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James 4:2

James 4:2
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

My Notes

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Baptist theologian, 1697–1771

Gill's Exposition

Ye lust, and have not,.... The apostle proceeds to show the unsuccessfulness of many in their desires and pursuits after worldly things; some might be like the sluggard, whose soul desireth all good…

Presbyterian pastor, 1798–1870

Barnes' Notes

Ye lust, and have not - That is, you wish to have something which you do not now possess, and to which you have no just claim, and this prompts to the effort to obtain it by force. You desire…

Methodist theologian, 1762–1832

Adam Clarke

Ye lust, and have not - Ye are ever covetous, and ever poor.

Ye kill, and, desire to have - Ye are constantly engaged in insurrections and predatory wars, and never gain any advantage.

Ye have not,…

Nonconformist minister, 1662–1714

Matthew Henry

James 4:1-10

The former chapter speaks of envying one another, as the great spring of strifes and contentions; this chapter speaks of a lust after worldly things, and a setting too great a value upon worldly…

Academic commentary, 1882–1921

Cambridge Bible

Ye lust and have not The genesisof evil is traced somewhat in the same way as in ch. Jas 1:15. The germ is found in desire for what we have not, as e. g. in the sins of David (2Sa 11:1) and Ahab (1Ki…