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James 4:7 KJV
James · chapter 4 · verse 7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.James 4:7 · King James Version
What James 4:7 means
Two commands, and the order carries the weight. Submitting comes first; resistance without it is only willpower. James is writing to people fighting each other over what they want, so the devil he names isn't an excuse. He's the one taking advantage of a church already at war with itself.
Study note provided by TheWay Bible App, separate from the KJV text. Read the full chapter in context and compare interpretations. Report a correction.
James 4:7 in context
5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Commentary
Cross references
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
- Ephesians 4:27
- Ephesians 6:11-12
- 1 Peter 5:6
- Luke 4:2-13
- Matthew 4:3-11
- Hebrews 12:9
- Romans 10:3
Key words (Strong's)
- yourselveshypotassōto arrange under, to subordinate, to subject, put in subjection, to subject one s self…G5293 →
- Resistanthistēmito set one s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose, to set againstG436 →
- devildiabolosprone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely, a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer…G1228 →
- fleepheugōto flee away, seek safety by flight, metaph. to flee something abhorrent, esp. vices, to…G5343 →
- Godtheosa god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities, the Godhead, trinity, God the…G2316 →
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The former chapter speaks of envying one another, as the great spring of strifes and contentions; this chapter speaks of a lust after worldly things, and a setting too great a value upon worldly pleasures and friendships, as that which carried their divisions to a shameful height. I.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 1-10