James 4:5 (DRB)

Passage

Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?

Nearby Context

James 4:3 You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your concupiscences.

James 4:4 Adulterers, know you not that the friendship of this world is the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God.

James 4:5 Or do you think that the scripture saith in vain: To envy doth the spirit covet which dwelleth in you?

James 4:6 But he giveth greater grace. Wherefore he saith: God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.

James 4:7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil: and he will fly from you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "think", "scripture", "saith", "vain", "envy", "doth", and "covet". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "think", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "Adulterers know you not that the friendship..." into verse 6's "But he giveth greater grace Wherefore he...", so "Spirit" and "think" 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 "Spirit" and "think" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.