James 1:9
in James 1The 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:
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This verse in James 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verseSince 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
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 ArlesINTRODUCTORY 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
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
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
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
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.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
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 wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καυχάσθω | kauchastho | should boast | G2744 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφὸς | adelphos | brother | G80 → | 343 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ταπεινὸς | tapeinos | of low degree | G5011 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὕψει | hupsei | exaltation | G5311 → | |
| αὐτοῦ, | autou | of him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
καυχάσθωshould boast
kauchasthoG2744 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφὸςbrother
adelphosG80 →343 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ταπεινὸςof low degree
tapeinosG5011 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὕψειexaltation
hupseiG5311 →
αὐτοῦ,of him,
autouG846 →5565 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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 6:10sorrowful, 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
- John 16:22
Through
Proverbs 19:1Better 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?
- Proverbs 28:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies31
On this verse
On this chapter
- Anger and Murder of the Heart
- Ask, Seek, Knock
- The General Epistles
- George Müller and the Orphans of Bristol
- Generosity
- The Words Nadab and Haplotes
Show the next 6 titles
About James

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.
