Skip to content
mannafest.faith

James 1:9

in James 1

The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate:

KJV

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

This verse in James 1

Commentary

10 notes on this verse

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on James · Written before 1107.

Since the apostle recognizes humility as the guardian of everything good and nothing is accomplished without it among the diligent, he adds: "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation." He likens the doubter to a wave of the sea, which rises at the blowing …

This site's exposition

The brother in humble circumstances

on James 1:9-11

The brother in humble circumstances should exult in his high position, and the rich in his low position. The rich man will pass away like a flower of the field, Isaiah's figure for human glory in Isaiah 40:6-8, and fade away.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on James · Written before 550.

proposed

Let the brother who is humble glory, in his exaltation: Because James likens the wavering, to a wave driven by the wind, who, being inflated, is exalted together with the winds of the sea, but before he is raised, he prostrates himself and gives himself …

A commentator

Hilary of Arles

INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES · Written before 449.

proposed

This verse applies to Hebrew slaves who were great and proud and high in their own eyes but in their slavery had become the lowest of the low. It is as if he were saying that life was harder for the rich people with whom …

The Medieval Church1 voice

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles · Written before 735.

proposed

Let the humble brother boast in his exaltation. Therefore, he says, you must consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, because everyone who humbly endures adversities for the Lord receives lofty rewards of the kingdom from Him.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Those of low degree are to be looked upon as brethren: Let the brother of low degree, &c. Poverty does not destroy the relation among Christians. Good Christians may be rich in the world,
Let the brother of low degree,....
3 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

But those sins which bring sufferings, or the weakness and faults men are chargeable with under them, are by no means to be imputed to God, who cannot be the author of sin, but is the author of all good,

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Let the brother of low degree - The poor, destitute Christian may glory in the cross of Christ, and the blessed hope laid up for him in heaven; for, being a child of God, he is an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ.
Let the brother of low degree - This verse seems to introduce a new topic, which has no other connection with what precedes than that the apostle is discussing the general subject of trials. Compare Jas 1:2. Turning from the consideration of trials in general, he passes to the consideration of a particular kind of trials, that which results from a change of circumstances in life, from poverty to affluence, and from affluence to poverty.

The words behind it

10 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 6:10

    sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

    it leads to

    • John 16:22

      So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

    • 2 Corinthians 8:9

      For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

    • Revelation 2:9

      I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.

    • James 2:5

      Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?

    • 1 Peter 1:6–8

      In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials

  • Through

    Proverbs 19:1

    Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.

    it leads to

    • Proverbs 28:6

      Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

    • Proverbs 16:8

      Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.

    • Matthew 16:26

      What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Where this verse is studied

About James

Saint James the Younger, El Greco, 1600. Public domain.
Saint James the Younger, El Greco, 1600. Public domain.

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on James and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on James.