James 1:14 kjv

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:14 nkjv

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:14 niv

but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

James 1:14 esv

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

James 1:14 nlt

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

James 1 verses

James 1 14 Meaning

James 1:14 explains that temptation does not originate from God, but rather arises from within each individual. It describes a two-step process: first, one is "lured" or "drawn away" from God's path, and second, one is "enticed" by a deceptive promise of satisfaction. Both actions are driven by one's own internal evil desires, highlighting personal responsibility in the pathway to sin.

James 1 14 Context

James 1:14 stands in sharp contrast to the preceding verse, James 1:13, which firmly declares that God tempts no one. This verse then provides the critical explanation: the origin of temptation lies not in any external divine agency, but entirely within the individual. James is addressing believers scattered across the diaspora, likely facing various pressures, persecutions, and internal struggles. He clarifies the path of temptation, moving from an internal desire to its deceptive pull, which leads directly into the subsequent verse (James 1:15) outlining the progression from desire to sin and then to death. This verse is fundamental to James's emphasis on practical faith and personal responsibility, ensuring that believers do not blame God for their failings.

James 1 14 Word analysis

• But: Contrasts with the previous statement, shifting the focus from God's role (He doesn't tempt) to human responsibility.
• each person (Greek: hekastos, ἕκαστος): Emphasizes individual accountability. There is no corporate blame; every individual is personally responsible for their own encounter with temptation.
• is tempted (Greek: peirazetai, πειράζεται): Present tense passive, indicating a continuous state or an ongoing process. While peirazō can mean "to test" (as in 1:2-4 where God tests faith for refinement), here in passive voice, especially when contrasted with 1:13, it clearly refers to succumbing to enticement towards sin. It's the experience of being drawn into sin, rather than divine examination.
• when he is lured (Greek: exelkomenos, ἐξελκόμενος): A participle derived from a verb meaning "to draw out, to drag forth." It is often used in the context of fishing or hunting, where prey is drawn out from its hiding place. It suggests a subtle, persistent pull, an active enticement away from safety or righteousness. The passive voice indicates that the person is the recipient of this action.
• and enticed (Greek: deleazomenos, δελεαζόμενος): Another participle from a verb specifically meaning "to bait, to allure with bait." This is a strong fishing metaphor, vividly portraying sin as bait placed to catch someone. It speaks to the deceptive attraction and appeal of temptation, a promise of gratification. The individual is being 'baited' by something that appeals to their internal desires.
• by his own (Greek: hupo tēs idias, ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας): Reinforces the individual and internal source. It is not an external force or another person’s desire, but one’s very own personal inclinations. This emphasizes accountability.
• desire (Greek: epithymias, ἐπιθυμίας): A strong craving or longing. While epithymia can sometimes be neutral or even positive (e.g., a good desire), in the context of temptation and leading to sin, it unequivocally refers to an inordinate, evil, or illicit craving. This is the root cause and internal drive for being lured and enticed.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• lured and enticed: These two participles (exelkomenos and deleazomenos) form a powerful parallel. They describe the method of temptation using vivid hunting/fishing imagery. "Lured" speaks to being drawn away from one's safe position, while "enticed" refers to the attraction of the bait itself. Together, they depict the complete deceptive mechanism of temptation that appeals to internal weakness.
• by his own desire: This phrase directly attributes the power and success of the temptation to an internal, self-generated force. It highlights the deeply personal nature of sin, stemming from the inner impulses and longings of the fallen human nature, rather than an external irresistible force or divine instigation. This underlines ultimate human culpability.

James 1 14 Bonus section

The progression described in James 1:14 lays the crucial groundwork for James 1:15. Desire, in this verse, is not yet sin, but it is the fertile ground from which sin can grow. The two-fold action of "lured" and "enticed" is precisely how sin "conceives" in the human heart, leading to its birth (the actual sinful act), which ultimately brings forth spiritual death. This emphasizes that to overcome sin, one must deal with the desire itself, the internal disposition, not merely the external manifestation. It speaks to the importance of guarding the heart, as Proverbs also advises. Resisting temptation begins with understanding its internal origin and taking responsibility for one's inner inclinations and the thoughts entertained.

James 1 14 Commentary

James 1:14 offers profound insight into the mechanics of temptation, removing any external blame and placing responsibility squarely on the individual. It describes a sequential process where internal desire acts as the weak point or the "bait receiver." When one is tempted, it's not a random external attack by God, but an inward drawing away (luring) from moral good, followed by the specific appeal (enticing) of a promise that caters to one's corrupt desires. The imagery of fishing — where the fish is first drawn from its safe environment and then attracted by the bait — effectively illustrates this insidious process. This verse stresses that evil desires are internal, active, and personal, underscoring that our internal inclinations are the real battlefield of temptation. It serves as a stark warning and a call to self-awareness regarding the dangers posed by one's own unrestrained epithymia.