Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
Parallel translations
- WEB for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.
- KJV For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
- BSB for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
- NKJV for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
- NASB for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. Self-willed wrath cannot accomplish God's righteous purposes.
Overview
James gives the reason to be slow to anger: the anger of man, driven by pride and self-interest, fails to bring about the righteous life God requires. This is not a blanket condemnation of all anger but a warning against the sinful, reactive kind. True righteousness is the fruit of God's word at work, not of human temper.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 2 Tim 2:24–25The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient,
- Eph 4:26“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
- Jas 3:17–18But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
- Num 20:11–12Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice, and water came out abundantly. The congregation and their livestock drank.
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Original language
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