1
Πόθεν πόλεμοι καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν; οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν, ἐκ τῶν ἡδονῶν ὑμῶν τῶν στρατευομένων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ὑμῶν;
Where do wars and where do fights among you come from? Is it not from here, from your pleasures that wage war in your members?
A double rhetorical question (asyndeton) opens the section, locating the community's conflicts not in circumstance but in the campaigning passions within.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
Πόθενwhere frominterrogative adverb (source)πόθεν: 'whence, from what source'; repeated for emphasis, pressing the question of origin.
πόλεμοιwarsNominativesubject (verbless)πόλεμος: 'war, armed conflict'; here metaphorical of protracted hostilities within the community.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πόθενwhere frominterrogative adverb (source)πόθεν: repeated, intensifying the inquiry into causes.
μάχαιfightsNominativesubject (verbless)μάχη: 'battle, quarrel, strife'; paired with πόλεμος as the recurring skirmishes flowing from the larger war.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)ἐν: 'among, in'; situating the conflict within the assembly.
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of preposition
οὐκnotnegative (expecting 'yes')οὐκ: the negative of a question framed to expect an affirmative answer — 'is it not from here?'
ἐντεῦθενfrom hereadverb (source)ἐντεῦθεν: 'from this place/source'; pointing forward to the ἡδοναί as the spring of strife.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of, from'; restating ἐντεῦθεν concretely.
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
ἡδονῶνpleasuresGenitivegenitive of sourceἡδονή: 'pleasure, desire for pleasure'; in James pejorative — the cravings that drive conflict (cf. v.3; Titus 3:3; the root of 'hedonism').
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive
τῶνthe (ones)Genitivearticle (attributive, with participle)
στρατευομένωνwaging warPres Mid Ptc · Gen Pl Fem · στρατεύομαιattributive participle (modifying ἡδονῶν)→ customary present (ongoing campaign)στρατεύομαι: 'serve as a soldier, wage a campaign'; the passions pictured as a standing army on the march within (cf. 1 Pet 2:11; Rom 7:23).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: 'in'; the theater of the campaign — the bodily members.
τοῖςtheDativearticle
μέλεσινmembersDativeobject of prepositionμέλος: 'bodily member, limb'; the human faculties as the battleground of desire (cf. Rom 6:13; 7:23).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive
2
ἐπιθυμεῖτε, καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε· φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν· μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε. οὐκ ἔχετε διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς·
You desire and do not have; you murder and covet and cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask.
A rapid, asyndetic series of present verbs tracing the chain from craving to violence; the final clause names the spiritual cause — they do not ask God.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
ἐπιθυμεῖτεyou desirePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιθυμέωmain verb→ customary present (habitual craving)ἐπιθυμέω: 'long for, covet, lust after'; the craving that, frustrated, turns destructive.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adversative)καί: here 'and yet' — desire collides with non-attainment.
οὐκnotnegative
ἔχετεyou havePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἔχωmain verb→ stative present (lack of possession)ἔχω: 'have, possess'; the bald result — craving secures nothing.
φονεύετεyou murderPres Act Indic 2 Pl · φονεύωmain verb→ customary presentφονεύω: 'murder, kill'; deliberately shocking — whether literal communal violence or, hyperbolically, the murderous intent of hatred (cf. Matt 5:21–22; 1 John 3:15). Some conjecture φθονεῖτε ('you envy'), but the transmitted text reads φονεύετε.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ζηλοῦτεyou covetPres Act Indic 2 Pl · ζηλόωmain verb→ customary presentζηλόω: 'be zealous, covet, envy'; here the jealous craving for what another has (cf. ζῆλος in 3:14, 16).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adversative)καί: 'and yet' again — coveting too fails to reach its end.
οὐnotnegative
δύνασθεyou are ablePres Mid Indic 2 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (with infinitive)→ stative presentδύναμαι: 'be able'; the impotence of grasping desire.
ἐπιτυχεῖνto obtainAor Act Inf · ἐπιτυγχάνωcomplementary infinitive→ constative aoristἐπιτυγχάνω: 'attain, obtain, hit the mark'; what desire and envy can never reach by force.
μάχεσθεyou fightPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · μάχομαιmain verb→ customary presentμάχομαι: 'fight, quarrel'; cognate with μάχαι (v.1), the strife now named as their own act.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πολεμεῖτεyou wage warPres Act Indic 2 Pl · πολεμέωmain verb→ customary presentπολεμέω: 'make war'; cognate with πόλεμοι (v.1), closing the loop from question to indictment.
οὐκnotnegative
ἔχετεyou havePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἔχωmain verb→ stative presentἔχω: the lack restated, now with its cause appended.
