James 3:17

KJV1611 – Modern English

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἡ δὲ ἄνωθεν σοφία πρῶτον μὲν ἁγνή ἐστιν, ἔπειτα εἰρηνική, ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής, μεστὴ ἐλέους καὶ καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν, ἀδιάκριτος, καὶ ἀνυπόκριτος.

Transliteration

The de from anōthen sophia prōton men hagnē estin, epeita eirēnikē, epieikēs, eupeithēs, mestē eleous and karpōn agathōn, adiakritos, and anypokritos.

Grammar Details

• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *anōthen*: adverb - from above
• *sophia*: nominative, feminine, singular - wisdom
• *prōton*: adverb - first/firstly
• *men*: particle introducing first in a series - indeed
• *hagnē*: nominative, feminine, singular - pure
• *estin*: present indicative, active, 3rd singular - is
• *epeita*: adverb - then/afterwards
• *eirēnikē*: nominative, feminine, singular - peaceable
• *epieikēs*: nominative, feminine, singular - gentle/reasonable
• *eupeithēs*: nominative, feminine, singular - compliant/easily persuaded
• *mestē*: nominative, feminine, singular - full
• *eleous*: genitive, neuter, singular - of mercy
• *karpōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of fruits
• *agathōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - good
• *adiakritos*: nominative, feminine, singular - impartial/without partiality
• *anypokritos*: nominative, feminine, singular - genuine/sincere

Word Meanings

• *anōthen*: from above/from heaven/from God
• *hagnē*: pure/chaste/holy
• *eirēnikē*: peaceable/peaceful
• *epieikēs*: gentle/reasonable/fair
• *eupeithēs*: compliant/willing to yield/easily persuaded
• *eleous*: mercy/compassion
• *karpōn*: fruits/results/products
• *agathōn*: good/beneficial
• *adiakritos*: impartial/without partiality/without uncertainty
• *anypokritos*: sincere/genuine/without hypocrisy

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  But the wisdom that comes from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} the wisdom{G4678} that is{G2076} from above{G509} is first{G4412} {G3303} pure,{G53} then{G1899} peaceable,{G1516} gentle,{G1933} easy to be entreated,{G2138} full{G3324} of mercy{G1656} and{G2532} good{G18} fruits,{G2590} without variance,{G87} {G2532} without hypocrisy.{G505}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G1161} the wisdom{G4678} that is from above{G509} is{G2076}{(G5748)} first{G4412} pure{G3303}{G53}, then{G1899} peaceable{G1516}, gentle{G1933}, and easy to be intreated{G2138}, full{G3324} of mercy{G1656} and{G2532} good{G18} fruits{G2590}, without partiality{G87}, and{G2532} without hypocrisy{G505}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But the wisdom that is from above is fyrst pure then peasable gentle and easy to be entreated full of mercy and good frutes without iudgynge and without simulacio:

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But the wissdom that is fro aboue, is fyrst pure, the peasable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good frutes, without iudgynge, and without simulacion:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But the wisedome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easie to be intreated, full of mercie & good fruites, without iudging, and without hipocrisie.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But the wisdome that is from aboue, is first pure, then peaseable, gentle, and easie to be entreated, full of mercie and good fruites, without iudgyng, without simulation:

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: --

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.

Referenced Verses

• 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.
• Rom 12:9 : 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good.
• 1 Cor 2:6-7 : 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
• Gal 5:22-23 : 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
• 1 John 3:3 : 3 And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
• 1 Cor 13:4-7 : 4 Love is patient, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not boast, is not proud, 5 Does not behave itself rudely, does not seek its own, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs; 6 Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
• Jas 1:5 : 5 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.
• 1 Pet 1:22 : 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
• Jas 2:4 : 4 are you not then partial among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
• Jas 3:15 : 15 This wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
• Jas 4:8 : 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
• Titus 3:2 : 2 To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
• Heb 12:11 : 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
• Heb 12:14 : 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
• Col 1:10 : 10 That you might walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
• Isa 11:2-9 : 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge by what his eyes see, nor reprove by what his ears hear: 4 But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the belt of his loins, and faithfulness the belt of his waist. 6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play near the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper's den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
• Luke 6:36 : 36 Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
• Luke 21:15 : 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to contradict nor resist.
• Job 28:28 : 28 And to man he said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
• Isa 32:15-17 : 15 Until the spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest. 16 Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
• Isa 40:11 : 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
• Dan 1:17 : 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
• Mal 2:9 : 9 Therefore, I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways but have been partial in the law.
• Mal 3:3 : 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.
• Matt 5:8 : 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
• Matt 23:28 : 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
• Prov 2:6 : 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
• Isa 2:4 : 4 And He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
• Isa 9:6-7 : 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from now on even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
• Gen 41:38-39 : 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God? 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
• Exod 36:2 : 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.
• 1 Kgs 3:9 : 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?
• 1 Kgs 3:12 : 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.
• 1 Kgs 3:28 : 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had made; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment.
• 1 Chr 22:9 : 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him peace from all his enemies around: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.
• 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.
• Job 28:12 : 12 But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
• Job 28:23 : 23 God understands its way, and he knows its place.
• John 1:14 : 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• John 1:47 : 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!
• Acts 9:36 : 36 Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
• Acts 11:24 : 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a great many people were added to the Lord.
• Luke 12:1-2 : 1 Meanwhile, when there was gathered together a vast multitude of people, so much that they trampled one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known.
• Isa 32:6 : 6 For the vile person will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make the soul of the hungry empty, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
• Eph 5:9 : 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
• Phil 1:11 : 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
• Phil 4:8 : 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.
• 1 Cor 12:8 : 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
• Rom 12:18 : 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
• Rom 15:14 : 14 And I myself am also persuaded of you, my brethren, that you are also full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
• 1 Thess 2:7 : 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nurse cherishes her children:
• 1 Tim 5:21 : 21 I charge you before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
• 2 Tim 2:24 : 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
• Titus 1:15 : 15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
• 2 Cor 9:10 : 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower also provides bread for your food, and multiplies your seed sown, and increases the fruits of your righteousness;
• 2 Cor 10:1 : 1 Now I, Paul, myself plead with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
• 1 Pet 2:1 : 1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
• 1 John 3:18 : 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.