James 1:5

KJV1611 – Modern English

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἰ δέ τις ὑμῶν λείπεται σοφίας, αἰτείτω παρὰ τοῦ διδόντος Θεοῦ πᾶσιν ἁπλῶς, καὶ μὴ ὀνειδίζοντος· καὶ δοθήσεται αὐτῷ.

Transliteration

If and anyone of you leipetai sophias, let him aiteitō from the didontos Theos to all haplōs, and not oneidizontos; and it will be dothēsetai to him.

Grammar Details

• *leipetai*: present, passive, indicative, 3rd person singular - is lacking
• *sophias*: genitive, feminine, singular - object of lacking
• *aiteitō*: present, active, imperative, 3rd person singular - command
• *didontos*: present, active, participle, genitive, masculine, singular - giving
• *Theos*: genitive, masculine, singular - source
• *haplōs*: adverb - generously/simply
• *oneidizontos*: present, active, participle, genitive, masculine, singular - reproaching
• *dothēsetai*: future, passive, indicative, 3rd person singular - will be given

Word Meanings

• *leipetai*: lacks/is deficient in/is in need of
• *sophias*: wisdom/insight/understanding
• *aiteitō*: let him ask/should request
• *didontos*: giving/granting/bestowing
• *haplōs*: generously/liberally/simply/without reservation
• *oneidizontos*: reproaching/rebuking/finding fault/upbraiding
• *dothēsetai*: will be given/will be granted

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without rebuke, and it will be given to him.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But if{G1487} any{G5100} of you{G5216} lacketh{G3007} wisdom,{G4678} let him ask{G154} of{G3844} God,{G2316} who giveth{G1325} to all{G3956} liberally{G574} and{G2532} upbraideth{G3679} not;{G3361} and{G2532} it shall be given{G1325} him.{G846}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  {G1161} If any{G1536} of you{G5216} lack{G3007}{(G5743)} wisdom{G4678}, let him ask{G154}{(G5720)} of{G3844} God{G2316}, that giveth{G1325}{(G5723)} to all{G3956} men liberally{G574}, and{G2532} upbraideth{G3679}{(G5723)} not{G3361}; and{G2532} it shall be given{G1325}{(G5701)} him{G846}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Yf eny of you lacke wysdome let him axe of God which geveth to all men indifferentlie and casteth no man in the teth: and it shal be geven him.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Yf eny of you lacke wyssdome, let him axe of God, which geueth to all men indifferentlie, and casteth no man in the teth: and it shal be geue him.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  If any of you lacke wisedome, let him aske of God, which giueth to all men liberally, & reprocheth no man, and it shalbe giuen him.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  If any of you lacke wisdome, let him aske of God, that geueth to all men indifferentlie, and casteth no man in the teeth: and it shalbe geuen hym.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

Referenced Verses

• Prov 2:3-6 : 3 Yes, if you cry out for knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• John 15:7 : 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done for you.
• Prov 3:5-7 : 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
• 1 Kgs 3:7-9 : 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Therefore give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil: for who is able to judge this your great people? 10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God said to him, Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to your words: lo, I have given you a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like you before you, nor shall any arise like unto you.
• Jer 29:12-13 : 12 Then you will call upon me, and you will go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.
• Matt 7:7-9 : 7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?
• Exod 31:3 : 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,
• 2 Chr 1:10 : 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this your people, that is so great?
• Job 28:12-28 : 12 But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? 13 Man does not know its value; nor is it found in the land of the living. 14 The depth says, 'It is not in me'; and the sea says, 'It is not with me.' 15 It cannot be bought with gold, nor shall silver be weighed for its price. 16 It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. 17 The gold and the crystal cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold. 18 No mention shall be made of coral or of pearls, for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 19 The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, nor shall it be valued with pure gold. 20 From where then comes wisdom? And where is the place of understanding? 21 Seeing it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and kept secret from the birds of the air. 22 Destruction and death say, 'We have heard a report of it with our ears.' 23 God understands its way, and he knows its place. 24 For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees under the whole heaven, 25 To make a weight for the winds, and he measures the waters by measure. 26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a path for the lightning of the thunder, 27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, indeed, he searched it out. 28 And to man he said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
• 1 Chr 22:12 : 12 Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.
• 1 John 5:14-15 : 14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
• John 16:23-24 : 23 And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name: ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be complete.
• John 14:13 : 13 And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• Isa 55:6-7 : 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
• Jer 1:6-7 : 6 Then I said, Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said to me, Do not say, I am a child: for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
• Exod 31:6 : 6 And behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you;
• Exod 36:1-4 : 1 Then Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man in whom the LORD placed wisdom and understanding, worked all kinds of tasks for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise-hearted man in whose heart the LORD had placed wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to the work to do it. 3 And they received from Moses all the offerings which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it. And they still brought him free offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men who worked on the sanctuary came, each one from his work which he was doing;
• Prov 9:4-6 : 4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mixed. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
• John 4:10 : 10 Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.
• 1 John 3:22 : 22 And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
• Jas 1:17 : 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
• Jas 3:17 : 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
• Jas 5:16 : 16 Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
• Dan 2:18-22 : 18 That they would seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his. 21 And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings and sets up kings: he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
• Matt 11:20 : 20 Then he began to reproach the cities where most of his mighty works were done, because they did not repent:
• Luke 11:9-9 : 9 And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 11 If a son asks bread from any of you who is a father, will you give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will you give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will you offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
• Luke 15:20-22 : 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
• Mark 16:14 : 14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they sat at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he was risen.
• 2 Cor 2:16 : 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is adequate for these things?