διὰbecause ofpreposition + accusative (cause, with articular infinitive)διά + acc.: 'because of'; introducing the articular-infinitive cause clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizing the infinitive)
μὴnotnegative (with infinitive)
αἰτεῖσθαιto askPres Mid Inf · αἰτέωarticular infinitive (cause)→ customary presentαἰτέω: 'ask, request'; the middle voice perhaps stressing asking for oneself — the prayer they neglect (cf. 1:5).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
3
αἰτεῖτε καὶ οὐ λαμβάνετε, διότι κακῶς αἰτεῖσθε, ἵνα ἐν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὑμῶν δαπανήσητε.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your pleasures.
A concession that even when they do ask, the prayer fails — because its motive is self-indulgent. διότι gives the reason; ἵνα the corrupt aim.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
αἰτεῖτεyou askPres Act Indic 2 Pl · αἰτέωmain verb→ customary presentαἰτέω: 'ask'; now they do ask, yet still empty-handed — the problem is the asking itself.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (adversative)καί: 'and yet.'
οὐnotnegative
λαμβάνετεyou receivePres Act Indic 2 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ customary presentλαμβάνω: 'receive, take'; the unanswered prayer — the inverse of 1:5–7's promise to the single-minded asker.
διότιbecausecausal conjunctionδιότι: 'because, for the reason that'; introducing the diagnosis of failed prayer.
κακῶςwronglyadverb (manner)κακῶς: 'badly, wrongly'; the prayer is flawed not in form but in motive.
αἰτεῖσθεyou askPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · αἰτέωmain verb→ customary presentαἰτέω (mid.): 'ask (for yourselves)'; the middle perhaps underscoring the self-serving petition.
ἵναso thatconjunction (purpose)ἵνα: 'in order that'; introducing the corrupt purpose behind the request.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (sphere/object of expenditure)ἐν: here 'on, upon' — the object of squandering.
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἡδοναῖςpleasuresDativeobject of prepositionἡδονή: 'pleasure'; resuming v.1 — the very passions that breed strife are also the goal of their prayers.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive
δαπανήσητεyou may spendAor Act Subj 2 Pl · δαπανάωsubjunctive (purpose, with ἵνα)→ constative aoristδαπανάω: 'spend, squander, consume'; the lavish wasting of God's gifts on self-gratification (cf. the prodigal, Luke 15:14).
4
μοιχαλίδες, οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου ἔχθρα τοῦ θεοῦ ἐστιν; ὃς ἐὰν οὖν βουληθῇ φίλος εἶναι τοῦ κόσμου, ἐχθρὸς τοῦ θεοῦ καθίσταται.
Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
The prophetic vocative 'adulteresses' casts worldliness as covenant infidelity; a maxim (φιλία τοῦ κόσμου = ἔχθρα τοῦ θεοῦ) then yields the inexorable inference.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
μοιχαλίδεςadulteressesVocativevocative (direct address)μοιχαλίς: 'adulteress'; OT/prophetic imagery for Israel's unfaithfulness to her covenant husband (Hos 1–3; Jer 3) — here the feminine alone is read; the longer 'adulterers and adulteresses' is a later expansion.
οὐκnotnegative (expecting 'yes')
οἴδατεdo you knowPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαmain verb (interrogative)→ intensive perfect (present sense)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present force); appealing to what they already ought to grasp.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause)ὅτι: introducing the maxim that follows.
ἡtheNominativearticle
φιλίαfriendshipNominativesubjectφιλία: 'friendship, affection'; NT hapax — the bond of loving alliance, here misdirected toward the world.
τοῦwith theGenitivearticle
κόσμουworldGenitiveobjective genitive (with φιλία)κόσμος: 'world'; the human order in its alienation from God (cf. 1:27; 1 John 2:15–17).
ἔχθραenmityNominativepredicate nominativeἔχθρα: 'hostility, enmity'; the polar opposite of φιλία — love of one is war against the other.
τοῦwithGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobjective genitive (with ἔχθρα)θεός: 'God'; the spurned covenant husband.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb (copula)→ gnomic present (timeless truth)εἰμί: 'be'; linking the maxim's terms.
ὃςwhoeverNominativerelative pronoun (indefinite, subject)ὅς … ἐάν: 'whoever'; an indefinite relative drawing the universal application.
ἐὰν-everparticle (with relative, generalizing)ἐάν: here generalizing ὅς into 'whoever.'
οὖνthereforeinferential conjunctionοὖν: drawing the consequence from the maxim.
βουληθῇwishesAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · βούλομαιsubjunctive (in indefinite relative clause)→ constative aoristβούλομαι: 'will, wish, resolve'; deliberate purpose, not mere drift — the willing of friendship with the world is the decisive act.
φίλοςa friendNominativepredicate nominative (with εἶναι)φίλος: 'friend'; cognate with φιλία — to be the world's friend.
εἶναιto bePres Act Inf · εἰμίcomplementary infinitive (with βουληθῇ)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; the goal of the willing.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κόσμουworldGenitiveobjective genitive (with φίλος)κόσμος: 'world'; the object of the misplaced friendship.
