James 4:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Scripture does not speak in vain about the spirit's jealous longing within us.
What Does James 4:5 Mean?
James appeals to Scripture to underscore his point. Do you suppose the Scripture speaks to no purpose when it touches on the spirit that dwells in us and its yearning? The word of God does not address the inner life idly; it speaks because the matter is real.
The verse is among the harder sayings in the letter, but its thrust is clear in context: the spirit within a person tends toward jealous craving, the very disorder James has named, and God's word takes that seriously. Scripture does not speak in vain; it confronts the heart's deep pull toward envy. The reader is reminded that God knows the inward struggle intimately and addresses it. And, as the next verse declares, He meets that struggle not with condemnation only but with greater grace.
James 4:5 in the Original Language
pneuma (πνεῦμα), 'spirit' -- spirit, here the inward disposition that yearns within a person.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 4:5
What does James 4:5 mean?
Scripture does not speak in vain about the spirit's jealous longing within us.