James 1:13 (WEB)

Passage

Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Nearby Context

James 1:11 For the sun arises with the scorching wind, and withers the grass, and the flower in it falls, and the beauty of its appearance perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in his pursuits.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.

James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

James 1:15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "tempted", "evil", "himself", and "tempts". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "tempted" and "evil", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Blessed is the man who endures temptation..." into verse 14's "But each one is tempted when he...", so "tempted" and "evil" 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 "tempted" and "evil" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.