Go
Articles on

James 1

James 1:17 KJV (With Strong’s)

+
17
Every
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
d good
agathos (Greek #18)
"good" (in any sense, often as noun)
KJV usage: benefit, good(-s, things), well. Compare 2570.
Pronounce: ag-ath-os'
Origin: a primary word
gift
dosis (Greek #1394)
a giving; by implication, (concretely) a gift
KJV usage: gift, giving.
Pronounce: dos'-is
Origin: from the base of 1325
and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
every
pas (Greek #3956)
apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole
KJV usage: all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.
Pronounce: pas
Origin: including all the forms of declension
perfect
teleios (Greek #5046)
complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness
KJV usage: of full age, man, perfect.
Pronounce: tel'-i-os
Origin: from 5056
gift
dorema (Greek #1434)
a bestowment
KJV usage: gift.
Pronounce: do'-ray-mah
Origin: from 1433
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
from above
anothen (Greek #509)
from above; by analogy, from the first; by implication, anew
KJV usage: from above, again, from the beginning (very first), the top.
Pronounce: an'-o-then
Origin: from 507
, and cometh down
katabaino (Greek #2597)
to descend (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).
Pronounce: kat-ab-ah'-ee-no
Origin: from 2596 and the base of 939
from
apo (Greek #575)
"off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
KJV usage: (X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
Pronounce: apo'
Origin: a primary particle
the Father
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
pater (Greek #3962)
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
KJV usage: father, parent.
Pronounce: pat-ayr'
Origin: apparently a primary word
of lights
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
phos (Greek #5457)
luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative)
KJV usage: fire, light.
Pronounce: foce
Origin: from an obsolete φάω (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; compare 5316, 5346)
, with
para (Greek #3844)
properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of)
KJV usage: above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.
Pronounce: par-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition
whom
hos (Greek #3739)
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
KJV usage: one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
Pronounce: hos
Origin: ἥ (hay), and neuter ὅ (ho) probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588)
f is
eni (Greek #1762)
impersonally, there is in or among
KJV usage: be, (there) is.
Pronounce: en'-ee
Origin: contraction for the third person singular present indicative of 1751
no
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
variableness
parallage (Greek #3883)
transmutation (of phase or orbit), i.e. (figuratively) fickleness
KJV usage: variableness.
Pronounce: par-al-lag-ay'
Origin: from a compound of 3844 and 236
, neither
e (Greek #2228)
disjunctive, or; comparative, than
KJV usage: and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles. Compare especially 2235, 2260, 2273.
Pronounce: ay
Origin: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms
shadow
aposkiasma (Greek #644)
a shading off, i.e. obscuration
KJV usage: shadow.
Pronounce: ap-os-kee'-as-mah
Origin: from a compound of 575 and a derivative of 4639
of turning
trope (Greek #5157)
a turn ("trope"), i.e. revolution (figuratively, variation)
KJV usage: turning.
Pronounce: trop-ay'
Origin: from an apparently primary τρέπω to turn
.
d
John 3:27• 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it have been given him from heaven. (John 3:27)
;
1 Cor. 4:7• 7For who distinguisheth thee? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But if thou didst even receive, why boastest thou as not having received? (1 Cor. 4:7)
f
1 Sam. 15:29•  (1 Sam. 15:29)
;
Mal. 3:6•  (Mal. 3:6)

More on:

