James 1 · Verse 7

James 1:7

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:7, King James Version

James 1:7 in other translations

BSB	That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
WEB	For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
ASV	For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;
YLT	for let not that man suppose that he shall receive anything from the Lord--
DARBY	for let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord;
BBE	Let it not seem to such a man that he will get anything from the Lord;
Webster	For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing from the Lord.

What does James 1:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

7. For--resumed from "For" in Jas 1:6. that man--such a wavering self-deceiver. think--Real faith is something more than a mere thinking or surmise. anything--namely, of the things that he prays for: he does receive many things from God, food, raiment, &c., but these are the general gifts of His providence: of the things specially granted in answer to prayer, the waverer shall not receive "anything," much less wisdom.

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 7. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Compare Heb 11:6. A man can hope for favour from God only as he puts confidence in him. He sees the heart; and if he sees that there is no belief in his existence or his perfections--no real trust in him--no reliance on his promises, his wisdom, his grace--it cannot be proper that he should grant an answer to our petitions. That will account sufficiently for the fact that there are so many prayers unanswered; that we so frequently go to the throne of grace, and are seat empty away. A man that goes to God in such a state of mind, should not expect to receive any favour.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 7 Let not that man think - The man whose mind is divided, who is not properly persuaded either of his own wants or God's sufficiency. Such persons may pray, but having no faith, they can get no answer.

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 1:7 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.

μὴmēNotG3361

γὰρgarforG1063

οἰέσθωoiesthōshould supposeG3633

ὁhotheG3588

ἄνθρωποςanthrōposmanG444

ἐκεῖνοςekeinosthatG1565

ὅτιhotithatG3754

λήμψεταίlēmpsetaihe will receiveG2983

τιtianythingG5100

παρὰparafromG3844

τοῦtoutheG3588

κυρίου·kuriouLord;G2962

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

Cross references for James 1:7

James 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Isaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isaiah 58:3-4
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
Proverbs 21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

4:3; Pr 15:8; 21:27; Isa 1:15; 58:3,4

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

Context

James 1:6
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.
James 1:7
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:8
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Read all of James 1

James 1:7 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	No piense pues el tal hombre que recibirá ninguna cosa del Señor.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	or que cet homme-là ne pense pas qu’il recevra quoi que ce soit du Seigneur:
German Elberfelder 1871	Denn jener Mensch denke nicht, daß er etwas von dem Herrn empfangen werde;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	non ergo æstimet homo ille quod accipiat aliquid a Domino.