WHAT IT MEANS
Ask God for Wisdom
God welcomes sincere requests for wisdom and gives generously.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
CONTEXT
What is happening here?
James addresses believers facing trials and connects wisdom with learning how to respond faithfully under pressure.
APPLY IT
For today
Before reacting to a difficult situation, ask God specifically for wisdom and remain open to correction.
Read it in 5 translations
KJV King James Version
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
WEB World English Bible
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
ASV American Standard Version
But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
and if any of you do lack wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all liberally, and not reproaching, and it shall be given to him;
Surrounding context — James 1
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 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.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
εἰG1487 · eiifδέG1161 · dethenτιςG5100 · tisoneὑμῶνG4771 · suyouλείπεταιG3007 · leipōto lackσοφίας,G4678 · sophiawisdomαἰτείτωG154 · aiteōto askπαρὰG3844 · parafrom/with/besideτοῦG3588 · hothe/this/whoδιδόντοςG1325 · didōmito giveθεοῦG2316 · theosGodπᾶσινG3956 · pasallἁπλῶςG574 · haplōswithout reserveκαὶG2532 · kaiandμὴG3361 · mēnotὀνειδίζοντος,G3679 · oneidizōto revileκαὶG2532 · kaiandδοθήσεταιG1325 · didōmito giveαὐτῷ.G846 · autosit/s/he
Cross-references
Proverbs 2:3-6Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding;John 15:7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.Jeremiah 29:12-13Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.Proverbs 3:5-7Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.1 John 5:14-15And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:2 Chronicles 1:10Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, [that is so] great?Matthew 7:7-11Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:James 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.1 Kings 3:7-12And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I [am but] a little child: I know not [how] to go out or come in.John 14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.John 16:23-24And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you.Isaiah 55:6-7Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:1 John 3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.Luke 11:9-13And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.Exodus 31:3And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,John 4:10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.James 5:16Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.Exodus 31:6And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
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