James 4 13

James 4:13 kjv

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

James 4:13 nkjv

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit";

James 4:13 niv

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."

James 4:13 esv

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" ?

James 4:13 nlt

Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit."

James 4 verses

James 4 13 Meaning

James 4:13 serves as a strong rebuke against arrogant and presumptuous planning for the future that ignores God's sovereignty and the transient nature of human life. It condemns a mindset that assumes absolute control over one's time, actions, and outcomes, acting as if God has no part in guiding or governing events. The verse highlights a self-sufficient attitude focused purely on worldly endeavors and profit, devoid of dependence on divine will.

James 4 13 Context

James 4:13 fits within a broader discussion in James Chapter 4 regarding the roots of conflict, pride, and worldliness among believers. The chapter begins by exposing worldly desires and internal strife (v. 1-3) as causes of division. It then issues a strong warning against friendship with the world (v. 4-6), calls for submission to God and humility (v. 7-10), and warns against slandering others (v. 11-12). Following this call to humility and rejection of worldly wisdom, James 4:13 directly addresses presumptuous future planning, presenting it as another manifestation of human arrogance and self-sufficiency, explicitly condemning it in James 4:16 as "evil boasting." It leads directly into the declaration of life's brevity and uncertainty (v. 14), reinforcing the need for constant reliance on God. Historically and culturally, the Jewish background, from which James writes, consistently emphasized God's sovereignty over all life. This verse serves as a polemic against common commercial attitudes that assumed total human control, prevalent in the Greco-Roman world, where individuals might operate with practical autonomy in their business affairs, potentially overlooking divine Providence or limiting God's involvement to spiritual or religious spheres only. James challenges this practical atheism.

James 4 13 Word analysis

• Come now (Ἄγε νῦν - Age nyn): An imperative expression. It serves as an urgent summons. It means "listen up!" or "see here!" Directs sharp attention to the coming rebuke.
• you who say (οἱ λέγοντες - hoi legontes): Identifies the group. Denotes a habitual mindset or verbalized plan. Pinpoints a common practice of confident, human-centric planning.
• 'Today or tomorrow (Σήμερον ἢ αὔριον - Sēmeron ē aurion): Establishes the timeframe. Refers to near-future business or life planning. Shows typical, short-term human consideration.
• we will go (πορευσόμεθα - poreusometha): Future indicative, active voice. Expresses definite intention. Implies full certainty in personal action.
• into such and such a town (εἰς τήνδε τὴν πόλιν - eis tēnde tēn polin): Lit. "into this [or, the] here city." Generic designation. Indicates a typical, interchangeable business destination. Highlights routine, generalized commercial intent.
• and spend a year there (καὶ ποιήσομεν ἐκεῖ ἐνιαυτόν - kai poiēsomen ekei eniauton): Specific duration. Demonstrates detailed, long-term business calculation. Shows an assumption of guaranteed time for ventures.
• and trade (καὶ ἐμπορευσόμεθα - kai emporeusometha): Engaging in commerce. Refers to buying and selling activities. Identifies the means of their expected income.
• and make a profit (καὶ κερδήσομεν - kai kerdēsomen): Future indicative. Declares the desired outcome. Specifies financial gain as the primary goal. Highlights self-assured success through their own efforts.

Words-group analysis

• "Come now, you who say": This sharp, confrontational opening directly addresses those whose speech and underlying thought patterns reveal a dangerous presumption. It's a call for immediate introspection and repentance from a particular kind of worldly boasting.
• "'Today or tomorrow we will go...and make a profit'": This entire phrase is a dramatic portrayal of absolute self-reliance. It sketches a detailed, self-sufficient plan: travel, specific location, extended duration, commercial activity, and guaranteed success. This meticulous planning, completely devoid of reference to God, epitomizes the arrogance that James condemns. It demonstrates a belief in absolute human control over future circumstances, ignoring divine sovereignty and life's uncertainties.

James 4 13 Bonus section

• The phrase "make a profit" highlights the ultimate motivation for these presumptuous plans, which is worldly gain. This focus on earthly accumulation stands in stark contrast to seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
• This warning particularly targets an underlying self-sufficient pride that elevates human foresight and ability above divine prerogative, classifying such boasting as "evil" in subsequent verses.
• The emphasis on specific timeframes like "Today or tomorrow" and "a year there" illustrates human planning limited by an earthly temporal focus, neglecting eternal perspectives and the sudden cessation of life.
• The verse indirectly sets up a theological understanding of predestination and free will; it's not advocating against human will or planning but emphasizes that such will and plans must always be submitted to the greater, sovereign will of God.
• While aimed at a commercial scenario, the principle extends to all areas of life where individuals make definite future commitments without acknowledging God's ultimate authority and control.

James 4 13 Commentary

James 4:13 critiques not the act of planning, but the arrogant and presumptuous attitude behind it. It exposes the common human tendency to chart a course for the future, make definitive declarations, and presume successful outcomes without acknowledging God's sovereign hand or the fleeting nature of life. This self-reliant planning betrays a "practical atheism," where God is, in essence, excluded from everyday business decisions and future aspirations. The level of detail in the imagined scenario (specific time, place, duration, and financial outcome) highlights the utter certainty these individuals possess in their own agency, utterly overlooking that life, breath, and every future moment depend on the Lord. It serves as a reminder for believers to infuse all their plans with a humble "if the Lord wills" (Deo volente), recognizing that their lives and the fulfillment of their plans are entirely subject to His benevolent and wise direction. For instance, before committing to a major career change or investment, a Christian is called to genuinely seek God's will and be prepared for His alternative path, not merely making a cursory nod to Him after solidifying all plans.