KJV: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
YLT: who do not know the thing of the morrow; for what is your life? for it is a vapour that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing;
Darby: ye who do not know what will be on the morrow, (for what is your life? It is even a vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing,)
ASV: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
| ἐπίστασθε | know |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural Root: ἐπίσταμαι Sense: to put one’s attention on, fix one’s thoughts on, to turn one’s self or one’s mind to, put one’s thought upon a thing. |
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| ‹τὸ› | what [is] |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| τῆς | on the |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| αὔριον | next day [is] |
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Parse: Adverb Root: αὔριον Sense: tomorrow. |
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| ποία | What [is] |
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Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ποία Sense: of what sort or nature. |
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| ζωὴ | life |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ζωή Sense: life. |
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| ὑμῶν | of you |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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| ἀτμὶς | A vapor |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ἀτμίς Sense: vapour. |
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| γάρ | just |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: γάρ Sense: for. |
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| ἐστε | it is |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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| ἡ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| ὀλίγον | a little [while] |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ὀλίγος Sense: little, small, few. |
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| φαινομένη | appearing |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: φαίνω Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light. |
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| καὶ | also |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but. |
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| ἀφανιζομένη | vanishing |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Feminine Singular Root: ἀφανίζω Sense: to snatch out of sight, to put out of view, to make unseen. |
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Greek Commentary for James 4:14
The longer relative οστις hostis defines here more precisely (like Latin qui) οι λεγοντες hoi legontes (ye who say) of James 4:13 in a causal sense, as in Acts 10:47, “who indeed do not know” (present middle indicative of επισταμαι epistamai). [source]
Supply ημερας hēmeras (day) after αυριον aurion This is the reading of B (Westcott) “on the morrow” (genitive of time), but Aleph K L cursives have το της αυριον to tēs aurion (“the matter of tomorrow”), while A P cursives have τα της αυριον ta tēs aurion (“the things of tomorrow”). The sense is practically the same, though το της αυριον to tēs aurion is likely correct.What is your life? (ποια η ζωη υμων poia hē zōē humōn). Thus Westcott and Hort punctuate it as an indirect question, not direct. Ποια Poia is a qualitative interrogative (of what character).As vapour This is the answer. Old word for mist (like ατμος atmos from which our “atmosphere”), in N.T. only here and Acts 2:19 with καπνου kapnou (vapour of smoke (from Joel 2:30).For a little time (προς ολιγον pros oligon). See same phrase in 1 Timothy 4:8, προς καιρον pros kairon in Luke 8:13, προς ωραν pros hōran in John 5:35.That appeareth and then vanisheth away Present middle participles agreeing with ατμις atmis “appearing, then also disappearing,” with play on the two verbs (παινομαι απανιζω phainomaiαπανης aphanizō as in Matthew 6:19, from παν aphanēs hidden Hebrews 4:13) with the same root παινω απανης phan (phainōȧphaṅēs). [source]
Thus Westcott and Hort punctuate it as an indirect question, not direct. Ποια Poia is a qualitative interrogative (of what character). [source]
This is the answer. Old word for mist (like ατμος atmos from which our “atmosphere”), in N.T. only here and Acts 2:19 with καπνου kapnou (vapour of smoke (from Joel 2:30).For a little time (προς ολιγον pros oligon). See same phrase in 1 Timothy 4:8, προς καιρον pros kairon in Luke 8:13, προς ωραν pros hōran in John 5:35.That appeareth and then vanisheth away Present middle participles agreeing with ατμις atmis “appearing, then also disappearing,” with play on the two verbs (παινομαι απανιζω phainomaiαπανης aphanizō as in Matthew 6:19, from παν aphanēs hidden Hebrews 4:13) with the same root παινω απανης phan (phainōȧphaṅēs). [source]
See same phrase in 1 Timothy 4:8, προς καιρον pros kairon in Luke 8:13, προς ωραν pros hōran in John 5:35. [source]
Present middle participles agreeing with ατμις atmis “appearing, then also disappearing,” with play on the two verbs (παινομαι απανιζω phainomaiαπανης aphanizō as in Matthew 6:19, from παν aphanēs hidden Hebrews 4:13) with the same root παινω απανης phan (phainōȧphaṅēs). [source]
The pronoun marking a class, as being of those who know not. [source]
Lit.,of what kind or nature. [source]
Lit., the thing of the morrow. The texts vary. Westcott and Hort read, Ye know not what your life shall be on the morrow, for ye are a vapor: thus throwing out the question. [source]
But all the best texts read ἐστε , ye are. So Rev., which, however, retains the question, what is your life? [source]
Both participles, appearing, vanishing. [source]
The καὶ placed after the adverb then is not copulative, but expresses that the vapor vanishes even as it appeared. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 4:14
Another old word (from ωπελεω ōpheleō to help, to profit), in N.T. only here, Titus 3:8; 2 Timothy 3:16. For a little (προς ολιγον pros oligon). “For little.” Probably extent in contrast to προς παντα pros panta (for all things), though in James 4:14 it is time “for a little while.” Which now is “The now life.” Of that which is to come (της μελλουσης tēs mellousēs). “Of the coming (future) life.” [source]
“For little.” Probably extent in contrast to προς παντα pros panta (for all things), though in James 4:14 it is time “for a little while.” [source]
James 4:14was parenthetical, so that at this point the thought is taken up from James 4:13: Ye who say we will go, etc. - for that ye ought to say. The rendering in margin of Rev. is simpler: instead of your saying. [source]