Word Studies
As Indigenous people, biblical word studies are valuable because they help us understand the Bible more deeply and accurately. They involve looking at the original languages (Hebrew and Greek) in which the Bible was written to understand the nuances of meaning that might be lost in English translations. This can help us avoid misinterpretations and gain a richer understanding of God's Word.
James 3:14
James 3:15
"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." James 3:14 (BSB) Berean Study Bible - But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. James is in the New Testament so we are doing a word study in Greek. The Hebrew mindset is different from the western cultural mind. To convey their thoughts the Hebrew people use word pictures. So James writes in the Greek language to convey this thoughts and they are very different from the English translation. The first word in this verse is “ei de.” Ei means “if” and de me “however, or on the other hand”. This introduces the readers to an alternative thought. Next is “Ye have” which is translated from "echo" - it pictures what someone has in their possession. The next word James uses is pikria. This is a word that pictures an inner poison that causes someone to eventually become unkind, sour, sharp, sarcastic, scornful, cynical, mocking, contemptuous, and wounding. So far James is describing someone who has an inner poison that causes very negative characteristics that are thrown at others. This next word is translated into English as “strife in your hearts”, but the Greek word is zelos and the translation does not do it justice. Zelos describes a self-consumed person who is driven to see his agenda adopted. It pictures someone who is competitive; one who is upset because someone else achieved more or received more; or one who is jealous, envious, resentful, and filled with ill-will for the one who got what he wanted. It refers to the attitude of one who is annoyed, fuming, incensed, infuriated, irate, irritated, or provoked. Did you think “strife in your hearts” meant this? I didn’t. But does not James describe personalities in the news today? You will be shocked at what James also reveals in the next Greek word. For James next uses the word epithelia. Are you ready? Please know, I’m not making this up. I’m just relating to you the meaning of this word. Eritrea is a word that was historically used to picture a political party and it can also be translated as a party spirit because of its connection to political systems and political parties! It pictures individuals or groups of people who push their agenda and ideas, fighting fiercely to see their platform embraced. It refers to a self-seeking ambition that is more concerned about itself and the fulfillment of its own wants, desires, and pleasures than it is in meeting the needs of others. It pictures one so bent on getting what he wants that he is willing to do anything, say anything, and sacrifice any standard, rule, or relationship to achieve his goals. It is a selfish, self-focused attitude that is engrossed with its own desires and ambitions. It speaks of one so self-consumed that he is blinded to the desires or goals of others. It pictures a person who is jockeying for some kind of position that gives him or her the advantage over others. On a side note, Paul uses this word and is translated “contentions”. Here the meaning is a work of the flesh. They are people who are always carefully creating a false narrative, laced with various forms of character assassination, designed to make themselves look higher or better than others. Once such a campaign builds a sizable group of adherents, that group then becomes a bitter, strife-peddling faction. This is a demonic strategy that creates the perfect atmosphere for Satan to plant confusion and”every evil work” as James says in verse 16. If zealousness is not stopped this spirit will mushroom into explosive corruption and evil that will become difficult to remedy. It feels like James is reading the headlines of today’s newspaper! Next James uses the word me which carries the meaning of canceling what comes next in his writings. So what is to be cancelled? It’s the word katakauchaomai. (Good luck on pronouncing this!). I can tell you it’s a compound word of kata and kauchaomai. Kata means “down,” and kauchaomai means “boast, gloat, or glory” about a matter. But when these two words are put together, it’s not just boasting, gloating, and glorying. It’s a picture of a ridiculous level of boasting and gloating with the intention to put others down and to exalt oneself as being superior. It’s an over-exalting at the expense of another or actions that exalt one and downgrades another in the process. Someone who exalts himself and downgrades others are not exhibiting the attitude or behavior of God and therefore fails the test as possessing true insight, revelation, or wisdom that comes from God. What comes out of their mouth is not from a heavenly source. Again, these are not my words! I’m just sharing with you what is revealed in a deeper word study. Did you ever think that this short verse carried so much meaning for us in today world?
