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James 4

James 4:2 KJV (With Strong’s)

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2
Ye lust
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
epithumeo (Greek #1937)
to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise)
KJV usage: covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).
Pronounce: ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o
Origin: from 1909 and 2372
, 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
have
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
not
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
: ye νkill
phoneuo (Greek #5407)
to be a murderer (of)
KJV usage: kill, do murder, slay.
Pronounce: fon-yoo'-o
Origin: from 5406
, 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
desire to have
zeloo (Greek #2206)
to have warmth of feeling for or against
KJV usage: affect, covet (earnestly), (have) desire, (move with) envy, be jealous over, (be) zealous(-ly affect).
Pronounce: dzay-lo'-o
Origin: from 2205
, 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
cannot
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
dunamai (Greek #1410)
to be able or possible
KJV usage: be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.
Pronounce: doo'-nam-ahee
Origin: of uncertain affinity
obtain
epitugchano (Greek #2013)
to chance upon, i.e. (by implication) to attain
KJV usage: obtain.
Pronounce: ep-ee-toong-khan'-o
Origin: from 1909 and 5177
: ye fight
machomai (Greek #3164)
to war, i.e. (figuratively) to quarrel, dispute
KJV usage: fight, strive.
Pronounce: makh'-om-ahee
Origin: middle voice of an apparently primary verb
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
war
polemeo (Greek #4170)
to be (engaged) in warfare, i.e. to battle (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: fight, (make) war.
Pronounce: pol-em-eh'-o
Origin: from 4171
, yet
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
ye have
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
not
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
, because
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
ye
humas (Greek #5209)
you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
KJV usage: ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).
Pronounce: hoo-mas'
Origin: accusative case of 5210
ask
aiteo (Greek #154)
to ask (in genitive case)
KJV usage: ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. Compare 4441.
Pronounce: ahee-teh'-o
Origin: of uncertain derivation
not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
.
ν
or, envy.

More on:

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To Lust,
War

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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lust.
James 5:1‑5• 1Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
 2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
 3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
 4Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
 5Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (James 5:1‑5)
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Prov. 1:19• 19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. (Prov. 1:19)
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Eccl. 4:8• 8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. (Eccl. 4:8)
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Hab. 2:5• 5Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: (Hab. 2:5)
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1 Tim. 6:9‑10• 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:9‑10)
kill.
or, envy.
because.
James 1:5• 5If 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. (James 1:5)
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Isa. 7:12• 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. (Isa. 7:12)
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Matt. 7:7‑8• 7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matt. 7:7‑8)
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Luke 11:9‑13• 9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
 11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
 13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9‑13)
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John 4:10• 10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. (John 4:10)
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John 16:24• 24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
• Now we discover that what lies behind the wars and fightings, which are so common among the professed people of God, is the impure lust of the human heart. (“James 4” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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Ye lust and have not: ye kill and are full of envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not.

W. Kelly Translation

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Ye lust and have not; ye kill and are jealousa, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not;

WK Translation Notes

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a
The word zēloute when used in a bad sense, is "ye envy," or "are jealous." The first word means "ye lust," or "covet."