through him [δι αυτου]
Through Jesus, the object of faith and the source of it. Perfect soundness (ολοκληριαν — holoklērian). Perfect in all its parts, complete, whole (from ολος — holos whole, κληρος — klēros allotment). Late word (Plutarch) once in lxx (Isaiah 1:6) and here alone in the N.T., but adjective ολοκληρος — holoklēros old and common (James 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). [source]
Acts 3:16 Perfect soundness [ολοκληριαν]
Perfect in all its parts, complete, whole (from ολος — holos whole, κληρος — klēros allotment). Late word (Plutarch) once in lxx (Isaiah 1:6) and here alone in the N.T., but adjective ολοκληρος — holoklēros old and common (James 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Be preserved entire [ὁλόκληρον - τηρηθείη]
This is the rendering of Rev. and is correct. A.V. joins ὁλόκληρον with πνεῦμα , and renders your whole spirit. Ὁλόκληρον is predicative, not attributive. It does not mean whole, but is derived from ὅλος wholeand κλῆρος allotmentand signifies having the entire allotment; complete in all parts. It occurs only here and James 1:4, where it is associated with τέλειοι perfectIt appears in lxx, as Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9; Deuteronomy 27:6. Joseph. Ant. 3:12,2, uses it of an unblemished victim for sacrifice. As distinguished from ὁλοτελεῖς wholly 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it is qualitative, while ὁλοτελεῖς is quantitative. The kindred ὁλοκληρία perfectsoundness, only in Acts 3:16. For preserved see on 1 Peter 1:4. [source]
James 2:15 Destitute [λειπόμενοι]
Lit., left behind; and hence lacking, as Rev. Compare James 1:4, James 1:5. This usage of the word occurs in James only. [source]
James 1:3 Worketh [κατεργάζεται]
The compound verb with κατά , down through, indicates accomplishment. The proving will work successfully and thoroughly. This harmonizes with a perfect work, James 1:4. [source]
James 2:22 Wrought with [συνηργει]
Imperfect active of συνεργεω — sunergeō old verb for which see Romans 8:28. Followed by associative-instrumental case εργοις — ergois Faith cooperated with the deed of offering up Isaac.Was made perfect (ετελειωτη — eteleiōthē). First aorist passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō to carry to the end, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. See James 1:4 for τελειον εργον — teleion ergon f0). [source]
James 2:22 Was made perfect [ετελειωτη]
First aorist passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō to carry to the end, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. See James 1:4 for τελειον εργον — teleion ergon f0). [source]
James 1:27 Before our God and Father [παρα τωι τεωι και πατρι]
By the side of Αμιαντος — Amiantos (compound verbal adjective, alpha privative, μιαινω — miainō to defile), puts in negative form (cf. James 1:4, James 1:6) the idea in καταρα — kathara (pure, clean). This Feminine demonstrative pronoun in the predicate agreeing with τρησκεια — thrēskeia visit Epexegetic (explaining αυτη — hautē) present middle infinitive of επισκεπτομαι — episkeptomai common verb to go to see, to inspect, present tense for habit of going to see. See Matthew 25:36, Matthew 25:43 for visiting the sick.The fatherless and widows (ορπανους και χηρας — orphanous kai chēras). “The natural objects of charity in the community” (Ropes). Ορπανος — Orphanos is old word for bereft of father or mother or both. In N.T. only here and John 14:18. Note order (orphans before widows).Unspotted Old adjective (alpha privative and σπιλος — spilos spot), spotless. This the more important of the two illustrations and the hardest to execute.To keep (τηρειν — tērein). Present active infinitive, “to keep on keeping oneself un-specked from the world” (a world, κοσμος — kosmos full of dirt and slime that bespatters the best of men). [source]
1 John 4:18 Perfect [τελεία]
Not perfected, as 1 John 4:17but perfect as the result of having been perfected. Compare Hebrews 5:14; James 1:4; James 3:2. [source]
1 John 4:18 Perfect love [η τελεια αγαπη]
There is such a thing, perfect because it has been perfected (1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:17). Cf. James 1:4.Casteth out fear (εχω βαλλει τον ποβον — exō ballei ton phobon). “Drives fear out” so that it does not exist in real love. See εκβαλλω εχω — ekballō exō in John 6:37; John 9:34.; John 12:31; John 15:6 to turn out-of-doors, a powerful metaphor. Perfect love harbours no suspicion and no dread (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).Hath punishment Old word, in N.T. only here and Matthew 25:46. Τιμωρια — Timōria has only the idea of penalty, κολασις — kolasis has also that of discipline, while παιδεια — paideia has that of chastisement (Hebrews 12:7). The one who still dreads Bengel graphically describes different types of men: “sine timore et amore; cum timore sine amore; cum timore et amore; sine timore cum amore ” [source]

What do the individual words in James 1:4 mean?

- And endurance work [its] perfect let have so that you may be perfect and complete in nothing lacking
δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω ἵνα ἦτε τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑπομονὴ  endurance 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ὑπομονή  
Sense: steadfastness, constancy, endurance.
ἔργον  work 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
τέλειον  [its]  perfect 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τέλειος  
Sense: brought to its end, finished.
ἐχέτω  let  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἦτε  you  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
τέλειοι  perfect 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τέλειος  
Sense: brought to its end, finished.
ὁλόκληροι  complete 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὁλόκληρος  
Sense: complete in all its parts, in no part wanting or unsound, complete, entire, whole.
μηδενὶ  nothing 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: μηδείς 
Sense: nobody, no one, nothing.
λειπόμενοι  lacking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λείπω  
Sense: to leave, leave behind, forsake, to be left behind.