James 1 · Verse 4

James 1:4

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:4, King James Version

James 1:4 in other translations

BSB	Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
WEB	Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
ASV	And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
YLT	and let the endurance have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire--in nothing lacking;
DARBY	But let endurance have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
BBE	But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing.
Webster	But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What does James 1:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [Menochius], and enduring to the end (Mt 10:22) [Calvin]. ye may be perfect--fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [Bengel], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in a man is the man. If God's teachings by patience have had a perfect work in you, you are perfect [Alford]. entire--that which has all its parts complete, wanting no integral part; 1Th 5:23, "your whole (literally, 'entire') spirit, soul, and body"; as "perfect" implies without a blemish in its parts.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 4. But let patience have her perfect work. Let it be fairly developed. Let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul, by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Every one who is afflicted should desire that the fair effects of affliction should be produced on his mind, or that there should be produced in his soul precisely the results which his trials are adapted to accomplish.

That ye may be perfect and entire. The meaning of this is explained in the following phrase--"wanting nothing;" that is, that there may be nothing lacking to complete your character. There may be the elements of a good character; there may be sound principles, but those principles may not be fully carried out so as to show what they are. Afflictions, perhaps, more than anything else, will do this; and we should therefore allow them to do all that they are adapted to do in developing what is good in us. The idea here is, that it is desirable not only to have the elements or principles of piety in the soul, but to have them fairly carried out, so as to show what is their real tendency and value. 1Pet 1:7. On the word perfect, as used in the Scriptures, Job 1:1. The word rendered entire, (ολοκληροι,) means, whole in every part. 1Thes 5:23. The word occurs only in these two places. The corresponding noun (ολοκληριαν) occurs in Acts 3:16, rendered perfect soundness.

Wanting nothing. "Being left in nothing;" that is, everything being complete, or fully carried out.

(a) "let patience have her perfect work" Lk 8:15; 21:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 4 Let patience have her perfect work - That is, Continue faithful, and your patience will be crowned with its full reward; for in this sense is εργον, which we translate work, to be understood. It is any effect produced by a cause, as interest from money, fruit from tillage, gain from labor, a reward for services performed; the perfect work is the full reward. See many examples in Kypke. That ye may be perfect and entire - Τελειοι, Fully instructed, in every part of the doctrine of God, and in his whole will concerning you. Ὁλοκληροι, having all your parts, members, and portions; that ye may have every grace which constitutes the mind that was in Christ, so that your knowledge and holiness may be complete, and bear a proper proportion to each other. These expressions in their present application are by some thought to be borrowed from the Grecian games: the man was τελειος, perfect, who in any of the athletic exercises had got the victory; he was ὁλοκληρος, entire, having every thing complete, who had the victory in the pentathlon, in each of the five exercises. Of this use in the last term I do not recollect an example, and therefore think the expressions are borrowed from the sacrifices under the law. A victim was τελειος, perfect, that was perfectly sound, having no disease; it was ὁλοκληρος, entire, if it had all its members, having nothing redundant, nothing deficient. Be then to the Lord what he required his sacrifices to be; let your whole heart, your body, soul, and spirit, be sanctified to the Lord of hosts, that he may fill you with all his fullness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 1:1-11

Chapter Outline How to apply to God under troubles, and how to behave in prosperous and in adverse circumstances. (1-11) To look upon all evil as proceeding from ourselves, and all good from God. (12-18) The duty of watching against a rash temper, and of receiving the word of God with meekness. (19-21) And of living according thereto. (22-25) The difference between vain pretences and real religion. (26-27) Verses…

Read the full comment on James 1:1-11 →

James 1:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἡhē<the>G3588

δὲdeAndG1161

ὑπομονὴhupomonēenduranceG5281

ἔργονergonworkG2041

τέλειονteleion[its] perfectG5046

ἐχέτω,echetōshould have,G2192

ἵναinaso thatG2443

ἦτεēteyou may beG1510

τέλειοιteleioiperfectG5046

καὶkaiandG2532

ὁλόκληροιholoklēroicompleteG3648

ἐνeninG1722

μηδενὶmēdeninothingG3367

λειπόμενοι.leipomenoilacking.G3007

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for James 1:4

1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Luke 21:19
In your patience possess ye your souls.
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
2 Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 5:7-11
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. …
Habakkuk 2:3
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Psalms 37:7
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psalms 40:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
James 3:2
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

let.
5:7-11; Job 17:9; Ps 37:7; 40:1; Hab 2:3; Mt 10:22; Lu 8:15; 21:19
Ga 6:9
perfect and.
3:2; Pr 4:8; Mt 5:48; Joh 17:23; 1Co 2:6; Php 3:12-15; Col 4:12
2Ti 3:17; Heb 13:21; 1Pe 5:10; 1Jo 4:17,18
wanting.
1:5; Mt 19:20; Mr 10:21; Lu 18:22; 2Pe 1:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

James 1:3
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:5
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.

Read all of James 1

James 1:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Mas tenga la paciencia perfecta su obra, para que seáis perfectos y cabales, sin faltar en alguna cosa.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Mais que la patience ait son œuvre parfaite, afin que vous soyez parfaits et accomplis, ne manquant de rien.
German Elberfelder 1871	Das Ausharren aber habe ein vollkommenes Werk, auf daß ihr vollkommen und vollendet seid und in nichts Mangel habt.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Patientia autem opus perfectum habet: ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes.