James 3:15
New International Version
Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

New Living Translation
For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

English Standard Version
This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Berean Standard Bible
Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Berean Literal Bible
This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

King James Bible
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

New King James Version
This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

New American Standard Bible
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

NASB 1995
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

NASB 1977
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

Legacy Standard Bible
This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.

Amplified Bible
This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic.

Christian Standard Bible
Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

American Standard Version
This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because this wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, from the thoughts of the self and from demons.

Contemporary English Version
This kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For this is not wisdom, descending from above: but earthly, sensual, devilish.

English Revised Version
This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic.

Good News Translation
Such wisdom does not come down from heaven; it belongs to the world, it is unspiritual and demonic.

International Standard Version
That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic.

Literal Standard Version
this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,

Majority Standard Bible
Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

New American Bible
Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

NET Bible
Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.

New Revised Standard Version
Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.

New Heart English Bible
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

Webster's Bible Translation
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demoniacal.

Weymouth New Testament
That is not the wisdom which comes down from above: it belongs to earth, to the unspiritual nature, and to evil spirits.

World English Bible
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.

Young's Literal Translation
this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wisdom from Above
14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:6
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom--but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness."

2 Corinthians 1:12
And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God--not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.


Treasury of Scripture

This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

wisdom.

James 3:17
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.

James 1:5,17
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…

John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

but.

2 Samuel 13:3
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

2 Samuel 15:31
And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

2 Samuel 16:23
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

sensual.

1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

devilish.

Genesis 3:1-5
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? …

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Acts 13:10
And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

Jump to Previous
Belongs Demonic Descendeth Descending Devil Earth Earthly Evil Flesh Heaven Natural Nature Physical Sensual Spirits Unspiritual Wisdom
Jump to Next
Belongs Demonic Descendeth Descending Devil Earth Earthly Evil Flesh Heaven Natural Nature Physical Sensual Spirits Unspiritual Wisdom
James 3
1. We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5. but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member,
9. but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm.
13. The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife.














(15) This wisdom descendeth not from above . . . .--Better thus, This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, devilish. This--it were profanation to call it by the holy name of ????? (Sophia), being in sharpest contrast to it, of the earth earthy; natural (as margin), or "psychical," in the second sense of the tripartite division of man--body, soul, and spirit--explained under James 1:21 (comp. Jude 1:19, "Sensual, having not the Spirit"); and even worse, akin to the craft of devils.

Verses 15-18. - Contrast between the earthly and the heavenly wisdom:

(1) the earthly (vers. 15, 16);

(2) the heavenly (vers. 17, 18). Verse 15. - " This wisdom [of which you boast] is not a wisdom which cometh down from above." Vulgate, non est enim ista sctpientia desursum descendens. But is earthly, sensual, devilish. Dr. Farrar well says that this wisdom is "earthly because it avariciously cares for the goods of earth (Philippians 3:19); animal, because it is under the sway of animal lusts (1 Corinthians 2:14); demon-like, because full of pride, egotism, malignity, and ambition, which are the works of the devil (1 Timothy 4:1)." Sensual (ψυχική), Vulgate, animalis; R.V. margin, natural or animal. The position of the word is remarkable, occurring between ἐπίγειος and δαιμονιώδης. it is never found in the LXX., nor (apparently) in the apostolic Fathers. In the New Testament it occurs six times - three times of the "natural" body, which is contrasted with the σῶμα πνευματικόν (1 Corinthians 15:44 (twice), 46); and three times with a moral emphasis resting upon it, "and in every instance a most depreciatory" (see 1 Corinthians 2:14), "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God," and Jude 1:19, Ψυχικοὶ, πνεῦμα μὴ ἔχοντες. The ψυχή in general in the New Testament is that which is common to man with the brute creation, including the passions, appetites, etc.; and therefore, by the use of this word ψυχικός to describe the wisdom which cometh not from above, but is "earthly, sensual [or, 'animal'], devilish," we are reminded of the contrast between the spirit of man which goeth upward and the spirit of a beast which goeth downward (Ecclesiastes 3:21). The "animal" man, then, is one who is ruled entirely by the ψυχή in the lower sense of the word; and by the depreciatory sense given to the adjective we are strongly reminded that "nature" is nothing without the aid of grace. See further Archbishop Trench's 'Synonyms of the N. T.,' § 71, and for the later history of the word (it was applied by the Montanists to the orthodox), Suicer's 'Thesaurus,' vol. it. p. 1589.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Such
αὕτη (hautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

wisdom
σοφία (sophia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4678: Wisdom, insight, skill (human or divine), intelligence. From sophos; wisdom.

[does]
ἔστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

come
κατερχομένη (katerchomenē)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2718: From kata and erchomai; to come down.

from above,
ἄνωθεν (anōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 509: From ano; from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

[is] earthly,
ἐπίγειος (epigeios)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1919: From epi and ge; worldly.

unspiritual,
ψυχική (psychikē)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5591: Animal, natural, sensuous. From psuche; sensitive, i.e. Animate.

demonic.
δαιμονιώδης (daimoniōdēs)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1141: Demon-like, such as demons have. From daimonion and daimon; d?Mon-like.


Links
James 3:15 NIV
James 3:15 NLT
James 3:15 ESV
James 3:15 NASB
James 3:15 KJV

James 3:15 BibleApps.com
James 3:15 Biblia Paralela
James 3:15 Chinese Bible
James 3:15 French Bible
James 3:15 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: James 3:15 This wisdom is not that which comes (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 3:14
Top of Page
Top of Page