James 4:7 (ASV)

Passage

Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Nearby Context

James 4:5 Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

James 4:7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.

James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "subject", "therefore", "resist", "devil", and "flee". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "subject" and "therefore", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "But he giveth more grace Wherefore the..." into verse 8's "Draw nigh to God and he will...", so "subject" and "therefore" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "subject" and "therefore" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.