ἐχθρὸςan enemyNominativepredicate nominative (with καθίσταται)ἐχθρός: 'enemy, hostile one'; cognate with ἔχθρα — the friend of the world stands constituted God's foe.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobjective genitive (with ἐχθρὸς)θεός: 'God.'
καθίσταταιmakes himselfPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · καθίστημιmain verb (apodosis)→ gnomic presentκαθίστημι: 'constitute, set down as, render'; here middle/passive 'is constituted / sets himself up as' — the inexorable status that worldly friendship confers.
5
ἢ δοκεῖτε ὅτι κενῶς ἡ γραφὴ λέγει· πρὸς φθόνον ἐπιποθεῖ τὸ πνεῦμα ὃ κατῴκισεν ἐν ἡμῖν;
Or do you think that the scripture says in vain, 'The spirit he made to dwell in us yearns jealously'?
A notoriously difficult appeal to 'scripture': the disjunctive ἤ ('or do you suppose…?') presses that God's word is not empty; the citation itself has no exact OT source and its syntax is debated.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ἢordisjunctive particle (rhetorical)ἤ: 'or'; introducing an alternative the readers cannot accept — 'or do you imagine…?'
δοκεῖτεdo you thinkPres Act Indic 2 Pl · δοκέωmain verb (interrogative)→ customary presentδοκέω: 'think, suppose, deem'; challenging a mistaken assumption.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content clause)ὅτι: introducing the supposed thought.
κενῶςin vainadverb (manner)κενῶς: 'emptily, in vain' (NT hapax adverb); scripture does not speak to no purpose.
ἡtheNominativearticle
γραφὴscriptureNominativesubjectγραφή: 'scripture, the writing'; the citation has no verbatim OT parallel — perhaps a free summary of OT teaching on God's jealous love (Exod 20:5; Zech 8:2).
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ gnomic present (standing testimony)λέγω: 'say, speak'; scripture personified as speaking.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (manner/disposition)πρός + acc.: here adverbial, 'unto jealousy,' i.e. 'jealously' — the phrase πρὸς φθόνον is idiomatic for an intense, jealous disposition.
φθόνονjealousyAccusativeobject of preposition (adverbial phrase)φθόνος: 'envy, jealousy'; ordinarily negative, but here (with πρός) of God's holy, exclusive jealousy for his own — or, if πνεῦμα is the object, of the human spirit's envious bent. The verse is famously ambiguous.
ἐπιποθεῖyearnsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπιποθέωmain verb→ gnomic presentἐπιποθέω: 'long for, yearn after'; whether God (through the indwelling Spirit) yearns jealously over us, or the Spirit yearns, depends on the disputed syntax.
τὸtheNominativearticle
πνεῦμαspiritNominativesubject of ἐπιποθεῖ (or object — disputed)πνεῦμα: 'spirit'; either the (Holy) Spirit God caused to dwell in us, as subject of ἐπιποθεῖ, or the human spirit/breath of life as its object — the chief crux of the verse.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of κατῴκισεν)ὅς: the neuter relative, taking πνεῦμα as antecedent.
κατῴκισενhe made to dwellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · κατοικίζωverb of relative clause→ constative aoristκατοικίζω: 'cause to dwell, settle, plant' (causative; NT hapax) — God settled the spirit within us. (Some witnesses read κατῴκησεν, 'dwelt,' intransitive.)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)ἐν: 'in, within.'
ἡμῖνusDativeobject of preposition
6
μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν· διὸ λέγει· ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.
But he gives greater grace; therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
Against the jealous yearning, the consoling counterweight: God gives still greater grace, undergirded by a citation of Prov 3:34 (LXX) — the chapter's hinge from diagnosis to the call to humble repentance.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
μείζοναgreaterAccusativeattributive adjective (comparative, with χάριν)μείζων: 'greater'; comparative of μέγας — grace exceeding the pull of the passions and the world.
δὲbutconjunction (adversative)δέ: 'but'; the saving contrast to the foregoing indictment.
δίδωσινhe givesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ gnomic present (God's settled generosity)δίδωμι: 'give'; God the giver (cf. 1:5, 17) — grace, not the world, satisfies.
χάρινgraceAccusativedirect objectχάρις: 'grace, favor'; unearned divine help — the antidote to friendship with the world.
διὸthereforeinferential conjunctionδιό: 'therefore, for which reason'; linking the gift of grace to the proverb.
λέγειit saysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (scripture as subject)→ gnomic presentλέγω: 'says'; subject implied as ἡ γραφή — introducing the quotation.
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubjectθεός: 'God'; subject of the proverb (Prov 3:34 LXX, where the MT/LXX read κύριος / ὁ θεός variously).
ὑπερηφάνοιςthe proudDativeindirect object (dat., substantival adjective)ὑπερήφανος: 'arrogant, haughty' (lit. 'showing oneself above'); the disposition God sets himself against.
