The Meaning of James 3:14 Explained

James 3:14

KJV: But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

YLT: and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth;

Darby: but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

ASV: But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  if  ye have  bitter  envying  and  strife  in  your  hearts,  glory  not,  and  lie not  against  the truth. 

What does James 3:14 Mean?

Context Summary

James 3:13-18 - Seek Wisdom From Above
The true wisdom is not the child of the intellect, but of the heart. It consists not only in what we know, but in what we are. It is in this sense that it is used in the earlier chapters of the book of Proverbs and in Job 28:1-28. Some who profess to be wise are jealous and factious, despising others and confident in their superiority. This spirit and temper are from beneath.
Notice this exquisite string of qualities-like a thread of pearls-that characterize true wisdom: First, pure; then peaceable-this is God's order, never peace at any price. First the holy heart, then the quiet and gentle one. Mercy and good works follow, "free from favoritism and insincerity"; and as the peace-loving soul goeth through the world, dropping the seeds of peace, those seeds produce harvests of righteousness. Those that in peace sow peace, shall reap a harvest of righteousness, the fruit of peace. Such a springtime! Such an autumn! [source]

Chapter Summary: James 3

1  We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5  but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member,
9  but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm
13  The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife

Greek Commentary for James 3:14

Bitter jealousy [ζηλον πικρον]
ηλος — Zēlos occurs in N.T. in good sense (John 2:17) and bad sense (Acts 5:17). Pride of knowledge is evil (1 Corinthians 8:1) and leaves a bitter taste. See “root of bitterness” in Hebrews 12:14 (cf. Ephesians 4:31). This is a condition of the first class. [source]
Faction [εριτιαν]
Late word, from εριτος — erithos (hireling, from εριτευω — eritheuō to spin wool), a pushing forward for personal ends, partisanship, as in Philemon 1:16.In your heart (εν τηι καρδιαι υμων — en tēi kardiāi humōn). The real fountain (πηγη — pēgē James 3:11).Glory not Present middle imperative of κατακαυχαομαι — katakauchaomai for which see note on James 2:13. Wisdom is essential for the teacher. Boasting arrogance disproves the possession of wisdom.Lie not against the truth (πσευδεστε κατα της αλητειας — pseudesthe kata tēs alētheias). Present middle imperative of πσευδομαι — pseudomai old verb, to play false, with μη — mē carried over. Lying against the truth is futile. By your conduct do not belie the truth which you teach; a solemn and needed lesson. Cf. Romans 1:18., Romans 2:18, Romans 2:20. [source]
In your heart [εν τηι καρδιαι υμων]
The real fountain (πηγη — pēgē James 3:11). [source]
Glory not [μη κατακαυχαστε]
Present middle imperative of κατακαυχαομαι — katakauchaomai for which see note on James 2:13. Wisdom is essential for the teacher. Boasting arrogance disproves the possession of wisdom.Lie not against the truth (πσευδεστε κατα της αλητειας — pseudesthe kata tēs alētheias). Present middle imperative of πσευδομαι — pseudomai old verb, to play false, with μη — mē carried over. Lying against the truth is futile. By your conduct do not belie the truth which you teach; a solemn and needed lesson. Cf. Romans 1:18., Romans 2:18, Romans 2:20. [source]
Lie not against the truth [πσευδεστε κατα της αλητειας]
Present middle imperative of πσευδομαι — pseudomai old verb, to play false, with μη — mē carried over. Lying against the truth is futile. By your conduct do not belie the truth which you teach; a solemn and needed lesson. Cf. Romans 1:18., Romans 2:18, Romans 2:20. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 3:14

