Jam 3:14, 16 | JFB | STEP | 14. if ye have — as is the case (this is implied in the Greek indicative). bitter — , "bitterness." envying —rather, "emulation," or literally, "zeal": kindly, generous emulation, or zeal, is not condemned, but that which is "bitter" [BENGEL ]. strife —rather, "rivalry." in your hearts —from which flow your words and deeds, as from a fountain. glory not, and lie not against the truth —To boast of your wisdom is virtually a lying against the truth (the gospel), while your lives belie your glorying. , "The word of truth." , speaks similarly of the same contentious Jewish Christians.

James 3:14

14. if ye have—as is the case (this is implied in the Greek indicative).

bitter— Eph 4:31, "bitterness."

envying—rather, "emulation," or literally, "zeal": kindly, generous emulation, or zeal, is not condemned, but that which is "bitter" [BENGEL].

strife—rather, "rivalry."

in your hearts—from which flow your words and deeds, as from a fountain.

glory not, and lie not against the truth—To boast of your wisdom is virtually a lying against the truth (the gospel), while your lives belie your glorying. Jas 3:15; Jas 1:18, "The word of truth." Ro 2:17, 23, speaks similarly of the same contentious Jewish Christians.

James 3:16

16. envying—So English Version translates the Greek, which usually means "zeal"; "emulation," in Ro 13:13. "The envious man stands in his own light. He thinks his candle cannot shine in the presence of another's sun. He aims directly at men, obliquely at God, who makes men to differ."

strife—rivalry [ALFORD].

confusion—literally, "tumultuous anarchy": both in society (translated "commotions," Lu 21:9; "tumults," 2Co 6:5), and in the individual mind; in contrast to the "peaceable" composure of true "wisdom," Jas 3:17. James does not honor such effects of this earthly wisdom with the name "fruit," as he does in the case of the wisdom from above. Jas 3:18; compare Ga 5:19-22, "works of the flesh . . . fruit of the Spirit."