James 4:5 nasb — Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in…

NASB

"Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?"

— James 4:5, NASB

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James 4:5 in Other Translations

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James 4 — Context

2

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

3

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

4

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5

Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?

6

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

7

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does James 4:5 say?
James 4:5 in the NASB reads: “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?”
Where is James 4:5 in the Bible?
James 4:5 is found in the New Testament, in the book of James, chapter 4, verse 5.
Who wrote James?
James is traditionally attributed to James, half-brother of Jesus, leader of the Jerusalem church. It was written c. AD 44–49.
What is the book of James about?
James is the New Testament's closest cousin to Old-Testament wisdom literature — pungent, practical, and uncompromising. Faith without works is dead. The tongue is a fire. The prayers of a righteous man avail much. It calls Christians to walk their talk.
What are the major themes of James?
James explores themes including Faith and Works, Wisdom, Speech, Suffering, Prayer. These themes shape the meaning and context of James 4:5.
What translation should I read James 4:5 in?
James 4:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize James 4:5?
James 4:5 reads (NASB): “Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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