17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That's the most important thing about it. And that's not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn't pretend to be what it is not.
Reference
Greek: εἰ μή (ei mḗ)
if not
Hebrew: ʼăbâl
nay, i.e. truly or yet
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: σοφία (sophía)
wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)
Hebrew: chokmâh
wisdom
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: οὐρανόθεν (ouranóthen)
from the sky
Greek: εἰλικρινής (eilikrinḗs)
judged by sunlight, i.e. tested as genuine (figuratively)
Hebrew: nᵉqêʼ
clean
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: πρός (prós)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
Hebrew: ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: οὐδαμῶς (oudamōs)
by no means
Hebrew: ʼîyn
is it not?
Greek: ὅλος (hólos)
"whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
Hebrew: kôl
{properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: δή (dḗ)
a particle of emphasis or explicitness; now, then, etc.
Hebrew: ʼôw
desire (and so probably in Proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
Hebrew: shᵉlâm
prosperity
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: πρός (prós)
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated)
Hebrew: ʼêl
near, with or among; often in general, to
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: μεστός (mestós)
replete (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: shâlêm
complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly
Greek: οἰκτιρμός (oiktirmós)
pity
Hebrew: rᵉchêm
(plural) pity
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: βίος (bíos)
life, i.e. (literally) the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood
Hebrew: rᵉkûwsh
property (as gathered)
Greek: ὀπώρα (opṓra)
properly, even-tide of the (summer) season (dog-days), i.e. (by implication) ripe fruit
Hebrew: ʼêb
{a green plant}
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἀστεῖος (asteîos)
urbane, i.e. (by implication) handsome
Hebrew: ṭûwb
good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the best), beauty, gladness, welfare
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: οὐδαμῶς (oudamōs)
by no means
Hebrew: ʼîyn
is it not?
Good
Romans 12:9
James 1:17
Parallel theme
Proverbs 2:6
James 3:15
James 1:5
1 John 3:18
1 Peter 1:22
Luke 21:15
1 John 3:3
Matthew 5:8
Verse Explanation
Wisdom from God is first pure and then peaceful, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good results, impartial, and sincere, providing a practical description of what godly wisdom looks like in daily life.
History
1st century AD: James presents wisdom as moral character expressed through relationships rather than merely intellectual knowledge.