The Holy Bible Verses

James 3:13

Cited in 2 topics on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.”

— WEB

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”

— KJV

“Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.”

— ASV

Share:

Topics that cite this verse

Commentary

As the sins before condemned arise from an affectation of being thought more wise than others, and being endued with more knowledge than they, so the apostle in these verses shows the difference between men's pretending to be wise and their being really so, and between the wisdom which is from beneath (from earth or hell) and that which is from above. I. We have some account of true wisdom, with the distinguishing marks and fruits of it: Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom, Jam 3:13. A truly wise man is a very knowing man: he will not set up for the reputation of being wise without laying in a good stock of knowledge; and he will not value himself merely upon knowing things, if he has not wisdom to make a right application and use of that knowledge. These two things must be put together to make up the account of true wisdom: who is wise, and endued with knowledge? Now where this is the happy case of any there will be these following things: - 1. A good conversation. If we are wiser than others, this should be evidenced by the goodness of our conversation, not by the roughness or vanity of it.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)

Who--(Compare Psa 34:12-13). All wish to appear "wise": few are so. show--"by works," and not merely by profession, referring to Jam 2:18. out of a good conversation his works--by general "good conduct" manifested in particular "works." "Wisdom" and "knowledge," without these being "shown," are as dead as faith would be without works [ALFORD]. with meekness of wisdom--with the meekness inseparable from true "wisdom."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

Newsletter

One verse, every Tuesday.

A short reflection, a single passage, three articles to read. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.