John 2:17 The zeal of thine house []
Jealousy for the honor of God's house. Zeal, ζῆλος , from ζέω , to boil. See on James 3:14. [source]
Acts 7:9 Moved with envy [ζηλώσαντες]
Compare James 4:1; and see on envying, James 3:14. [source]
Acts 13:45 Envy [ζήλου]
Rev., jealousy. See on James 3:14. [source]
Romans 2:8 Contentious [ἐξ ἐριθείας]
Rev., better, factious. Lit., of faction. See on James 3:14. Intriguers; partisan agitators. [source]
Romans 13:13 Envying [ζήλω]
Rev., jealousy. See on James 3:14. [source]
2 Corinthians 12:20 Strifes [ἐριθεῖαι]
Rev., better, factions. See on James 3:14. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:2 I am jealous [ζηλῶ]
The translation is correct. The word is appropriate to the image which follows, in which Paul represents himself as the marriage-friend who has betrothed the bride to the bridegroom, and consequently shares the bridegroom's jealousy of his bride (see on John 3:29). Compare the Old-Testament passages in which God is represented as the spouse of His people: Isaiah 54:5; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 3:1; Ezekiel 16:8; Hosea 2:18, Hosea 2:19. For the different senses of the word, see on envying, James 3:14. Theodoret's comment on the passage is: “I was your wooer for your husband, and the mediator of your marriage; through me you received the bridegroom's gifts; wherefore I am now affected with jealousy.” [source]
Philippians 2:3 Through strife [κατὰ ἐριθείαν]
Rev., correctly, faction. Lit., according to faction. See on James 3:14; and Phlippians 1:16. According to indicates faction as the regulative state of mind. [source]
Philippians 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention []
The order of Phlippians 1:16, Phlippians 1:17, is reversed in the best texts. Of contentions ( ἐξ ἐριθείας ). See on strife, James 3:14. Rev., better, faction. Compare Chaucer:“For mine entente is not but for to winneAnd nothing for correction of sinne”“Pardonere's Tale,” 12337-8. [source]
Hebrews 10:27 Fiery indignation [πυρὸς ζῆλος]
For ζῆλος see on James 3:14. The radical idea of the word is ferment of spirit ( ζεῖν toboil; see Acts 18:25; Romans 12:11). This idea takes on different aspects in ζῆλος , as indignation, Acts 5:17; zeal, John 2:17; Romans 10:2; 2 Corinthians 7:7; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Philemon 3:6; envy, Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Galatians 5:20. In the last sense often with ἔπις strifeThe phrase fiery indignation, lit. indignation of fire (N.T.o) is an adaptation from Isaiah 26:11. [source]
James 4:2 Desire to have [ζηλοῦτε]
Rev., covet, and are jealous, in margin. See on James 3:14. [source]
James 2:13 Glorieth against [κατακαυχαται]
Present middle indicative of the old compound verb κατακαυχαομαι — katakauchaomai to exult over (down), in N.T. only here, James 3:14; Romans 11:18. Only mercy can triumph over justice with God and men. “Mercy is clothed with the divine glory and stands by the throne of God” (Chrysostom). See Romans 8:31-39; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:7. [source]
James 3:11 Opening [οπης]
Old word for fissure in the earth, in N.T. only here and Hebrews 11:38 (caves).Send forth (βρυει — bruei). Present active indicative of βρυω — bruō old verb, to bubble up, to gush forth, here only in N.T. The use of μητι — mēti shows that a negative answer is expected in this rhetorical question.The sweet and the bitter Cognate accusatives with βρυει — bruei Separate articles to distinguish sharply the two things. The neuter singular articular adjective is a common way of presenting a quality. Γλυκυς — Glukus is an old adjective (in N.T. only here and Revelation 10:9.), the opposite of πικρον — pikron (from old root, to cut, to prick), in N.T. only here and James 3:14 (sharp, harsh). [source]
James 3:11 The sweet and the bitter [το γλυκυ και το πικρον]
Cognate accusatives with βρυει — bruei Separate articles to distinguish sharply the two things. The neuter singular articular adjective is a common way of presenting a quality. Γλυκυς — Glukus is an old adjective (in N.T. only here and Revelation 10:9.), the opposite of πικρον — pikron (from old root, to cut, to prick), in N.T. only here and James 3:14 (sharp, harsh). [source]
James 5:19 From the truth [απο της αλητειας]
For truth see James 1:18; James 3:14; John 8:32; 1 John 1:6; 1 John 3:18. It was easy then, and is now, to be led astray from Christ, who is the Truth.And one convert him (και επιστρεπσηι τις αυτον — kai epistrepsēi tis auton). Continuation of the third-class condition with the first aorist active subjunctive of επιστρεπω — epistrephō old verb, to turn (transitive here as in Luke 1:16., but intransitive often as Acts 9:35). [source]

What do the individual words in James 3:14 mean?

If however jealousy bitter you have and self-interest in the heart of you not boast [of it] lie against the truth
εἰ δὲ ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε καὶ ἐριθείαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν μὴ κατακαυχᾶσθε ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ζῆλον  jealousy 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ζῆλος  
Sense: excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spirit.
πικρὸν  bitter 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: πικρός  
Sense: bitter.
ἔχετε  you  have 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
ἐριθείαν  self-interest 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐριθεία  
Sense: electioneering or intriguing for office.
καρδίᾳ  heart 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: καρδία  
Sense: the heart.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
κατακαυχᾶσθε  boast  [of  it] 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κατακαυχάομαι 
Sense: to glory against, to exult over, to boast one’s self to the injury (of a person or thing).
ψεύδεσθε  lie 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ψεύδομαι  
Sense: to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods.
κατὰ  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ἀληθείας  truth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.