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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, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you.
 2Your wealth is become rotten, and your garments moth-eaten.
 3Your gold and silver is eaten away, and their canker shall be for a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have heaped up treasure in the last days.
 4Behold, the wages of your labourers, who have harvested your fields, wrongfully kept back by you, cry, and the cries of those that have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
 5Ye have lived luxuriously on the earth and indulged yourselves; 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 paths of every one that is greedy of gain: it taketh away the life of its possessors. (Prov. 1:19)
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Eccl. 4:8• 8There is one alone and without a second; also he hath neither son nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, and he saith not, For whom then am I labouring, and depriving my soul of good? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation. (Eccl. 4:8)
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Hab. 2:5• 5And moreover, the wine is treacherous: he is a proud man, and keepeth not at rest, he enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is like death and cannot be satisfied; and he assembleth unto him all nations, and gathereth unto him all peoples. (Hab. 2:5)
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1 Tim. 6:9‑10• 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many unwise and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.
 10For the love of money is the root of every evil; which some having aspired after, have wandered from the faith, and pierced themselves with many sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:9‑10)
kill.
or, envy.
because.
James 1:5• 5But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him: (James 1:5)
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Isa. 7:12• 12And Ahaz said, I will not ask, and will not tempt Jehovah. (Isa. 7:12)
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Matt. 7:7‑8• 7Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.
 8For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. (Matt. 7:7‑8)
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Luke 11:9‑13• 9And *I* say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.
 10For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it will be opened.
 11But of whom of you that is a father shall a son ask bread, and the father shall give him a stone? or also a fish, and instead of a fish shall give him a serpent?
 12or if also he shall ask an egg, shall give him a scorpion?
 13If therefore *ye*, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much rather shall the Father who is of heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:9‑13)
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John 4:10• 10Jesus answered and said to her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that says 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 ye have 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."