James 1:7 kjv

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:7 nkjv

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

James 1:7 niv

That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

James 1:7 esv

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

James 1:7 nlt

Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

James 1 verses

James 1 7 Meaning

James 1:7 states a profound truth regarding the effectiveness of prayer and the reception of divine favor: a person who prays while doubting God's willingness or ability to respond should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. This verse acts as a solemn warning against wavering faith, directly connecting the sincerity and singleness of one's heart with God's provision of wisdom and answers. It implies that a divided mind obstructs the channel through which divine blessings flow.

James 1 7 Context

James 1:7 is situated within James's opening exhortations to Jewish Christians enduring various trials and persecutions (James 1:2). These believers desperately needed wisdom (James 1:5) to navigate their challenging circumstances with spiritual understanding and endurance. James urges them to ask God for this wisdom without reservation, assuring them that God gives generously and without reproach. Verse 7 serves as the direct consequence for failing the condition laid out in verse 6: asking "in faith, with no doubting." It immediately precedes the description of the "double-minded man" (James 1:8), portraying a state of spiritual instability resulting from internal conflict between belief and unbelief. The broader context of James chapter 1 underscores themes of perseverance through trials, the source of true wisdom, and the importance of unwavering faith in a personal God who is both good and immutable.

James 1 7 Word analysis

• For (Gar - γάρ): A conjunctive particle, often explanatory, indicating that what follows explains or substantiates the preceding statement. It introduces the reason why one must ask in faith without doubting (as stated in v. 6).
• let not (mē - μή with imperative): A strong negative particle, expressing a prohibition or warning. It means "do not let him" or "he should not."
• that man (ekeinos anthrōpos - ἐκεῖνος ἄνθρωπος): Ekeinos ("that," demonstrative pronoun) emphasizes a specific individual (the one described in v. 6). Anthrōpos (man, person) is a generic term for a human being. It refers to anyone exhibiting the characteristic of doubt.
• think (dokéō - δοκέω): Means "to suppose," "to imagine," "to seem," or "to expect." This word implies an assumption or expectation rather than a firm knowledge or belief. The person supposes he might receive something, but James asserts this expectation is futile because of their doubt.
• that he shall receive (hoti lēpsetai - ὅτι λήμψεται): Lēpsetai is the future indicative of lambanō (λαμβάνω), meaning "to take," "to receive," or "to grasp." It indicates the active reception of something. James emphatically states this will not happen.
• any thing (ti - τι): An indefinite pronoun, meaning "something" or "anything." The inclusiveness ("any thing") highlights that no request, great or small, will be granted under the condition of doubt.
• of the Lord (apo Kyriou - ἀπὸ Κυρίου): Apo (ἀπὸ) means "from" or "away from," denoting the source. Kyriou (Κυρίου), "Lord," refers to God. This phrase emphasizes that the blockage of reception is on the part of the human, not because of God's unwillingness, but because of the spiritual principle God operates by: a relationship of faith and trust.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For let not that man think": This is a direct, imperative warning from James. It serves as a stern injunction against holding any false hope for an outcome when the condition (undoubting faith) has not been met. It addresses the internal assumption of the individual.
• "that he shall receive any thing of the Lord": This phrase details the consequence of such a doubting mindset. It clearly states that nothing—zero, nothing at all—will be granted from God to the person whose heart is divided between faith and doubt. The "Lord" is the sole and ultimate source of true wisdom and provision.

James 1 7 Bonus section

The inability to "receive any thing of the Lord" highlights not just unanswered prayer, but a broader inability to appropriate spiritual blessings and grace. It implies that wisdom, guidance, strength, and indeed, any provision from God for living through trials, hinges upon this foundational posture of faith. The Greek term dokéō (think/suppose) in verse 7 is significant, implying a presumptuous expectation without the necessary prerequisite. It suggests a disconnect between lip service and heart conviction, showing that God values not just the act of asking, but the sincere, undivided heart behind it. This verse serves as a litmus test for spiritual authenticity and warns against a mere outward show of piety without inward reality.

James 1 7 Commentary

James 1:7 underscores a vital truth about the nature of a functional relationship with God: it must be founded on genuine trust and unwavering faith. When one approaches the Lord with a divided heart—simultaneously asking for help while harboring skepticism about God's willingness or ability to provide—the spiritual connection necessary for reception is severed. It is not that God is unwilling, but that the human recipient, through their doubt, puts themselves in a spiritual posture that is unable to receive divine wisdom or intervention. This inability stems from internal instability; the person is "double-minded" (v. 8), vacillating between reliance on God and reliance on self or other solutions, creating a spiritual dissonance that precludes God's generous answers. It’s an impossibility not due to God’s nature (who gives generously, v. 5), but due to the receiver’s disposition. Practically, this means effective prayer requires alignment between the words spoken and the conviction of the heart. For example, if one prays for healing but deep down does not believe God truly heals today, such a prayer, according to this verse, should not be expected to result in healing.