But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Parallel translations
- WEB But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
- BSB But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
- NKJV But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
- NASB But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
- NLT But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
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
Such asking must be in faith, without wavering, since the doubter is as unstable as a wind-tossed wave. Confidence in God's character is essential to prayer.
Overview
James qualifies the promise of verse 5: the request must come in genuine trust, not divided allegiance. The "doubting" in view is not honest uncertainty but a settled instability that questions whether God is good and reliable. The image of a restless wave vividly captures a heart that cannot commit itself to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 21:21–22Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
- Heb 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
- Mark 11:22–24And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
- Eph 4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
- Heb 10:23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
- Heb 13:9Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
- 1 Tim 2:8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
- Jude 1:12–13These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
- 2 Pet 2:17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
- Gen 49:4Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
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Original language
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