James 3:16
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” In this verse James is still teaching us about the atmosphere that surrounds someone who tongue reveals the true nature of their soul. This is a short verse but in the original language is reveals so much more. The word “For” is “gar” and it tells us to follow the facts that are about to be presented. Next James uses the Greek word “zelos” which is used in previous verses. It describes someone who is “driven to see his view or agenda adopted at the expense of others, and he is irritated, irate, annoyed, provoked, fuming, or incensed at those who have other views—so filled with strife in his heart that he is blinded to the desires or needs of others.” This is a person who is self-consumed and hotly driven to see his agenda adopted. It gives us the picture of one who is competitive, one who is upset because someone else achieved more or received more, or one who is jealous, envious, resentful and filled with ill-will for the one who got what he wanted. It refers to the attitude of one who becomes `jealously annoyed, fuming, incensed, infuriated, irate, irritated, or provoked. The next word we will study James has used before, it’s “eritheia”. It is used to represent a political party or party spirit. It pictures individuals or groups who push their agenda and ideas, fighting fiercely to see their platform not just accepted, but embraced. It refers to a self-seeking ambition that is more concerned about itself and the fulfillment of its own wants, desires, and pleasures the it is in meeting the needs of others. It portrays one so bent on getting what he wants that he is willing to do anything, say anything, and sacrifice any standard, rule, or relationship to achieve his goals. It is a selfish, self-focused attitude that is engrossed with its own desires and ambitions. It speaks of one so self-consumed that he is blinded to the desires or goals of others in favor of his own ambitions. Such behavior is so evil that, if not corrected, it evolves into a party spirit that has people taking sides and being divided, resulting in factions. And where does this lead us? The next word is like reading today’s headlines. For the next word James uses is “akatastasia”. This word is a combination of the prefix “a” with the two words “kata” and “stasia”. I’m not concerned that you are able to pronounce this word, rather, what do these words mean. “Kata” means “accordingly” and carries the thought of what is dominating, while “stasia” means “to stand”. Together, these words give us the picture of that which is done according to order or that which is dominated by order. However, when you put “a” in front of these words, “akatastasia”, it changes the meaning from a positive to a negative. It transforms the word to mean that which is dominated by, or done according to, anarchy, chaos, or insubordination. This word pictures an attitude or action that leads to instability, upheaval, or unrest. Be warned friends, this is going to be tomorrow’s headline in America!
James 4:7
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." “Submit yourselves therefore to God” is a translation of the word, “hupotasso”. This is a compound of hupo, which means “under”, and tasso, which means “to arrange” or “properly arrange under.” Tasso is a military term that describes a solider’s obedience and submission to authority. It signifies someone who properly arranges himself under the authority of God and His Word. Hupotasso tells us that there is protection in submission. What James is saying is that it is essential that you make the decision to properly align yourself under the authority of God. Being submitted to him actually provides you with protection. “Resist” is a translation of “anthistemi” which is again, a compound of the words “anti” and “histemi.” Anti means “against” and histemi means to stand. Together they mean to stand against or to stand in opposition. It describes the attitude of one who is fiercely opposed to something and therefore determined to do everything in his power to resist it. Anthistemi describes a pre-planned resistance. It was used in ancient Greece to picture the fierce resistance of an enemy. A more accurate translation of “anthistemi” would be that if you are submitted to God’s authority, it gives you the ability to defy, oppose, stand steadfastly against your opposition or your enemy. James next uses the Greek word “diabolos to describe our enemy,“The Devil.” Diabolos portrays someone who is know to slander, accuse, assault, or one who tries to ensnare others in some kind of net or trap. So, if we are submitted to the authority of God we are under His wings of protection and have the power to stand against the accusing, slanderous, trap-setting behavior of the devil. And he will flee from you. I know that when we read these words we think of the devil running away from us. But these words do not do justice to what James is describing here. Here James uses the word, “pheugo.” This word means “to flee, to take flight, to run away, to run as fast as possible to escape a situation.” This word was used to depict a lawbreaker who flees in terror from a city or a nation where he broke the law. “Pheugo” could sometimes mean to be charged with a crime or to be exiled. So James is teaching us that when you submit to God and align yourself under His authority, you are empowered to successfully resist the devil and anything he brings against you. And when you are in that place of submission and protection, the devil will “flee” from you like a criminal who flees in terror after breaking the law! But James doesn’t stop there. He adds the word “aph” which is a form of “apo.” “Aph” describes someone who intentionally puts space between himself and something else. Used in this verse James is telling us that the devil is terrified of any person who lives submitted to God’s authority, and he wants to be as far as possible from the person who has aligned themselves under the authority of God. My question is, “If the devil doesn’t flee in terror from you…why?”
"This wisdom descenddth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish." To begin this thought James is reflecting on verse 14 and telling us that the wisdom displayed by this person is not from above. Here he uses the Greek word “Sophia”, which refers to insight, revelation, or wisdom not naturally attained. It is used here by James to give us a picture of someone who claims to be in possession of divine revelation. But in this instance James used “Sophia” to describe a wisdom that is tainted with bitter envy, strife, selfish ambition, and self-exaltation. “From above” is translated from the word “anothen” which means from a heavenly source. The word “but” is “alla” in the Greek. It is a conjunction that leads the reader to another logical conclusion. So, if this person’s wisdom is not from above or heaven; where does it come from? Here’s James conclusion, it is from “epigeios.” Epigeios is a compound of “epi” and “ges”. Epi means from or upon, and ges describes the earth. As a compound word, it means right from the earth and describes something that comes not from heaven but from the earthly realm. The next word James uses is interesting. It is the word “psuchikos”. The root of this word is “psuche” which is the word for “soul.” James uses “psuchikos” to refer to things that belong to or is produced by the soulish realm. He is teaching us that people may look like they are moving in divine insight, revelation, or wisdom, but the outward disrespectful and inappropriate attitudes and behaviors that we see in that person shows that they are clearly acting from a sourish dimension and not by the Spirit of God. Please understand that the soul is the place where demons operate. This is why James says that this “wisdom” is not from a heavenly source, but is sourish, earthly, and is infected with bitterness and strife that is produced by Satanic influence. To end this verse James gives us the word, “daimoniodes”. (say that three times fast!) This word describes things that are demonic or demonlike. Here it gives us the picture of someone who is influenced by demons. So no matter how hard that person tries eventually what we are going to see is what comes out of their soul and those things are influenced by Satan himself. At this point we should have a cup of coffee and discuss the characteristics of an “antiChrist.”
