James 3:16 Meaning and Explanation
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Where envy and strife exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.
What Does James 3:16 Mean?
James shows the harvest of false wisdom. Where envy and selfish strife are present, there is confusion and every evil work. Jealousy and rivalry do not stay contained; they breed disorder and open the door to evil of every kind.
The word for confusion means instability and chaos, the unraveling of peace. A community or a heart ruled by envy descends into turmoil, and from that turmoil all manner of wrong follows. James lets the reader see the wreckage that earthly wisdom leaves behind. This is the opposite of the order and peace that mark God's ways. By showing the bitter fruit, he prepares the reader to long for the wisdom from above, whose fruit, described next, is wholly different and good.
James 3:16 in the Original Language
akatastasia (ἀκαταστασία), 'confusion' -- disorder, instability, tumult.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 3:16
What does James 3:16 mean?
Where envy and strife exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil.