KJV: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
YLT: Who is wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
Darby: Who is wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
ASV: Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
| σοφὸς | [is] wise |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: σοφός Sense: wise. |
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| ἐπιστήμων | understanding |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἐπιστήμων Sense: intelligent, experienced, one having the knowledge of an expert. |
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| δειξάτω | let him show |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: δείκνυμι Sense: to show, expose to the eyes. |
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| ἐκ | out of |
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Parse: Preposition Root: ἐκ Sense: out of, from, by, away from. |
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| καλῆς | good |
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Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: καλός Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable. |
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| ἀναστροφῆς | conduct |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ἀναστροφή Sense: manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment. |
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| ἔργα | works |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: ἔργον Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied. |
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| αὐτοῦ | of him |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: αὐτός Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself. |
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| πραΰτητι | [the] humility |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: πραΰτης Sense: mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. |
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| σοφίας | of wisdom |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: σοφία Sense: wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters. |
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Greek Commentary for James 3:13
Rhetorical interrogative like Luke 11:11. Common in Paul and characteristic of the diatribe. James here returns to the standpoint of James 3:1 about many teachers. Speech and wisdom are both liable to abuse (1 Corinthians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:1-3:20). [source]
Σοπος Sophos is used for the practical teacher (James 3:1), επιστημων epistēmōn (old word from επισταμαι epistamai here only in N.T.) for an expert, a skilled and scientific person with a tone of superiority. In Deuteronomy 1:13, Deuteronomy 1:15; Deuteronomy 4:6, the two terms are practically synonyms.Let him shew (δειχατω deixatō). First aorist active imperative of δεικνυμι deiknumi old verb to show. As about faith in James 2:18. Emphatic position of this verb.By his good life For this literary Koiné word from αναστρεπομαι anastrephomai (walk, conduct) see Galatians 1:13. Actions speak louder than words even in the case of the professional wise man. Cf. 1 Peter 1:15.In meekness of wisdom (εν πραυτητι σοπιας en prautēti sophias). As in James 1:21 of the listener, so here of the teacher. Cf. Matthew 5:5; Matthew 11:29 and Zechariah 9:9 of King Messiah quoted in Matthew 21:5. Startling combination. [source]
First aorist active imperative of δεικνυμι deiknumi old verb to show. As about faith in James 2:18. Emphatic position of this verb. [source]
For this literary Koiné word from αναστρεπομαι anastrephomai (walk, conduct) see Galatians 1:13. Actions speak louder than words even in the case of the professional wise man. Cf. 1 Peter 1:15.In meekness of wisdom (εν πραυτητι σοπιας en prautēti sophias). As in James 1:21 of the listener, so here of the teacher. Cf. Matthew 5:5; Matthew 11:29 and Zechariah 9:9 of King Messiah quoted in Matthew 21:5. Startling combination. [source]
As in James 1:21 of the listener, so here of the teacher. Cf. Matthew 5:5; Matthew 11:29 and Zechariah 9:9 of King Messiah quoted in Matthew 21:5. Startling combination. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 3:13
Wyc.,prudence. This is a lower word than σοφία ,wisdom (see on James 3:13). It is an attribute or result of wisdom, and not necessarily in a good sense, though mostly so in the New Testament. Compare, however, the use of the kindred word φρόνιμος in Romans 11:25; Romans 12:16: wise in your own conceits; and the adverb φρονίμως ,wisely, of the unjust steward, Luke 16:8. It ispractical intelligence, which may or may not be applied to good ends. Appropriate here as a practical term corresponding to disobedient. [source]
Only here in New Testament. Lit., to employ cunning against. See on σοφὸς , wise, James 3:13. [source]
Skillful. See on James 3:13. [source]
Rev., better, applies spiritual to both - spiritual wisdom and understanding. The kindred adjectives σοφός wiseand συνετός prudentoccur together, Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21. For σοφία wisdomsee on Romans 11:33, and on wise, James 3:13. For σύνεσις understandingsee on Mark 12:33, and see on prudent, Matthew 11:25. The distinction is between general and special. Understanding is the critical apprehension of particulars growing out of wisdom, which apprehension is practically applied by φρόνησις prudencesee on Luke 1:17; see on Ephesians 1:8. Spiritual is emphatic, as contrasted with the vain philosophy of false teachers. [source]
Comp. Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 4:22; James 3:13. A favorite word with Peter. See on 1 Peter 1:15. [source]
See on σοφός , James 3:13. [source]
Prohibition with μη mē and present middle imperative of γινομαι ginomai “Stop becoming many teachers” (so many of you). There is thus a clear complaint that too many of the Jewish Christians were attempting to teach what they did not clearly comprehend. There was a call for wise teachers (James 2:13.), not for foolish ones. This soon became an acute question, as one can see in 1 Cor. 12 to chapter 14. They were not all teachers (1 Corinthians 12:28.; 1 Corinthians 14:26). The teacher is here treated as the wise man (James 3:13-18) as he ought to be. The rabbi was the teacher (Matthew 23:7.; John 1:38; John 3:10; John 20:16). Teachers occupied an honourable position among the Christians (Ephesians 4:11; Acts 13:1). James counts himself a teacher (we shall receive, James 3:1) and this discussion is linked on with James 1:19-27. Teachers are necessary, but incompetent and unworthy ones do much harm. [source]
As in James 3:13.Let him pray (προσευχεστω proseuchesthō). Present middle imperative, “let him keep on praying” (instead of cursing as in James 5:12).Is any cheerful Present active indicative of ευτυμεω euthumeō old verb from ευτυμος euthumos (Acts 27:36), in N.T. only here and Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25.Let him sing praise (πσαλλετω psalletō). Present active imperative of πσαλλω psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
First aorist (ingressive) passive imperative of γινομαι ginomai to become with allusion (και kai also) to κατα kata (God as our example), “Do ye also become holy.” For αναστροπη anastrophē (manner of life) see 1 Peter 1:18; 1 Peter 2:12; 3:1-16; James 3:13; 2 Peter 2:7. Peter uses αναστροπη anastrophē eight times. The original meaning (turning up and down, back and forth) suited the Latin word conversatio (converto), but not our modern “conversation” (talk, not walk). [source]