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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)
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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 wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (James 1:6‑7)
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Job 27:8‑10• 8For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
 9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
 10Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God? (Job 27:8‑10)
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Job 35:12• 12There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. (Job 35:12)
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Psa. 18:41• 41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the Lord, but he answered them not. (Psa. 18:41)
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Psa. 66:18‑19• 18If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
 19But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. (Psa. 66:18‑19)
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Prov. 1:28• 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (Prov. 1:28)
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Prov. 15:8• 8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: 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 shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
 27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? (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 the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
 14Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them 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 burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence. (Jer. 14:12)
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Mic. 3:4• 4Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. (Mic. 3:4)
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Zech. 7:13• 13Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the Lord of hosts: (Zech. 7:13)
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Matt. 20:22• 22But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (Matt. 20:22)
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Mark 10:38• 38But Jesus said unto them, 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 of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:22)
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1 John 5:14• 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (1 John 5:14)
ye may.
Luke 15:13,30• 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. (Luke 15:13,30)
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Luke 16:1‑2• 1And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
 2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. (Luke 16:1‑2)
lusts.
or, pleasures.
James 4:1• 1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that 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.