Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. New Living Translation And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. English Standard Version You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Berean Standard Bible And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. Berean Literal Bible You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, that you may spend it in your pleasures. King James Bible Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. New King James Version You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. New American Standard Bible You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. NASB 1995 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. NASB 1977 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Legacy Standard Bible You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Amplified Bible You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. Christian Standard Bible You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Holman Christian Standard Bible You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires. American Standard Version Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures. Contemporary English Version Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons. English Revised Version Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures. GOD'S WORD® Translation When you pray for things, you don't get them because you want them for the wrong reason-for your own pleasure. Good News Translation And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. International Standard Version You ask for something but do not get it because you ask for it for the wrong reason—for your own pleasure. Majority Standard Bible And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. NET Bible you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions. New Heart English Bible You ask, and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures. Webster's Bible Translation Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Weymouth New Testament or you pray and yet do not receive, because you pray wrongly, your object being to waste what you get on some pleasure or another. World English Bible You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionyou ask, and you do not receive, because you ask badly, that you may spend [it] in your pleasures. Berean Literal Bible You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, that you may spend it in your pleasures. Young's Literal Translation ye ask, and ye receive not, because evilly ye ask, that in your pleasures ye may spend it. Smith's Literal Translation Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask wickedly that ye might expend upon your sensual pleasures. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleYou ask, and receive not; because you ask amiss: that you may consume it on your concupiscences. Catholic Public Domain Version You ask and you do not receive, because you ask badly, so that you may use it toward your own desires. New American Bible You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. New Revised Standard Version You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleYou ask and you do not receive because you do not ask sincerely, you ask that you may satisfy your lusts. Aramaic Bible in Plain English You ask and you do not receive, because you ask wickedly so that your lusts may be fed. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentYou ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your passions. Godbey New Testament you ask, and you receive not, because you ask wickedly, that you may expend it in your pleasures. Haweis New Testament Ye ask, and receive nothing, because ye ask vilely, in order to consume it on your sensual appetites. Mace New Testament you would not obtain it, because you wickedly request to have your passions gratified. Weymouth New Testament or you pray and yet do not receive, because you pray wrongly, your object being to waste what you get on some pleasure or another. Worrell New Testament Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it on your pleasures. Worsley New Testament Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask wickedly; that ye may spend it in your pleasures. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Warning against Pride…2You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.… Cross References Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ... 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. John 15:7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 16:23-24 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 1 John 3:22 and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Luke 11:9-13 So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ... Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer. Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry. Treasury of Scripture You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts. ask, and. James 1:6,7 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed… Job 27:8-10 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? … Job 35:12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. ye may. Luke 15:13,30 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living… Luke 16:1,2 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods… lusts. James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Jump to Previous Amiss Consume Desiring Evilly Lusts Motives Object Passions Pleasure Pleasures Receive Request Spend Waste Wrong WronglyJump to Next Amiss Consume Desiring Evilly Lusts Motives Object Passions Pleasure Pleasures Receive Request Spend Waste Wrong WronglyJames 4 1. We are to strive against covetousness;4. intemperance; 5. pride; 11. detraction and rash judgment of others; 13. and not to be boastful of our future plans. And when you do ask This phrase highlights the act of prayer, a central practice in Christian life. In the biblical context, prayer is a means of communication with God, reflecting a relationship of dependence and trust. The act of asking in prayer is seen throughout Scripture, such as in Matthew 7:7, where Jesus encourages believers to ask, seek, and knock. The emphasis here is on the sincerity and intention behind the request. you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives that you may squander it on your pleasures Persons / Places / Events 1. JamesThe author of the epistle, traditionally understood to be James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations, addressing practical aspects of Christian living. 2. Early Christian Communities The recipients of the letter, who were facing various trials and temptations. James addresses their struggles with worldliness and internal conflicts. 3. God The ultimate recipient of prayers, whose will and purposes are central to the teaching in this passage. Teaching Points The Importance of Motives in PrayerOur prayers should align with God's will and purposes, not merely our own desires for pleasure or self-indulgence. Self-Examination Regularly examine your motives in prayer. Are you seeking God's glory or personal gain? Aligning Desires with God's Will Cultivate a heart that desires what God desires. This involves immersing oneself in Scripture and prayer to understand His will. The Consequences of Selfish Prayers Recognize that prayers driven by selfish motives may not be answered as expected. God desires to give good gifts that align with His purposes. The Role of Humility in Prayer Approach God with humility, acknowledging His sovereignty and wisdom over our lives and desires.Verse 3. - An evident allusion to the sermon on the mount, Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given to you... for every one that asketh receiveth." And yet St. James says, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss;" for our Lord elsewhere limits his teaching, "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing," etc. (Matthew 21:22). Αἰτεῖτε... αἰτεῖσθε. The active and middle voices are similarly interchanged in 1 John 5:15, on which Dr. Westcott writes as follows: "The distinction between the middle and the active is not so sharply drawn; but generally the personal reference is suggested by the middle, while the request is left wholly undefined as to its destination by the active." That ye may consume it upon your lusts; render, with R.V., that ye may spend it in your pleasures; ἡδοναί, as in ver. 1. Parallel Commentaries ... Greek [And when] you do ask,αἰτεῖτε (aiteite) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 154: To ask, request, petition, demand. Of uncertain derivation; to ask. {you do} not οὐ (ou) Adverb Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not. receive, λαμβάνετε (lambanete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. because διότι (dioti) Conjunction Strong's 1360: On this account, because, for. From dia and hoti; on the very account that, or inasmuch as. you ask αἰτεῖσθε (aiteisthe) Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 154: To ask, request, petition, demand. Of uncertain derivation; to ask. with wrong motives, κακῶς (kakōs) Adverb Strong's 2560: Badly, evilly, wrongly. From kakos; badly. that ἵνα (hina) Conjunction Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. you may squander [it] δαπανήσητε (dapanēsēte) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 1159: To spend, bear expense, waste, squander. From dapane; to expend, i.e. to incur cost, or to waste. on ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. pleasures. ἡδοναῖς (hēdonais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural Strong's 2237: From handano; sensual delight; by implication, desire. Links James 4:3 NIVJames 4:3 NLT James 4:3 ESV James 4:3 NASB James 4:3 KJV James 4:3 BibleApps.com James 4:3 Biblia Paralela James 4:3 Chinese Bible James 4:3 French Bible James 4:3 Catholic Bible NT Letters: James 4:3 You ask and don't receive because you (Ja Jas. Jam) |
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