James 4 15

James 4:15 kjv

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

James 4:15 nkjv

Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

James 4:15 niv

Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

James 4:15 esv

Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

James 4:15 nlt

What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."

James 4 verses

James 4 15 Meaning

James 4:15 prescribes the appropriate attitude and language for Christians when making plans, contrasting it with the presumptuous boasting condemned in the preceding verses. It teaches that all human intentions and future activities are contingent upon God's sovereign will. Rather than asserting "we will do this or that," believers are instructed to preface their plans with "If the Lord wills" or "God willing," acknowledging His ultimate authority over life, breath, and future events. This verse calls for humility and submission, recognizing that our lives and actions are subject to His divine purpose and providence.

James 4 15 Context

James 4:15 is nestled within a powerful discourse on the dangers of worldly desires, self-exaltation, and spiritual pride. James is addressing a community riddled with conflicts, quarrels, and covetousness, stemming from unfulfilled lusts and a misplaced reliance on their own wisdom and abilities. He challenges their spiritual adulteries (friendship with the world) and calls them to humble themselves before God, resisting the devil. Verses 13-14 specifically rebuke merchants or businessmen who presumptuously make elaborate future plans for profit without acknowledging the brevity and uncertainty of life or the sovereignty of God. This verse provides the proper antidote to such arrogance: a posture of humble dependence and submission to God's ultimate authority over all. It prepares the ground for the direct condemnation of boasting in "arrogant schemes" in the subsequent verse (Jam 4:16).

James 4 15 Word analysis

• Instead (ἀντὶ - anti): A preposition here marking a contrast or replacement. It signifies that what follows is the correct way of thinking and speaking, as opposed to the self-assured, God-forgetting presumption previously condemned (Jam 4:13-14). It directly introduces the divine instruction.
• you ought to say (ὀφείλετε λέγειν - opheilete legein): "Ought" (ὀφείλετε - opheilete) signifies a moral or spiritual obligation and necessity, not merely a suggestion. It conveys what is due to God from a believer's attitude. "To say" (λέγειν - legein) emphasizes that this acknowledgment should be verbalized, reflecting an internal disposition.
• If (ἐὰν - ean): A conditional particle used with the subjunctive mood, indicating a condition that might or might not be met, hence "if" or "should." It introduces the clause expressing divine will, highlighting its essential, foundational role.
• the Lord (ὁ Κύριος - ho Kyrios): Refers to God, acknowledging His supreme authority and mastership. In a New Testament context, it can refer to God the Father or Jesus Christ, reinforcing the idea of divine sovereignty over all of life and creation.
• wills (θέλῃ - thelē): From thelō, meaning "to will," "to desire," "to choose," or "to purpose." This word speaks of God's sovereign and deliberate choice or intention, not a mere permission. It points to God's active involvement in ordering events and encompasses His comprehensive divine providence.
• we will live (ζήσομεν - zēsomén): Future indicative of zaō (to live). This refers not just to continued biological existence but also to having breath and being active. It emphasizes that life itself, and the duration of it, is entirely dependent on God's sustaining power.
• and do this or that (καὶ ποιήσομεν τοῦτο ἢ ἐκεῖνο - kai poiēsomén touto ē ekeino): "Do" (ποιήσομεν - poiēsomén) is also future indicative, referring to any future actions, plans, or enterprises. "This or that" (τοῦτο ἢ ἐκεῖνο - touto ē ekeino) are general pronouns signifying specific but unnamed future activities or ventures. This phrase encompasses all human endeavors, demonstrating that every aspect of life and every plan, great or small, falls under God's ultimate domain.
• "Instead you ought to say": This phrase functions as a direct correction to the proud boasting of James 4:13. It establishes the proper form of speech that reflects a humble heart submitted to divine sovereignty. It's a command for spiritual discipline in one's thought and expression regarding the future.
• "If the Lord wills": This is the crucial theological clause, known historically as Deo volente (Latin for "God willing"). It articulates the fundamental principle of divine sovereignty, indicating that no human plan or endeavor can succeed or even come to pass without God's explicit purpose and permission. It is an acknowledgment of God's active, overriding role in all of life's contingencies.
• "we will live and do this or that": This final part specifies the content of human planning, making it clear that all aspects of life and all future activities are to be understood as being conditional upon the Lord's will. It’s not just big plans, but every mundane activity, acknowledging that breath itself is a gift for a moment.

James 4 15 Bonus section

The historical and cultural context further illuminates James's rebuke. In the Greco-Roman world, the idea of tyche (fate or fortune) was prevalent, leading many to trust in luck or their own ingenuity. James’s emphatic statement directly counteracts such pagan fatalism and self-reliance, pointing instead to the personal and active will of the Lord. The Christian perspective on time is radically different from secular views: rather than an empty vessel to be filled by human ambition, time and all its possibilities are seen as a divine gift, entrusted to us moment by moment. Therefore, future plans are not certainties to be declared, but hopes to be held loosely and submitted to the Giver of time. This verse fosters an eternal perspective on earthly pursuits, subordinating short-term gains to God’s ultimate and eternal purposes. The consistent practice of "if the Lord wills" cultivate a deep-seated spiritual discipline of dependency, acknowledging the fragile nature of life and the mighty hand of God.

James 4 15 Commentary

James 4:15 stands as a timeless call to humility and absolute reliance on God's sovereignty. It dismantles the human illusion of autonomy and control over the future. The prior verses revealed the arrogance of making grand financial plans without acknowledging the brevity of life ("For what is your life? It is even a vapor") and, crucially, without factoring in God. The remedy James offers is not mere resignation, but a Spirit-led attitude that consciously subjects all intentions to the divine will. The phrase "If the Lord wills" (often shortened to "God willing" or Deo volente) is more than a religious cliché; it's a profound theological statement that transforms how believers perceive and execute their plans. It acknowledges that God holds every moment in His hand, from our very breath to the success or failure of our ventures. This posture prevents pride and teaches a continual posture of trust, reminding us that true wisdom begins with reverent acknowledgment of God's dominion over all creation and human affairs. It’s a challenge to walk in practical humility, recognizing that every breath, every opportunity, every path, and every achievement is ultimately a gift and allowance from our Creator. It means that while we plan diligently (as good stewards), we hold those plans lightly, knowing God's purposes will ultimately prevail.

• Example: A student plans to finish their project tomorrow; they should genuinely think, "If the Lord wills, I will finish my project tomorrow."
• Example: A family plans a vacation for next year; they pray and acknowledge, "We will go, if the Lord permits."
• Example: A business owner sets production targets; they approach them with the understanding, "By God's grace, and if He wills, we will meet these targets."