The Meaning of James 4:3 Explained

James 4:3

KJV: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

YLT: ye ask, and ye receive not, because evilly ye ask, that in your pleasures ye may spend it.

Darby: Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask evilly, that ye may consume it in your pleasures.

ASV: Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Ye ask,  and  receive  not,  because  ye ask  amiss,  that  ye may consume  [it] upon  your  lusts. 

What does James 4:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

However, we often ask God for things to enable us to satisfy our own selfish desires. For example, we request more time, more money, more energy so we can do things that we desire but that God does not desire for us. What we need to ask Him to give us is more desire for what He promises and commands. We also need less desire for what is contrary to His will for us (cf. Matthew 7:7-11).
"If prayer is no more than a formula (saying the right words, believe hard enough, confess; it will happen), then Christians are back to a type of magic: They can manipulate God or impose their will on God, for he has to answer. In contrast, New Testament prayer grows out of a trusting relationship with a father whose will is supreme." [1]
"In the life of a full-time Christian minister, some may devote themselves to the activist pursuits of endless caring for the sick and house-to-house ministry to the unsaved, and skimp sermon preparation. It may be called "getting our priorities right", but it may simply be an exercise in self-pleasing. Others lock the study door behind them. When they descend the pulpit steps on one Sunday they are already mentally climbing the same steps next Sunday. They may say that the pulpit is the best place to exercise pastoral care, and that they are putting first things first-but they may in fact just be indulging a passion." [2]

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 4:3

Because ye ask amiss [διοτι κακως αιτειστε]
Here the indirect middle does make sense, “ye ask for yourselves” and that is “evilly” or amiss (κακως — kakōs), as James explains. [source]
That ye may spend it in your pleasures [ινα εν ταις ηδοναις υμων δαπανησητε]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist subjunctive of δαπαναω — dapanaō old verb from δαπανη — dapanē cost (Luke 14:28 only in N.T.), to squander (Luke 15:14). God does not hear prayers like this. [source]
Ye ask [αἰτεῖτε]
See on ἠρώτων , besought, Matthew 15:23. [source]
Amiss [κακῶς]
Lit., evilly: with evil intent, as explained by the following sentence. [source]
Consume it upon [δαπανησήτε ἐν]
More correctly, as Rev., spend it in. The sense is not lay out expense upon your pleasures, but spend in the exercise of; under the dominion of. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 4:3

