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James 4

James 4:3 KJV (With Strong’s)

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3
Ye 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
, 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
receive
lambano (Greek #2983)
to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
KJV usage: accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
Pronounce: lam-ban'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses
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
dioti (Greek #1360)
on the very account that, or inasmuch as
KJV usage: because (that), for, therefore.
Pronounce: dee-ot'-ee
Origin: from 1223 and 3754
ye 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
amiss
kakos (Greek #2560)
badly (physically or morally)
KJV usage: amiss, diseased, evil, grievously, miserably, sick, sore.
Pronounce: kak-oce'
Origin: from 2556
, that
hina (Greek #2443)
in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)
KJV usage: albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to. Compare 3363.
Pronounce: hin'-ah
Origin: probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588)
ye may consume
dapanao (Greek #1159)
to expend, i.e. (in a good sense) to incur cost, or (in a bad one) to waste
KJV usage: be at charges, consume, spend.
Pronounce: dap-an-ah'-o
Origin: from 1160
it upon
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
your
humon (Greek #5216)
of (from or concerning) you
KJV usage: ye, you, your (own, -selves).
Pronounce: hoo-mone'
Origin: genitive case of 5210
λlusts
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
hedone (Greek #2237)
sensual delight; by implication, desire
KJV usage: lust, pleasure.
Pronounce: hay-don-ay'
Origin: from ἁνδάνω (to please)
.
λ
or, pleasures

More on:

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To Lust

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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ask, and.
James 1:6‑7• 6but let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed about;
 7for let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord; (James 1:6‑7)
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Job 27:8‑10• 8For what is the hope of the ungodly, when God cutteth him off, when +God taketh away his soul?
 9Will *God hear his cry when distress cometh upon him?
 10Doth he delight himself in the Almighty? will he at all times call upon +God? (Job 27:8‑10)
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Job 35:12• 12There they cry, and he answereth not, because of the pride of evil men. (Job 35:12)
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Psa. 18:41• 41They cried, and there was none to save;--unto Jehovah, and he answered them not. (Psa. 18:41)
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Psa. 66:18‑19• 18Had I regarded iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not hear.
 19But God hath heard; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. (Psa. 66:18‑19)
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Prov. 1:28• 28--then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me early, and shall not find me. (Prov. 1:28)
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Prov. 15:8• 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight. (Prov. 15:8)
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Prov. 21:13,27• 13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
 27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose! (Prov. 21:13,27)
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Isa. 1:15‑16• 15And 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.
 16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;--cease to do evil, (Isa. 1:15‑16)
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Jer. 11:11,14• 11Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will bring evil upon them, from which they shall not be able to escape; and they will cry unto me, and I will not hearken unto them.
 14And thou, pray not for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble. (Jer. 11:11,14)
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Jer. 14:12• 12When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer up burnt-offering and oblation, I will not accept them: for I will consume them by sword, and by famine, and by pestilence. (Jer. 14:12)
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Mic. 3:4• 4Then shall they cry unto Jehovah, but he will not answer them; and he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings. (Mic. 3:4)
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Zech. 7:13• 13And it came to pass, like as he called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear, saith Jehovah of hosts; (Zech. 7:13)
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Matt. 20:22• 22And Jesus answering said, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink the cup which *I* am about to drink? They say to him, We are able. (Matt. 20:22)
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Mark 10:38• 38And Jesus said to them, Ye do not know what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup which *I* drink, or be baptised with the baptism that *I* am baptised with? (Mark 10:38)
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1 John 3:22• 22and whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practise the things which are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22)
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1 John 5:14• 14And this is the boldness which we have towards him, that if we ask him anything according to his will he hears us. (1 John 5:14)
ye may.
Luke 15:13,30• 13And after not many days the younger son gathering all together went away into a country a long way off, and there dissipated his property, living in debauchery.
 30but when this thy son, who has devoured thy substance with harlots, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. (Luke 15:13,30)
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Luke 16:1‑2• 1And he said also to his disciples, There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and *he* was accused to him as wasting his goods.
 2And having called him, he said to him, What is this that I hear of thee? give the reckoning of thy stewardship, for thou canst be no longer steward. (Luke 16:1‑2)
lusts.
or, pleasures.
James 4:1• 1Whence come wars and whence fightings among you? Is it not thence,--from your pleasures, which war in your members? (James 4:1)
• If our desires are legitimate, there is no need to fight amongst ourselves to obtain them; we can ask God. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• The word used means the pleasure that comes from the gratifying of our desires, or lusts, rather than the desires themselves. If our desires run riot and we find a sinful pleasure in their gratification, we at once have the root of endless contentions and warfare. (“James 4” by F.B. Hole)
• God looks at the heart. He scrutinizes the motive that lies behind the asking. This is very searching, and it explains a lot of unanswered prayer. (“James 4” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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3
Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask evilly, that ye may consume it in your pleasures.

W. Kelly Translation

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3
ye aska and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend [it] in your pleasures.

WK Translation Notes

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a
It is difficult to distinguish in our tongue the active and the middle voice of aiteite (ask). Some go too far in calling it "an unaccountable interchange"; whereas it is really an intended, though delicate, and, of course, intelligible difference. The middle voice often has an intensive force. In verse 2 They did not ask with earnestness; in verse 3 they asked with indifference, and received not; or, if there was any earnestness, it was of an evil kind to spend in their pleasures.