That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Parallel translations
- WEB For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
- KJV For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
- NKJV For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
- NASB For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
- NLT Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
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
The wavering person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Doubting God's goodness undermines the very trust prayer requires.
Overview
James states plainly the consequence of double-minded asking: such a person should not presume on God's gifts. This is not a denial of God's generosity but a warning that faithless prayer reflects a heart not truly relying on Him. The point is to drive believers toward wholehearted dependence on the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Jas 4:3And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Isa 1:15When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Isa 58:3–4“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.
- Prov 21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.
How James 1:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.