ἀντιτάσσεταιopposesPres Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἀντιτάσσομαιmain verb (within quotation)→ gnomic presentἀντιτάσσομαι: 'set oneself against, oppose' (military image: draw up battle-lines against); cf. the πόλεμος imagery of v.1.
ταπεινοῖςto the humbleDativeindirect object (dat., substantival adjective)ταπεινός: 'lowly, humble'; the opposite of ὑπερήφανος — the recipients of grace, the keynote of vv.7–10.
δὲbutconjunction (adversative, within quotation)δέ: 'but'; the antithesis of the proverb.
δίδωσινgivesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (within quotation)→ gnomic presentδίδωμι: 'give'; the proverb echoed, grounding the imperative 'humble yourselves' (v.10).
χάρινgraceAccusativedirect object (within quotation)χάρις: 'grace, favor'; freely given to the lowly.
7
ὑποτάγητε οὖν τῷ θεῷ· ἀντίστητε δὲ τῷ διαβόλῳ, καὶ φεύξεται ἀφ’ ὑμῶν·
Submit yourselves therefore to God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The inferential οὖν launches a salvo of aorist imperatives drawn from the grace-to-the-humble promise: the first pair sets the two allegiances — yield to God, stand against the devil — with a promise attached.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
ὑποτάγητεsubmit yourselvesAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · ὑποτάσσωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aorist (decisive submission)ὑποτάσσω: 'subject, subordinate' (mil.: arrange under); the passive-form imperative 'be subject / submit yourselves' — the counter to ὑπερήφανος pride.
οὖνthereforeinferential conjunctionοὖν: drawing the practical consequence from the proverb of v.6.
τῷtoDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeindirect object (dat. with ὑποτάγητε)θεός: 'God'; the one to whom submission is owed.
ἀντίστητεresistAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀνθίστημιmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristἀνθίστημι: 'withstand, take a stand against'; the active counterpart to submission — resist, do not negotiate (cf. 1 Pet 5:9).
δὲbutconjunction (adversative/connective)δέ: 'but'; pairing the two stances — toward God, toward the devil.
τῷtheDativearticle
διαβόλῳdevilDativeindirect object (dat. with ἀντίστητε)διάβολος: 'slanderer, the devil'; the adversary to be resisted, not the world's friend.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (result)καί: here consecutive — 'and (as a result) he will flee.'
φεύξεταιhe will fleeFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · φεύγωmain verb (promise)→ predictive futureφεύγω: 'flee'; the assured rout of the resisted adversary.
ἀφ’frompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from, away from' (elided before the rough breathing).
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of preposition
8
ἐγγίσατε τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐγγιεῖ ὑμῖν. καθαρίσατε χεῖρας, ἁμαρτωλοί, καὶ ἁγνίσατε καρδίας, δίψυχοι.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Asyndetic imperatives continue: approach met with promise, then a doubled call to cultic cleansing — hands (outward conduct) and hearts (inward loyalty) — addressed to 'sinners' and 'double-minded.'
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
ἐγγίσατεdraw nearAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐγγίζωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristἐγγίζω: 'come near, approach'; cultic overtones of drawing near to God (cf. priestly approach, Exod 19:22; Heb 7:19).
τῷtoDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeindirect object (dat. with ἐγγίσατε)θεός: 'God'; the one approached.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (result)καί: consecutive — the gracious reciprocity of God's approach.
ἐγγιεῖhe will draw nearFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγγίζωmain verb (promise)→ predictive futureἐγγίζω: 'draw near'; the promise mirrors the command — God meets the one who turns to him.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object (dat. with ἐγγιεῖ)
καθαρίσατεcleanseAor Act Impv 2 Pl · καθαρίζωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristκαθαρίζω: 'cleanse, purify'; ritual washing of hands as a figure for purifying conduct (cf. Ps 24:4; Isa 1:16).
χεῖραςhandsAccusativedirect objectχείρ: 'hand'; here metonymy for deeds, outward behavior.
ἁμαρτωλοίsinnersVocativevocative (direct address)ἁμαρτωλός: 'sinner'; the bluntly prophetic address to the wayward community.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἁγνίσατεpurifyAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἁγνίζωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristἁγνίζω: 'purify, make holy'; the inner counterpart to καθαρίζω — purification of the heart, the seat of loyalty (cf. 1 Pet 1:22).
καρδίαςheartsAccusativedirect objectκαρδία: 'heart'; the inner center of will and devotion, divided in the δίψυχος.
δίψυχοιdouble-mindedVocativevocative (direct address)δίψυχος: 'double-souled, of two minds'; a Jamesian coinage (cf. 1:8) — the wavering loyalty between God and world that this whole section confronts.
9
ταλαιπωρήσατε καὶ πενθήσατε καὶ κλαύσατε· ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν.