James 3:16 Part 2
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” I did not want to leave verse 16 without exploring the phrase, “and every evil work.” Here James uses two Greek words: “phaulos” and “pragma”. Paulos - This word describes that which is rotten or stinking, like a piece of maggot-infested meat. It is rotten behavior that attracts only more rottenness, or feeds off rottenness and decay. James is describing wisdom that is dead, decaying, and stinking, and there is no life of God in it. Pragma - This is the last word in this thought. Pragma means “actions” or “deeds”. But what is revealing here is that this word is also connected to “occult activity”. What James is implying is that such behavior is connected to the actions and business, or deeds, of darkness. He was making a definitive statement that any manipulation or attempt to control people and situations in the name of specifically given revelation is earthly, evil, sensual, ungodly, and of satanic origin. Now remember that James is writing this somewhere around 48 AD to Jewish people who were scattered to other countries as they sought refuge from persecution. He was writing to them to give them hope and reveal the true nature of the people who were oppressing them. I believe that in the same way these words can describe the leadership oppressing the United States today. A Satanic spirit of delusion is covering the land, and unless people are grounded in the Word of God they are accepting earthly, evil, sensual, ungodly, and satanic revelations as being from God. I want you to focus on the bigger picture. Yes we need to be praying against this evil. But the bigger picture is that God has a plan to redeem mankind and this evil world. This is all preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture! Keep praying for America but kept your eyes on the eastern sky: Matthew 24:27 - “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
James 5:7
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. ..
James 5:7
“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Verse 7 talks about God waiting patiently for the latter rain to come so that there can be a second harvest that will happen at the end of the age. Verse 8 begins, “Be ye also” which is the Greek word, “kai” and it tells the reader that what is about to be said is connected to verse 7. Patient - This is a translation of “Makrothumeo.” Here, for the third time in two verses James uses this word as he strongly counsels his readers to be ready to forebear, to wait patiently, and to be longsuffering as they wait for the day of the latter harvest. Stablish - Should be read, firmly establish and is a form of the word, “steridzo.” This describes something fixed and solid, like a cdolumn that hols up the roof of a house. But it is also used to describe a rod driven into the ground next to a grapevine to support the vine as it grew upward. With the picture of a supporting column we see something that provides strength to the entire structure. Take this image and connect it with a stake that supports clusters of grapes and you have an image of adding strength and support to something already existing. What James is telling us is that we are to strengthen and support our hearts when we face adverse circumstances because what we see outwardly is often disappointing and even frustrating. But if we’ll support and add strength to our hearts, we can deal with anything that comes our way. It’s interesting to note that “steridzo” corresponds with the Hebrew word “saad” which means: to uphold and greatly strengthen something God has already established.” It is taught that when someone walks in saad, fear is totally dispelled and replaced with confidence. With this one word, James is telling us that once and for all, be resolute in your hearts and the Lord will comfort, encourage,support, and strengthen you. For the word “heart” James uses “kardia” which describes the life-force, the heartbeat, the deepest part of a human being. For the coming - This is the word “parousia” which James uses in verse 7. It is the technical expression for the royal visit of a king or emperor, whose arrival and presence alone are enough to deal with a situation. In the New Testament this word is used for the coming of the Lord at the rapture and the Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Great Tribulation. And when he comes, he will come with the authority and power to set everything straight! Lord - James uses the word “Kurios” which means ‘supreme master’ or master of everything in every realm. Draweth nigh - This is a translation of the word “engidzo” which really does not do enough to describe the true meaning of this Greek word. Engidzo means, “imminently, at any moment, or to be extremely close.” It is believed by many scholars that the book of James is the earliest book in the New Testament. If James felt the coming of the Lord was extremely close then, how much more is this true for us today? I believe we are living in the end of the end of days. It’s interesting to note that the early writers also used engidzo as a math term to signify the joining of one thing to another. Specifically, it is a geometry term to mean the completing of a circle by joining its starting point with the ending point. In the New Testament it means when God’s pen has reached the final phase of completing the loop, Jesus will return quickly and complete what he started.