Luke 15:14 When he had spent [δαπανησαντος αυτου]
Genitive absolute. The verb is here used in a bad sense as in James 4:3. See note on dapanē Luke 14:28. [source]
Titus 3:3 Foolish [ανοητοι]
See Romans 1:14, Romans 1:21. Disobedient (απειτεις — apeitheis). See note on Romans 1:30. Deceived Present passive participle of πλαναω — planaō though the middle is possible. Divers lusts (ηδοναις ποικιλαις — hēdonais poikilais). “Pleasures” (ηδοναις — hēdonais from ηδομαι — hēdomai old word, in N.T. only here, Luke 8:14; James 4:1, James 4:3; 2 Peter 2:13). Ποικιλαις — Poikilais (old word) is many-coloured as in Mark 1:34; James 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:6, etc. Living See note on 1 Timothy 3:6 (supply βιον — bion). In malice (εν κακιαι — en kakiāi). See note on Romans 1:29. Envy See note on Romans 1:29. Hateful (στυγητοι — stugētoi). Late passive verbal from στυγεω — stugeō to hate. In Philo, only here in N.T. Hating one another Active sense and natural result of being “hateful.” [source]
Titus 3:3 Deceived [πλανωμενοι]
Present passive participle of πλαναω — planaō though the middle is possible. Divers lusts (ηδοναις ποικιλαις — hēdonais poikilais). “Pleasures” (ηδοναις — hēdonais from ηδομαι — hēdomai old word, in N.T. only here, Luke 8:14; James 4:1, James 4:3; 2 Peter 2:13). Ποικιλαις — Poikilais (old word) is many-coloured as in Mark 1:34; James 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:6, etc. Living See note on 1 Timothy 3:6 (supply βιον — bion). In malice (εν κακιαι — en kakiāi). See note on Romans 1:29. Envy See note on Romans 1:29. Hateful (στυγητοι — stugētoi). Late passive verbal from στυγεω — stugeō to hate. In Philo, only here in N.T. Hating one another Active sense and natural result of being “hateful.” [source]
James 4:2 Ye kill and covet [πονευω]
Present active indicatives of πονευς — phoneuō (old verb from ζηλοω — phoneus murderer) and πονευετε — zēloō to desire hotly to possess (1 Corinthians 12:31). It is possible (perhaps probable) that a full stop should come after επιτυχειν — phoneuete (ye kill) as the result of lusting and not having. Then we have the second situation: “Ye covet and cannot obtain James refers again to δια — ouk echete (ye do not have) in James 4:2. Such sinful lusting will not obtain. “Make the service of God your supreme end, and then your desires will be such as God can fulfil in answer to your prayer” (Ropes). Cf. Matthew 6:31-33. The reason here is expressed by αιτεω — dia and the accusative of the articular present middle infinitive of υμας — aiteō used here of prayer to God as in Matthew 7:7. αιτειστε — Humās (you) is the accusative of general reference. Note the middle voice here as in αιτεω — aiteisthe in James 4:3. Mayor argues that the middle here, in contrast with the active, carries more the spirit of prayer, but Moulton (Prol., p. 160) regards the distinction between αιτεομαι — aiteō and aiteomai often “an extinct subtlety.” [source]
James 4:2 Ye have not, because ye ask not [ουκ εχετε]
James refers again to δια — ouk echete (ye do not have) in James 4:2. Such sinful lusting will not obtain. “Make the service of God your supreme end, and then your desires will be such as God can fulfil in answer to your prayer” (Ropes). Cf. Matthew 6:31-33. The reason here is expressed by αιτεω — dia and the accusative of the articular present middle infinitive of υμας — aiteō used here of prayer to God as in Matthew 7:7. αιτειστε — Humās (you) is the accusative of general reference. Note the middle voice here as in αιτεω — aiteisthe in James 4:3. Mayor argues that the middle here, in contrast with the active, carries more the spirit of prayer, but Moulton (Prol., p. 160) regards the distinction between αιτεομαι — aiteō and aiteomai often “an extinct subtlety.” [source]
2 Peter 2:13 As the hire of wrong-doing [μιστον αδικιας]
The Elephantine papyrus has the passive of αδικεω — adikeō in the sense of being defrauded, and that may be the idea here. Peter plays on words again here as often in 2 Peter. The picture proceeds now with participles like ηγουμενοι — hēgoumenoi (counting).Pleasure (ηδονην — hēdonēn). See James 4:1, James 4:3.To revel in the daytime “The in the daytime revel” (old word τρυπη — truphē from τρυπτω — thruptō to enervate, in N.T. only here and Luke 7:25).Spots (σπιλοι — spiloi). Old word for disfiguring spot, in N.T. only here and Ephesians 5:27.Blemishes Old word for blot (kin to μυω — muō), only here in N.T. See 1 Peter 1:19 for αμωμος και ασπιλος — amōmos kai aspilos Present active participle of εντρυπαω — entruphaō old compound for living in luxury, only here in N.T.In their love-feasts (εν ταις αγαπαις — en tais agapais). So B Sah, but Aleph A C K L P read απαταις — apatais (in their deceivings). If αγαπαις — agapais is genuine as it is in Judges 1:12, they are the only N.T. examples of this use of αγαπη — agapē they feast with you (συνευωχουμενοι — suneuōchoumenoi). Present passive participle of late and rare verb συνευωχεω — suneuōcheō (συν — sun together, and ευωχεω — euōcheō to feed abundantly) to entertain with. Clement of Alex. (Paed. ii. I. 6) applies ευωχια — euōchia to the αγαπη — agapē f0). [source]
2 Peter 2:13 Pleasure [ηδονην]
See James 4:1, James 4:3. [source]
1 John 5:14 That [οτι]
Declarative again, as in 1 John 5:11.If we ask anything (εαν τι αιτωμετα — ean ti aitōmetha). Condition of third class with εαν — ean and present middle (indirect) subjunctive (personal interest as in James 4:3, though the point is not to be pressed too far, for see Matthew 20:20, Matthew 20:22; John 16:24, John 16:26).According to his will This is the secret in all prayer, even in the case of Jesus himself. For the phrase see 1 Peter 4:19; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:11.He heareth us (ακουει ημων — akouei hēmōn). Even when God does not give us what we ask, in particular then (Hebrews 5:7.). [source]
1 John 5:14 If we ask anything [εαν τι αιτωμετα]
Condition of third class with εαν — ean and present middle (indirect) subjunctive (personal interest as in James 4:3, though the point is not to be pressed too far, for see Matthew 20:20, Matthew 20:22; John 16:24, John 16:26). [source]

What do the individual words in James 4:3 mean?

You ask and not receive because wrongly you ask that in the pleasures of you you may spend [it]
αἰτεῖτε καὶ οὐ λαμβάνετε διότι κακῶς αἰτεῖσθε ἵνα ἐν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὑμῶν δαπανήσητε

αἰτεῖτε  You  ask 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: αἰτέω  
Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.
λαμβάνετε  receive 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
διότι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: διότι  
Sense: on this account that, because.
κακῶς  wrongly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: κακῶς  
Sense: miserable, to be ill.
αἰτεῖσθε  you  ask 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: αἰτέω  
Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
ἡδοναῖς  pleasures 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: ἡδονή  
Sense: pleasure.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
δαπανήσητε  you  may  spend  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δαπανάω  
Sense: to incur expense, expend, spend.