James 3 · Verse 16

James 3:16

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
James 3:16, King James Version

James 3:16 in other translations

BSBFor where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
WEBFor where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
ASVFor where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
YLTfor where zeal and rivalry are, there is insurrection and every evil matter;
DARBYFor where emulation and strife are, there is disorder and every evil thing.
BBEFor where envy is, and the desire to get the better of others, there is no order, but every sort of evil-doing.
WebsterFor where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

What does James 3:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. envying--So English Version translates the Greek, which usually means "zeal"; "emulation," in Ro 13:13. "The envious man stands in his own light. He thinks his candle cannot shine in the presence of another's sun. He aims directly at men, obliquely at God, who makes men to differ." strife--rivalry [Alford]. confusion--literally, "tumultuous anarchy": both in society (translated "commotions," Lu 21:9; "tumults," 2Co 6:5), and in the individual mind; in contrast to the "peaceable" composure of true "wisdom," Jas 3:17. James does not honor such effects of this earthly wisdom with the name "fruit," as he does in the case of the wisdom from above. Jas 3:18; compare Ga 5:19-22, "works of the flesh ... fruit of the Spirit."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion. Marg.:, tumult, or unquietness. Everything is unsettled and agitated. There is no mutual confidence; there is no union of plan and effort; there is no co-operation in promoting a common object; there is no stability in any plan; for a purpose, though for good, formed by one portion, is defeated by another.

And every evil work. The truth of this no one can have any doubt who has observed the effects in a family or neighbourhood where a spirit of strife prevails. Love and harmony of course are banished; all happiness disappears; all prosperity is at an end. In place of the peaceful virtues which ought to prevail, there springs up every evil passion that tends to mar the peace of a community. Where this spirit prevails in a church, it is of course impossible to expect any progress in Divine things; and in such a church any effort to do good is vain.
"The Spirit, like a peaceful dove,
Flies from the realms of noise and strife."

(+) "confusion" or, "tumult, or unquietness"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 For where envying and strife is - Ζηλος και εριθεια· Zeal - fiery, inflammatory passion, and contention - altercations about the different points of the law, of no use for edification, such as those mentioned, Tit 3:9. The Jews were the most intolerant of all mankind; it was a maxim with them to kill those who would not conform to their law; and their salvation they believed to be impossible. This has been the spirit of Popery, and of the Romish Church at large; in vain do they attempt to deny it; they have written it in characters of blood and fire even in this country, (England), when they were possessed of political power. With them it is still an established maxim, that out of their Church there is no redemption; and fire and faggot have been in that Church legal means of conversion or extinction. In the short popish reign of Mary in this country, besides multitudes who suffered by fine, imprisonment, confiscation, etc., two hundred and seventy-seven were burnt alive, among whom were one archbishop, four bishops, twenty-one clergymen, eight lay gentlemen, eighty-four tradesmen, one hundred husbandmen, fifty-five women, and four children! O earth! thou hast not drunk their blood; but their ashes have been strewed on the face of the field.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 3:13-18

These verses show the difference between men's pretending to be wise, and their being really so. He who thinks well, or he who talks well, is not wise in the sense of the Scripture, if he does not live and act well. True wisdom may be know by the meekness of the spirit and temper. Those who live in malice, envy, and contention, live in confusion; and are liable to be provoked and hurried to any evil work. Such…

Read the full comment on James 3:13-18 →

James 3:16 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.

ὅπουhopouWhereG3699
γὰρgarforG1063
ζῆλοςzēlosjealousyG2205
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐριθεία,eritheiaself-interest [exist],G2052
ἐκεῖekeithere [will be]G1563
ἀκαταστασίαakatastasiadisorderG181
καὶkaiandG2532
πᾶνpaneveryG3956
φαῦλονphaulonevilG5337
πρᾶγμα.¶pragmathing.G4229

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

Cross references for James 3:16

  • James 3:14

    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

  • 1 Corinthians 14:33

    For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • Galatians 5:20

    Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

  • Genesis 11:9

    Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
where.
14; 1Co 3:3; Ga 5:20
there.
Ge 11:9; *marg:
Ac 19:29; 1Co 14:33
confusion. Gr. tumult, or, unquietness. every.
1Jo 3:12

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

Context

  • James 3:15

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

  • James 3:16

    For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

  • 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.

Read all of James 3

James 3:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque donde hay envidia y contención, allí hay perturbación y toda obra perversa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car où il y a de la jalousie et un esprit de querelle, là il y a du désordre et toute espèce de mauvaises actions.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wo Neid und Streitsucht ist, da ist Zerrüttung und jede schlechte Tat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ubi enim zelus et contentio, ibi inconstantia et omne opus pravum.