James 1:8 KJV

The Pulpit Commentary - James 1:7-8

The A.V., which makes James 1:8 an independent sentence, is certainly wrong. Render, Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord, double-minded man that he is, unstable in all his ways. So Vulgate, Vir duplex animi, inconstans in omnibus viis . (The Clementine Vulgate, by reading est after inconstans , agrees with A.V) Another possible rendering is that of the R.V. margin, "Let not that man think that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, shall receive,"... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 1:8

A double minded man - The word here used, δίψυχος dipsuchos occurs only here and in James 4:8. It means, properly, one who has two souls; then one who is wavering or inconstant. It is applicable to a man who has no settled principles; who is controlled by passion; who is influenced by popular feeling; who is now inclined to one opinion or course of conduct, and now to another.Is unstable in all his ways - That is, not merely in regard to prayer, the point particularly under discussion, but in... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 1:8

James 1:8. A double-minded man Ανηρ διψυχος , a man who has, as it were, two souls; whose heart is divided between God and the world, and is not simply given up to him, nor entirely confides in him for the direction, aid, and support which he stands in need of; is unstable in all his ways Being without the true wisdom, he perpetually disagrees both with himself and others; and will be perpetually running into inconsistencies of conduct, while those imperfect impressions of religion... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - James 1:1-18

1:1-18 LIFE’S TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIESJames’ readers are scattered over the area of the early church’s expansion (1:1), but no matter where they live, they share the same responsibilities as Christians everywhere. One of these responsibilities requires them to do something that by nature is very difficult, namely, face the trials of life with joy. This joy comes through the knowledge that trials help believers to develop endurance and so strengthen their Christian character (2-4).When faced with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:8

double minded . Greek. dipsuchos. Only here and James 4:8 . There is no verb, but "double minded" and "unstable" qualify "that man". Compare Psalms 119:113 . man . App-123 . unstable . Greek. akatastatos. Only here and James 3:8 . The noun, Luke 21:9 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - James 1:8

... a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.Two things of very great importance are evidenced by this short verse. In the first place, as Dummelow suggested, "It refers to the teaching of Christ in Matthew 6:24";[20] thus being in perfect consonance with practically everything else in the book of James.Secondly, "doubleminded" is a word evidently coined by the author of this epistle, because it is found in no other work prior to this.[21] Significantly, Clement of Rome (95 A.D.) quoted... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 1:8

James 1:8. A double-minded man is unstable— "He, whose schemes are divided between God and the world, and who cannot cheerfully and resolutely commit himself, in confidence of divine support, to be led whithersoever Providence shall please, is unsettled in all his ways: he will perpetually be running into inconsistencies of conduct; and these imperfect and undetermined impressions of religion which he feels, will serve rather to perplex and torment, than to guide and secure him." Moreover, he... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 1:8

8. double-minded—literally, "double-souled," the one soul directed towards God, the other to something else. The Greek favors ALFORD'S translation, "He (the waverer, :-) is a man double-minded, unstable," c. or better, BEZA'S. The words in this James 1:8 are in apposition with "that man," James 1:7; thus the "us," which is not in the original, will not need to be supplied, "A man double-minded, unstable in all his ways!" The word for "double-minded" is found here and in James 1:7- :, for the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 1:2-11

A. The Value of Trials 1:2-11The writer pointed out the value of trials to encourage his readers to adopt a positive attitude toward these experiences, to endure them, and to view them as God’s tools. God uses trials to shape believers into people that will glorify Himself. read more