The Meaning of James 4:10 Explained

James 4:10

KJV: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

YLT: be made low before the Lord, and He shall exalt you.

Darby: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he shall exalt you.

ASV: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Humble yourselves  in the sight  of the Lord,  and  he shall lift  you  up. 

What does James 4:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In concluding this section of direct advice ( James 4:7-10), James sounded the same note with which he began: submission to God in humility, putting Him before self. This always results in God lifting one up both immediately and eventually. Since this is the condition in which God can use us, He will proceed to do so for His glory (cf. Matthew 18:4; Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; 1 Peter 5:6).
"Ralph Bell, an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is a godly man who tells of learning grace-reliance in a deeply personal way. Bell is a Canadian-born black man who lives and ministers in the United States. As a young Prayer of Manasseh , he struggled with experiences of racial insults and discrimination. Being so treated by fellow Christians, who were disobeying James"s instructions about impartiality, was especially hurtful. Bell shared his struggles with his mother, who counseled him to keep his eyes on Jesus, because Jesus would never disappoint him. As he sought to apply that advice, he began to find the grace to see others" racism as their problem. He further sought grace from God to purify his own life of hatred toward those who mistreated him. In James"s terms, Ralph Bell humbled himself before the Lord, and he found himself being lifted up by the grace of God to be able to love his enemies. How does one love hostile and hurtful people? The answer is supernaturally, by relying on the grace that God gives to the humble." [1]

Context Summary

James 4:1-10 - "draw Nigh To God"
The Apostle returns to "the jealousy and faction" of the previous chapter, James 3:14, and says that these evils are traceable to lust, that is, to inordinate desire. The restless inward war is the prolific parent of failure in speech and act. If we would pray more and better, we should soon find the inner fires dying down.
In James 4:5, r.v., margin, we learn that God has placed His Spirit within us, and that He yearns for complete control over our hearts. He can best overcome inordinate desire and teach us how to pray. God wants more of us. His love is insatiable in its yearning for every room and cupboard of our inner life, and He is ever wishful to give more grace.
There are four conditions which we must fulfill, if God is to have full possession:
1.We must be subject to the will of God, James 4:7;
2.We must draw nigh to God, James 4:8;
3.We must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, James 4:8;
4.We must humble ourselves in His sight, James 4:10.
Then God will fill the soul, the sluice gates of which are open to Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: James 4

1  We are to strive against covetousness;
4  intemperance;
5  pride;
11  detraction and rash judgment of others;
13  and not to be boastful of our future plans

Greek Commentary for James 4:10

Humble yourselves [ταπεινωτητε]
First aorist passive imperative of ταπεινοω — tapeinoō old verb from ταπεινος — tapeinos (James 1:9), as in Matthew 18:4. The passive here has almost the middle or reflexive sense. The middle voice was already giving way to the passive. See 1 Peter 5:6 for this same form with the same promise of exaltation. [source]
He shall exalt you [υπσωσει υμας]
Future active indicative of υπσοω — hupsoō common verb from υπσος — hupsos (height), used by Jesus in contrast with ταπεινοω — tapeinoō as here (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 4:10

John 3:14 Lifted up [ὑψωθῆναι]
The following are the uses of the word in the New Testament: The exaltation of pride (Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15; Luke 14:11). The raising of the humble (Luke 1:52; James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). The exaltation of Christ in glory (Acts 2:33; Acts 5:31). The uplifting on the cross (John 3:14; John 8:28; John 12:32, John 12:34). The reference here is to the crucifixion, but beyond that, to the glorification of Christ. It is characteristic of John to blend the two ideas of Christ's passion and glory (John 8:28; John 12:32). Thus, when Judas went out to betray him, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of man glorified” (John 13:31). Hence the believer overcomes the world through faith in Him who came not by water only, but by water and blood (1 John 5:4-6). [source]

What do the individual words in James 4:10 mean?

Humble yourselves in the presence of [the] Lord and He will exalt you
ταπεινώθητε ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς

ταπεινώθητε  Humble  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ταπεινόω  
Sense: to make low, bring low.
ἐνώπιον  in  the  presence  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐνώπιον  
Sense: in the presence of, before.
Κυρίου  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ὑψώσει  He  will  exalt 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ὑψόω  
Sense: to lift up on high, to exalt.