James 4 3

James 4:3 kjv

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:3 nkjv

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

James 4:3 niv

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:3 esv

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James 4:3 nlt

And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong ? you want only what will give you pleasure.

James 4 verses

James 4 3 Meaning

This verse explains why prayers sometimes go unanswered: the problem lies not with God's ability or willingness to give, but with the petitioner's motivation and purpose. Believers may ask for things, yet they do not receive them because their requests are made with an inherently wrong aim—specifically, to fulfill their own selfish desires or worldly passions, rather than to serve God's purposes or promote righteousness. It highlights a common failure in prayer stemming from self-centeredness and fleshly appetites.

James 4 3 Context

James 4:3 is embedded within a passage (4:1-10) that addresses conflict and instability within the Christian community. James opens the chapter by identifying the source of "quarrels and fights" (Jas 4:1) not as external enemies, but as "your passions that are at war within you." These passions are described as intensely selfish desires, leading to covetousness, murder (in desire, if not always in act), and inability to obtain. Verse 3 directly follows this by explaining why their prayers for what they covet are also fruitless: because even if they pray, their ultimate goal is self-gratification (on "your passions"). James emphasizes the profound connection between internal selfish desires and external conflicts, highlighting how these desires also corrupt prayer, turning it into a means for personal indulgence rather than a conduit for God's glory or righteous living. The broader context of the epistle advocates for a practical, active faith that is evidenced by righteous living, genuine wisdom from above, and humble submission to God, in stark contrast to the worldly wisdom and selfish desires prevalent in the community he addresses. The Jewish-Christian audience would have understood the connection between motive, heart, and God's response from Old Testament teachings.

James 4 3 Word analysis

• You ask (αἰτεῖτε - aiteite): From aiteō, meaning to ask, request, beg. It refers to a common act of making a plea or petition. This is a direct address to the recipients of the letter, indicating that their asking is indeed happening.
• and do not receive (οὐ λαμβάνετε - ou lambanete): ou (not) and lambanō (to take, receive, get). This is the factual outcome of their asking. The stark contrast between "ask" and "not receive" immediately prompts the question of "why."
• because (διότι - dioti): This conjunction introduces the reason or cause for the previous statement. It sets up the explanation for their unanswered prayers.
• you ask wrongly (κακῶς αἰτεῖσθε - kakōs aiteisthe):
  • kakōs: adverb meaning badly, improperly, wickedly, for ill purposes. It modifies "ask" (the verb form is passive voice, "you are asked," implying how your asking comes about, or that your asking itself is faulty, not just the object of asking). This is not just about what they ask for, but how (their intention) or why (their motive) they ask. It indicates a fundamental flaw in the nature or purpose of their prayer. The way they ask is intrinsically corrupt.
  • aiteisthe: middle/passive voice of aiteō, emphasizing that the act of asking, from their side, is faulty.
• to spend it (ἵνα ἐν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὑμῶν δαπανήσητε - hina en tais hēdonais hymōn dapanaisēte): This is a purpose clause (introduced by hina).
  • en tais hēdonais hymōn: "on your passions/pleasures." hēdonē (ἡδονή) is a crucial term here. It refers to sensual pleasures, strong desires, lusts, or appetites. It carries a negative connotation in ethical contexts, often associated with self-indulgence and worldly gratification, forming the root of the word "hedonism." This reveals the ulterior motive behind their prayers—not God's glory, not the well-being of others, not even a legitimate need met in God-honoring ways, but purely personal gratification of desires that conflict with godly living (compare Jas 4:1). These passions are often transient and lead to further discontent rather than true fulfillment.
  • dapanēsēte: from dapanaō, meaning to spend, expend, consume, waste, or squander. It denotes the act of using resources. The implied object of "spend it" is what they would receive from God. This shows that the purpose of their request is to consume God's potential provision on their selfish and worldly cravings. It's a consumption that aims at self-gratification, not stewardship or God's purposes.

James 4 3 Bonus section

The concept of hēdonē (passions/pleasures) is critical. In Greek philosophy, particularly Stoicism, hēdonē was often seen as an irrational impulse or an emotion that hinders rational action and virtue. While not strictly a polemic against philosophical schools, James employs the term to denote desires that are out of sync with divine wisdom and lead to conflict. The idea of "spending" (dapanaō) these potential gifts "on" (a dative of advantage, for the benefit of) these self-centered pleasures suggests a misuse of God's resources for self-indulgence, effectively squandering His provision. This highlights that God desires to provide, but for His purposes and our spiritual good, not for our detrimental passions. The unanswered prayer, in this case, is not a sign of God's lack of power or care, but His protective love and refusal to fuel our spiritual decline by fulfilling desires that lead to ungodliness. It underlines that prayer is not just an appeal, but a relationship governed by the Father's good and perfect will.

James 4 3 Commentary

James 4:3 pierces through the illusion that prayer is a guaranteed delivery system for anything we desire. It asserts that God, in His wisdom and sovereignty, does not indulge selfish desires masquerading as requests. The core issue highlighted is the motivation behind the prayer. It's not about the absence of faith (though that is addressed in Jas 1:6-7), nor about the specific item requested in isolation, but about the spirit and ultimate aim of the asking. When desires stem from carnal lusts (hēdonai) and the intention is simply self-gratification or worldly pleasure, such prayers are deemed "wrongly asked." God cannot bless or empower what serves the flesh against the Spirit. True prayer aligns with God's will and purpose, seeks His glory, and serves His kingdom, not our fleeting human appetites. This verse challenges believers to examine their hearts and realign their desires with God's before approaching Him in prayer. It calls for sanctified desires, reflecting a heart yielded to Christ. For instance, praying for wealth to build a larger ministry for God is distinct from praying for wealth to buy a luxury item for personal pleasure, even if both ask for "wealth."