James 4 · Verse 10

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
James 4:10, King James Version

James 4:10 in other translations

BSBHumble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
WEBHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.
ASVHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
YLTbe made low before the Lord, and He shall exalt you.
DARBYHumble yourselves before the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
BBEMake yourselves low in the eyes of the Lord and you will be lifted up by him.
WebsterHumble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.

What does James 4:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. in the sight of the Lord--as continually in the presence of Him who alone is worthy to be exalted: recognizing His presence in all your ways, the truest incentive to humility. The tree, to grow upwards, must strike its roots deep downwards; so man, to be exalted, must have his mind deep-rooted in humility. In 1Pe 5:6, it is, Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, namely, in His dealings of Providence: a distinct thought from that here. lift you up--in part in this world, fully in the world to come.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord. Compare Mt 23:12. Jas 4:6. That is, be willing to take your appropriate place in the dust on account of your transgressions. This is to be "in the sight of the Lord," or before him. Our sins have been committed against him; and their principal aggravation, whoever may have been wronged by them, and great as is their criminality in other respects, arises from that consideration. Ps 51:4, "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight." Lk 15:18, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." As the Being against whom we have sinned is the only one who can pardon, it is proper that we should humble ourselves before him with penitent confession.

And he shall lift you up. He will exalt you from the condition of a broken-hearted penitent to that of a forgiven child; will wipe away your tears, remove the sadness of your heart, fill you with joy, and clothe you with the garments of salvation. This declaration is in accordance with all the promises in the Bible, and with all the facts which occur on the earth, that God is willing to show mercy to the humble and contrite, and to receive those who are truly penitent into his favour. Compare Lk 15:22.

(a) "humble yourselves" Mt 23:2 (+) "lift" or, "raise"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord - In Jam 4:7 they were exhorted to submit to God; here they are exhorted to humble themselves in his sight. Submission to God's authority will precede humiliation of soul, and genuine repentance is performed as in the sight of God; for when a sinner is truly awakened to a sense of his guilt and danger, he seems to see, whithersoever he turns, the face of a justly incensed God turned against him. He shall lift you up - Mourners and penitents lay on the ground, and rolled themselves in the dust. When comforted and pardoned, they arose from the earth, shook themselves from the dust, and clothed themselves in their better garments. God promises to raise these from the dust, when sufficiently humbled.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 4:1-10

Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God. And let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when…

Read the full comment on James 4:1-10 →

James 4:10 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.

ταπεινώθητεtapeinōthētedo be humbledG5013
ἐνώπιονenōpionin the presence ofG1799
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
καὶkaiandG2532
ὑψώσειhupsōseiHe will exaltG5312
ὑμᾶς.¶humasyou.G4771

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

Cross references for James 4:10

  • Psalms 147:6

    The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

  • Matthew 23:12

    And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

  • 1 Peter 5:6

    Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

  • Luke 14:11

    For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • James 4:6-7

    But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

  • Job 22:29

    When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

  • Luke 1:52

    He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

  • Psalms 113:7

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

  • 1 Samuel 2:9

    He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

  • Luke 18:14

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Psalms 30:1

    A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.

  • Psalms 27:6

    And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Humble.
6,7
he.
1Sa 2:9; Job 22:29; Ps 27:6; 28:9; 30:1; 113:7; 147:6; Mt 23:12
Lu 14:11; 18:14; 1Pe 5:6

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

Context

  • James 4:9

    Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

  • James 4:10

    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

  • James 4:11

    Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Read all of James 4

James 4:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Humillaos delante del Señor, y él os ensalzará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Humiliez-vous devant le ✶Seigneur, et il vous élèvera.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Demütiget euch vor dem Herrn, und er wird euch erhöhen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Humiliamini in conspectu Domini, et exaltabit vos.