Be wretched and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Three imperatives of penitential grief, then a hortatory call for the reversal of frivolity — the appropriate sorrow of those who have befriended the world.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ταλαιπωρήσατεbe wretchedAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ταλαιπωρέωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristταλαιπωρέω: 'be wretched, endure hardship, lament one's misery' (NT hapax); feel the misery of sin (cf. the adj. in Rom 7:24).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πενθήσατεmournAor Act Impv 2 Pl · πενθέωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristπενθέω: 'mourn, grieve'; the deep grief of repentance (cf. the Beatitude, Matt 5:4).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κλαύσατεweepAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κλαίωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristκλαίω: 'weep, wail'; outward tears completing the triad of grief.
ὁtheNominativearticle
γέλωςlaughterNominativesubjectγέλως: 'laughter' (NT hapax); the careless mirth of the worldly, here to be reversed (cf. Eccl 7:6; Luke 6:25).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (transformation)εἰς: 'into, unto'; marking the result of the transformation.
πένθοςmourningAccusativeobject of prepositionπένθος: 'mourning, grief'; cognate with πενθήσατε — the laughter is to become its opposite.
μετατραπήτωlet it be turnedAor Pass Impv 3 Sg · μετατρέπωmain verb (third-person imperative)→ ingressive aoristμετατρέπω: 'turn about, change' (NT hapax); the reversal of disposition demanded by repentance.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἡtheNominativearticle
χαρὰjoyNominativesubject (with implied μετατραπήτω)χαρά: 'joy'; here the false, worldly gladness — not the joy of 1:2 — to be turned to gloom.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (transformation)εἰς: 'into.'
κατήφειανgloomAccusativeobject of prepositionκατήφεια: 'dejection, downcast gloom' (NT hapax; lit. 'eyes cast down' in shame); the sober countenance of the penitent.
10
ταπεινώθητε ἐνώπιον κυρίου, καὶ ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
The summarizing imperative gathers vv.7–9 and answers the proverb of v.6: humble yourselves, and the promise of exaltation follows — the great reversal.
Word-by-word analysis· 6 words
ταπεινώθητεhumble yourselvesAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · ταπεινόωmain verb (imperative)→ ingressive aoristταπεινόω: 'humble, make low'; cognate with ταπεινοῖς (v.6) — the comprehensive command summing the whole call (cf. 1 Pet 5:6).
ἐνώπιονbeforepreposition + genitive (place/presence)ἐνώπιον: 'before, in the sight of'; the humbling is coram Deo, in the Lord's presence.
κυρίουthe LordGenitiveobject of prepositionκύριος: 'Lord'; here God, before whom humility is fitting.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (result)καί: consecutive — humility issues in exaltation.
ὑψώσειhe will exaltFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑψόωmain verb (promise)→ predictive futureὑψόω: 'lift up, exalt'; the divine reversal that crowns self-abasement (cf. Matt 23:12; Luke 14:11).
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object
11
Μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί. ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἢ κρίνων τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καὶ κρίνει νόμον· εἰ δὲ νόμον κρίνεις, οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου ἀλλὰ κριτής.
Do not speak against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
A new subject (asyndeton) with the address 'brothers': prohibition, then a participial generalization exposing slander/judgment as a usurpation of the law's own seat — and so of God's.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
Μὴnotnegative (with present imperative)μή: prohibition with the present imperative — 'stop / do not (habitually).'
καταλαλεῖτεspeak againstPres Act Impv 2 Pl · καταλαλέωmain verb (prohibition)→ customary present (cease an ongoing habit)καταλαλέω: 'speak against, slander, disparage'; the malicious speech that fractures community (cf. 1 Pet 2:1).
ἀλλήλωνone anotherGenitivegenitive object (with καταλαλέω)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the reciprocal pronoun — mutual disparagement within the family.
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative (direct address)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the familial address softening the rebuke and underscoring the offense's nature.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizing participle)
καταλαλῶνwho speaks againstPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · καταλαλέωsubstantival participle (subject)→ customary presentκαταλαλέω: 'slander'; the habitual disparager generalized.
ἀδελφοῦa brotherGenitivegenitive object (with καταλαλῶν)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the one slandered.
ἢordisjunctive particleἤ: 'or'; coupling slander and judging as twin offenses.
κρίνωνjudgesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · κρίνωsubstantival participle (coordinate subject)→ customary presentκρίνω: 'judge, condemn'; presuming to pass sentence on a brother (cf. Matt 7:1; Rom 14:4).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object (of κρίνων)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the one judged.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivepossessive genitive
καταλαλεῖspeaks againstPres Act Indic 3 Sg · καταλαλέωmain verb→ gnomic presentκαταλαλέω: 'slander'; the verdict — to slander a brother is to slander the law that forbids it.
νόμουthe lawGenitivegenitive object (with καταλαλεῖ)νόμος: 'law'; the royal law of love (2:8) — to disparage a brother is to defy it.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κρίνειjudgesPres Act Indic 3 Sg · κρίνωmain verb→ gnomic presentκρίνω: 'judge'; to condemn a brother is to set oneself in judgment over the law itself.
