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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 doubteth is like a wave of the sea wind-driven and tossed
 7(for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord): (James 1:6‑7)
;
Job 27:8‑10•  (Job 27:8‑10)
;
Job 35:12•  (Job 35:12)
;
Psa. 18:41•  (Psa. 18:41)
;
Psa. 66:18‑19•  (Psa. 66:18‑19)
;
Prov. 1:28•  (Prov. 1:28)
;
Prov. 15:8•  (Prov. 15:8)
;
Prov. 21:13,27•  (Prov. 21:13,27)
;
Isa. 1:15‑16•  (Isa. 1:15‑16)
;
Jer. 11:11,14•  (Jer. 11:11,14)
;
Jer. 14:12•  (Jer. 14:12)
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Mic. 3:4•  (Mic. 3:4)
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Zech. 7:13•  (Zech. 7:13)
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Matt. 20:22• 22{i}And 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.{/i} (Matt. 20:22)
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Mark 10:38• 38{i}And Jesus said to them,{/i} Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized 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 do the things pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22)
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1 John 5:14• 14And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he heareth 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 living with harlots, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. (Luke 15:13,30)
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Luke 16:1‑2• 1{i}And he said also to [his] disciples,{/i} There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and he was accused unto him as wasting his possessions.
 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 [are] wars and whence fightings among you? [Are they] not hence, from your pleasures that combat 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.