+
Father,
Gifts,
Perfect

Cross References

+

Ministry on This Verse

+
good.
James 1:5• 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all freely and reproacheth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)
;
James 3:15,17• 15This wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, natural, demoniacal.
 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, uncontentious, impartial. (James 3:15,17)
;
Gen. 41:16,38‑39•  (Gen. 41:16,38‑39)
;
Ex. 4:11‑12•  (Ex. 4:11‑12)
;
Ex. 31:3‑6•  (Ex. 31:3‑6)
;
Ex. 36:1‑2•  (Ex. 36:1‑2)
;
Num. 11:17,25•  (Num. 11:17,25)
;
1 Chron. 22:12•  (1 Chron. 22:12)
;
1 Chron. 29:19•  (1 Chron. 29:19)
;
2 Chron. 1:11‑12•  (2 Chron. 1:11‑12)
;
Prov. 2:6•  (Prov. 2:6)
;
Isa. 28:26•  (Isa. 28:26)
;
Dan. 2:21‑22,27‑30•  (Dan. 2:21‑22,27‑30)
;
Matt. 7:11• 11If therefore ye, being wicked, know to give good gifts to your children, how much rather shall your Father that is in the heavens give good things to those that ask him? (Matt. 7:11)
;
Matt. 11:25‑26• 25{i}At that time, Jesus answering said, I praise thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.{/i}
 26{i}Yea, Father, for thus has it been well-pleasing in thy sight.{/i} (Matt. 11:25‑26)
;
Matt. 13:11‑12• 11{i}And he answering said to them, Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it is not given;{/i}
 12{i}for whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall be caused to be in abundance; but he who has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him.{/i} (Matt. 13:11‑12)
;
Luke 11:13• 13If, therefore, ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more will the Father who [is] of heaven give [the] Holy Spirit to them that ask him. (Luke 11:13)
;
John 3:27• 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it have been given him from heaven. (John 3:27)
;
Acts 5:31• 31him God exalted with his right hand as Leader and Saviour to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. (Acts 5:31)
;
Acts 11:18• 18And when they heard these things, they were still and glorified God, saying, Then indeed also to the Gentiles did God give repentance unto life. (Acts 11:18)
;
Rom. 6:23• 23For the wages of sin [is] death, but the free gift of God life eternal in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)
;
Rom. 11:30• 30For as ye once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy through their disobedience, (Rom. 11:30)
;
Rom. 12:6‑8• 6But having gifts different according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith;
 7or service, [let us be occupied] in service; or he that teacheth, in teaching;
 8or he that exhorteth, in exhortation; he that bestoweth, with simplicity; he that presideth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Rom. 12:6‑8)
;
1 Cor. 4:7• 7For who distinguisheth thee? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But if thou didst even receive, why boastest thou as not having received? (1 Cor. 4:7)
;
1 Cor. 12:4‑12• 4Now there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit,
 5and there are differences of services, and the same Lord,
 6and there are differences of operations, but the same God that operateth all things in all.
 7But to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for profit.
 8For to one, through the Spirit, is given [the] word of wisdom, and to another [the] word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
 9to a different one faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
 10and to another operations of powers, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits; to a different one kinds of tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.
 11But all these things operateth the one and the same Spirit, dividing in particular to each as he pleaseth.
 12For even as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (1 Cor. 12:4‑12)
;
Eph. 2:3‑5,8• 3among whom we all also had our conversation once in the lusts of our flesh, doing the wishes of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were children, by nature, of wrath even as the rest;
 4but God, being rich in mercy, on account of his great love wherewith he loved us,
 5even us being dead in our offences he quickened with the Christ (by grace are ye saved),
 8For by grace ye are saved through faith; and this not of yourselves(God's is the gift: (Eph. 2:3‑5,8)
;
Eph. 4:8‑11• 8Wherefore he saith, Having ascended on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.
 9Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower [parts] of the earth?
 10He that descended, he it is also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
 11And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (Eph. 4:8‑11)
;
Phil. 1:29• 29because to you has been given on behalf of Christ, not only the believing on him, but also the suffering for him; (Phil. 1:29)
;
Titus 3:3‑5• 3For at one time even we were foolish, disobedient, gone astray, in slavery to divers lusts and pleasures, passing time in malice and envy, abominable, hating one another.
 4But when the kindness and the love to man of our Saviour God appeared,
 5not by works in righteousness which we ourselves did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:3‑5)
;
1 John 4:10• 10Herein is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us, and sent his Son [as] propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
;
1 John 5:11‑12• 11And this is the witness that God gave to us life eternal, and this life is in his Son.
 12He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11‑12)
from the.
Gen. 1:2‑5,14‑15•  (Gen. 1:2‑5,14‑15)
;
Deut. 4:19•  (Deut. 4:19)
;
Psa. 19:1‑8•  (Psa. 19:1‑8)
;
Psa. 84:11•  (Psa. 84:11)
;
Isa. 45:7•  (Isa. 45:7)
;
Isa. 60:19•  (Isa. 60:19)
;
John 1:9• 9The true light was that which, coming into the world ., lighteth every man (John 1:9)
;
John 8:12• 12Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall in no wise walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
;
2 Cor. 4:6• 6because it is the God that bade light shine out of darkness, who shone in our hearts for the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)
;
Eph. 1:18• 18having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling; and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints; (Eph. 1:18)
;
1 John 1:5• 5And this is the message which we have heard from him, and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
;
Rev. 21:23• 23And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon, that they should shine on it: for the glory of God illumined it, and the Lamb {i}is{/i} the lamp of it. (Rev. 21:23)
;
Rev. 22:5• 5And there shall be no night [there] and no need of lamp and sunlight; for the Lord God will illumine them: and they shall reign unto the ages of the ages. (Rev. 22:5)
no variableness.
Num. 23:19•  (Num. 23:19)
;
1 Sam. 15:29•  (1 Sam. 15:29)
;
Psa. 122:6•  (Psa. 122:6)
;
Isa. 46:10•  (Isa. 46:10)
;
Mal. 3:6•  (Mal. 3:6)
;
Rom. 11:29• 29for indefeasible are [the] gifts and the calling of God. (Rom. 11:29)
;
Heb. 1:11‑12• 11They shall perish, but thou continuest; and they all shall grow old as a garment,
 12and as a covering thou shalt roll them up, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Heb. 1:11‑12)
;
Heb. 13:8• 8Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today, and unto the ages. (Heb. 13:8)
• All that is good, both in the manner of giving as well as the thing given, comes from God. (“The Practical Christian Life: James 1” by H. Smith)
• He also is the source of all spiritual light. No darkness comes from Him. He is not only good and pure light, but all goodness and all light come from Him, and with Him there is no variation nor shadow of turning. With our changing circumstances or our varying moods He does not change. (“The Practical Christian Life: James 1” by H. Smith)
• What we really know we know as the result of divine revelation, and He is the “Father” or “Source” of all such light. Man’s lights are very uncertain. The light of “science” so-called is very variable. It burns brightly, it dies down, it re-appears, it flares up, it goes out, finally extinguished by an oncoming generation which feels sure it knows more than the outgoing generation. With the Father of lights, and hence with all light that really comes from Him, there is no variableness neither shadow of turning. (“James 1” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

+
17
Every good giftb and every perfect giftb comes downc from above, from the Father of lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of turning.

JND Translation Notes

+
b
Dosis, then dorema; the words are nearly the same. strictly dosis is "the giving," dorema "the thing freely given." In English "gift" is both the giving and the thing given.
c
Lit. "is coming down"; its true character. see ch. 3.16.

W. Kelly Translation

+
17
Every good givinga and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor shadow of turning.

WK Translation Notes

+
a
The Revisers make no notice beyond the KJV use of the word "gift." Now we all know that the first of the two references (dosis agathē), though properly expressive of the act of giving may be and often is used for a gift or present; but is it conceivable that we should have the two terms (dōrēma teleion) without a distinction, other than brought together and differently qualified? Ought we not to allow that "every good giving" is here distinguished from "every perfect gift?" The character of the act good, the result in the thing given perfect, the Father of lights is the source, in contrast with evil in act and result flowing from self.