νόμονthe lawAccusativedirect object (of κρίνει)νόμος: 'law'; now the object judged.
εἰifconjunction (conditional, first class)εἰ: 'if'; a first-class condition assuming the case for argument.
δὲbutconjunction (connective)δέ: 'but, now'; advancing the argument.
νόμονthe lawAccusativedirect object (of κρίνεις, fronted)νόμος: 'law'; emphatic by position.
κρίνειςyou judgePres Act Indic 2 Sg · κρίνωverb of protasis→ gnomic presentκρίνω: 'judge'; the shift to second singular makes the charge personal.
οὐκnotnegative
εἶyou arePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίequative verb (apodosis)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; stating the consequence of judging the law.
ποιητὴςa doerNominativepredicate nominativeποιητής: 'doer, one who does' (also 'poet'); the keyword of 1:22–25 — the law calls for obedience, not adjudication.
νόμουof the lawGenitiveobjective genitive (with ποιητὴς)νόμος: 'law.'
ἀλλὰbutconjunction (strong adversative)ἀλλά: 'but rather'; the sharp antithesis — doer versus judge.
κριτήςa judgeNominativepredicate nominativeκριτής: 'judge'; the usurped role that belongs to God alone (v.12).
12
εἷς ἐστιν ὁ νομοθέτης καὶ κριτής, ὁ δυνάμενος σῶσαι καὶ ἀπολέσαι· σὺ δὲ τίς εἶ ὁ κρίνων τὸν πλησίον;
There is one Lawgiver and Judge, the one able to save and to destroy; but you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
The ground of the prohibition: the sole Lawgiver-Judge, with power over life and death, leaves no vacancy — so the rhetorical 'who are you?' exposes the presumption.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
εἷςoneNominativepredicate adjective (emphatic, fronted)εἷς: 'one, a single'; emphatic by position — only one occupies the bench (cf. the Shema, 2:19).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; asserting the singularity of the divine judge.
ὁtheNominativearticle
νομοθέτηςLawgiverNominativesubjectνομοθέτης: 'lawgiver' (NT hapax; νόμος + τίθημι); God who both gives the law and judges by it.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κριτήςJudgeNominativesubject (coordinate)κριτής: 'judge'; the addition 'and Judge' is well attested and printed — the lawgiver is also the one who judges.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizing participle)
δυνάμενοςablePres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · δύναμαιsubstantival participle (in apposition to ὁ νομοθέτης)→ customary presentδύναμαι: 'be able'; the one with sovereign power over eternal destinies.
σῶσαιto saveAor Act Inf · σῴζωcomplementary infinitive (with δυνάμενος)→ constative aoristσῴζω: 'save, deliver, preserve'; God's prerogative to rescue.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπολέσαιto destroyAor Act Inf · ἀπόλλυμιcomplementary infinitive (with δυνάμενος)→ constative aoristἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy, ruin, lose'; the counterpart power (cf. Matt 10:28) — life and death are his alone.
σὺyouNominativesubject (emphatic personal pronoun)σύ: 'you'; the emphatic pronoun sharpens the rebuke — 'you, of all people.'
δὲbutconjunction (adversative)δέ: 'but'; turning from God to the presumptuous human.
τίςwhoNominativeinterrogative pronoun (predicate)τίς: 'who?'; the rhetorical challenge exposing the absurdity of self-appointed judging.
εἶare youPres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίequative verb (interrogative)→ stative presentεἰμί: 'be'; 'who are you that…?'
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizing participle)
κρίνωνwho judgesPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · κρίνωsubstantival participle (in apposition to σὺ)→ customary presentκρίνω: 'judge'; the very act condemned — usurping the one Judge's seat.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (substantizing adverb)
πλησίονneighborAccusativedirect object (of κρίνων; indeclinable substantive)πλησίον: 'neighbor' (lit. 'the one near'; indeclinable adverb used substantivally with the article); the object of the royal law of love (2:8; Lev 19:18).
13
Ἄγε νῦν οἱ λέγοντες· σήμερον ἢ αὔριον πορευσόμεθα εἰς τήνδε τὴν πόλιν καὶ ποιήσομεν ἐκεῖ ἐνιαυτὸν καὶ ἐμπορευσόμεθα καὶ κερδήσομεν·
Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into this town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—
A fresh apostrophe (asyndeton): the prophetic 'come now' summons the self-assured merchants, whose confident itinerary of future verbs is quoted only to be exposed in v.14.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
ἌγεcomePres Act Impv 2 Sg · ἄγωinterjection (frozen imperative)→ customary presentἄγω: 'lead'; the 2 sg. imperative ἄγε fossilized as an interjection 'come now!' (with plural address; cf. 5:1).
νῦνnowadverb (with interjection)νῦν: 'now'; intensifying the summons — 'come now!'
οἱyou whoNominativearticle (substantizing participle, address)
λέγοντεςsayPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · λέγωsubstantival participle (vocatival nominative)→ customary presentλέγω: 'say'; the articular participle addresses a class — the boastful planners.
σήμερονtodayadverb (time)σήμερον: 'today'; the merchant's confident calendar.
ἢordisjunctive particleἤ: 'or.'
αὔριονtomorrowadverb (time)αὔριον: 'tomorrow'; the very day they cannot command (v.14).
πορευσόμεθαwe will goFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (within quotation)→ predictive future (presumptuous)πορεύομαι: 'go, travel'; the first of four confident futures.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: 'into, to.'
τήνδεthisAccusativedemonstrative (attributive, with πόλιν)ὅδε: 'this here' (rare in NT); 'such-and-such a city' — the indefinite specificity of their planning.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
πόλινtownAccusativeobject of prepositionπόλις: 'city, town'; the named destination of the venture.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ποιήσομενwe will spendFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (within quotation)→ predictive futureποιέω: 'do, make'; here idiomatic 'spend (time)' — 'we will spend a year' (cf. Acts 15:33; 18:23).
ἐκεῖthereadverb (place)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; in the projected city.
ἐνιαυτὸνa yearAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἐνιαυτός: 'year'; the planned duration — a span they cannot guarantee.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐμπορευσόμεθαwe will tradeFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · ἐμπορεύομαιmain verb (within quotation)→ predictive futureἐμπορεύομαι: 'engage in trade, do business' (whence 'emporium'); the merchant's enterprise.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κερδήσομενwe will make a profitFut Act Indic 1 Pl · κερδαίνωmain verb (within quotation)→ predictive futureκερδαίνω: 'gain, profit'; the confident bottom line of the plan that omits God.
14
οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε τὸ τῆς αὔριον ποία ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν· ἀτμὶς γάρ ἐστε ἡ πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη, ἔπειτα καὶ ἀφανιζομένη·
you who do not know what tomorrow will bring—what is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
The relative οἵτινες exposes the planners' ignorance; γάρ then grounds it in the metaphor of the vanishing mist — human life as fleeting vapor.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
οἵτινεςyou whoNominativeindefinite relative pronoun (subject)ὅστις: 'who(ever), such as'; here qualitative — 'you, the kind of people who do not even know…'
οὐκnotnegative
ἐπίστασθεyou knowPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἐπίσταμαιmain verb (relative clause)→ stative presentἐπίσταμαι: 'know, understand, be acquainted with'; the merchants' fatal blind spot.
τὸthe (matter)Accusativearticle (nominalizing the following phrase)τό: the neuter article substantizing 'of tomorrow' — 'the (thing) of tomorrow.'
τῆςofGenitivearticle (with αὔριον)
αὔριονtomorrowGenitiveadverb used substantivally (gen., 'of tomorrow')αὔριον: 'tomorrow'; here with the feminine article (ἡμέρα understood) — 'the things of the morrow.'
ποίαwhat kindNominativeinterrogative adjective (predicate)ποῖος: 'of what kind?'; the pointed question — 'what sort of thing is your life?'
ἡtheNominativearticle
ζωὴlifeNominativesubject (of the embedded question)ζωή: 'life'; the brief, contingent span the planners presume to command.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive
ἀτμὶςa mistNominativepredicate nominativeἀτμίς: 'vapor, mist' (cf. Acts 2:19); the classic image of life's brevity (cf. Job 7:7; Ps 39:5–6).
γάρforconjunction (causal/explanatory)γάρ: 'for'; grounding the question's answer in the metaphor.
ἐστεyou arePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίequative verb→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; equating the hearers with the vapor.
ἡthe (one)Nominativearticle (with attributive participle)
πρὸςforpreposition + accusative (duration)πρός + acc.: here temporal, 'for (a little while).'
ὀλίγονa little whileAccusativeobject of preposition (substantival adjective, time)ὀλίγος: 'little, small'; the brief moment of the mist's appearing.
φαινομένηappearingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · φαίνομαιattributive participle (modifying ἀτμὶς)→ customary presentφαίνομαι: 'appear, become visible'; the mist's brief showing.
ἔπειταthenadverb (sequence)ἔπειτα: 'thereupon, then'; marking the swift sequel.
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive/emphatic)καί: here 'even, also' — and then it is gone as well.
ἀφανιζομένηvanishingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Sg Fem · ἀφανίζωattributive participle (modifying ἀτμὶς)→ customary presentἀφανίζω: 'make unseen, cause to vanish' (pass. 'disappear'); a deliberate wordplay with φαίνομαι — appears, then un-appears.
15
ἀντὶ τοῦ λέγειν ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν ὁ κύριος θελήσῃ, καὶ ζήσομεν καὶ ποιήσομεν τοῦτο ἢ ἐκεῖνο.
Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall both live and do this or that.'
ἀντὶ τοῦ λέγειν supplies what they should say instead — every plan placed under the proviso of the Lord's will (the so-called conditio Iacobaea).
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
ἀντὶinstead ofpreposition + genitive (substitution, with articular inf.)ἀντί + gen.: 'instead of, in place of'; contrasting the right speech with the boast.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (nominalizing infinitive)
λέγεινsayingPres Act Inf · λέγωarticular infinitive (object of ἀντὶ)→ customary presentλέγω: 'say'; 'instead of your saying…' — what they ought to be saying.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
ἐὰνifconjunction (conditional, third class)ἐάν: 'if'; the humble proviso conditioning all plans.
ὁtheNominativearticle
κύριοςLordNominativesubject (of protasis)κύριος: 'Lord'; the sovereign whose will governs life and venture alike.
θελήσῃwillsAor Act Subj 3 Sg · θέλωsubjunctive (protasis)→ constative aoristθέλω: 'will, wish'; the Lord's will as the true determinant of the future.
καὶbothcorrelative conjunction (καὶ … καὶ)καί … καί: 'both … and'; coordinating living and doing under the proviso.
ζήσομενwe shall liveFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ζάωmain verb (apodosis)→ predictive futureζάω: 'live'; even continued life is contingent on God's will.
καὶandcorrelative conjunction (καὶ … καὶ)
ποιήσομενwe shall doFut Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (apodosis)→ predictive futureποιέω: 'do, accomplish'; the licit plans now subordinated to the divine will.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'this'; 'this or that' — any specific undertaking.
ἢordisjunctive particleἤ: 'or.'
ἐκεῖνοthatAccusativedirect object (demonstrative)ἐκεῖνος: 'that'; completing the indefinite 'this or that.'
16
νῦν δὲ καυχᾶσθε ἐν ταῖς ἀλαζονείαις ὑμῶν· πᾶσα καύχησις τοιαύτη πονηρά ἐστιν.
But as it is, you boast in your arrogant pretensions; all such boasting is evil.
νῦν δέ ('but as it is') turns from the ideal to the reality: not the humble proviso but proud self-vaunting — and a flat verdict that all such boasting is evil.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
νῦνas it isadverb (logical, with δέ)νῦν δέ: 'but as it is, but in fact'; the logical 'now' contrasting reality with the ideal of v.15.
δὲbutconjunction (adversative)δέ: 'but'; the turn to the actual.
καυχᾶσθεyou boastPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · καυχάομαιmain verb→ customary presentκαυχάομαι: 'boast, glory'; the self-confident vaunting the chapter condemns.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/basis)ἐν: 'in'; the basis of the boasting.
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἀλαζονείαιςarrogant pretensionsDativeobject of prepositionἀλαζονεία: 'pretentious arrogance, braggart self-confidence' (cf. 1 John 2:16); the empty bravado of the boaster (plural: its concrete instances).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivepossessive genitive
πᾶσαallNominativeattributive adjective (with καύχησις)πᾶς: 'all, every'; universalizing the verdict — every such boast.
καύχησιςboastingNominativesubjectκαύχησις: 'boasting, the act of glorying'; cognate with καυχᾶσθε — the practice judged.
τοιαύτηsuchNominativedemonstrative adjective (with καύχησις)τοιοῦτος: 'of such a kind, such'; specifying the boasting just described.
πονηράevilNominativepredicate adjectiveπονηρός: 'evil, wicked'; the moral verdict — such self-vaunting is not neutral but evil.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; pronouncing the verdict.
17
εἰδότι οὖν καλὸν ποιεῖν καὶ μὴ ποιοῦντι, ἁμαρτία αὐτῷ ἐστιν.
So whoever knows the good he ought to do and does not do it—to him it is sin.
An inferential maxim (οὖν) closing the chapter: knowledge of the good unmatched by doing is itself sin — broadening the rebuke from presumption to all guilty inaction.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
εἰδότιto one who knowsPerf Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · οἶδαsubstantival participle (dat. of reference)→ intensive perfect (present sense)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present force); the one who possesses the knowledge of what is right.
οὖνthereforeinferential conjunctionοὖν: 'therefore'; drawing the general principle from the foregoing.
καλὸνgoodAccusativedirect object (substantival adjective, of ποιεῖν)καλός: 'good, fine, noble'; the right action that ought to be done.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with εἰδότι)→ customary presentποιέω: 'do'; what is known to be required — echoing the 'doer' theme (v.11; 1:22).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
μὴnotnegative (with participle)μή: negating the participle ποιοῦντι.
ποιοῦντιdoes not do itPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · ποιέωsubstantival participle (coordinate with εἰδότι)→ customary presentποιέω: 'do'; the failure to act on known duty — the sin of omission.
ἁμαρτίαsinNominativesubject (verbless predicate)ἁμαρτία: 'sin, missing the mark'; the verdict — unfulfilled known good is itself transgression.
αὐτῷto himDativedative of disadvantage (reference)αὐτός: 'him'; the one charged with the omission.
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίequative verb→ gnomic presentεἰμί: 'be'; pronouncing the final verdict of the chapter.