James 3:18
in James 3Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.
KJV
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
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This verse in James 3
Commentary
10 notes on this verseYou shall rejoice in the morning, that is, in the world to come, if you have gathered the fruits of righteousness by weeping and labor in this world.
This site's exposition
the wisdom that is from above
on James 3:17-18
But the wisdom that is from above answers the earthly wisdom of verse 15 directly, the true wisdom listed in a chain, first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Purity leads the list because it governs the rest, a wisdom that must be clean before it can be peaceable. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace closes the chapter, righteousness pictured as a harvest planted by peacemakers rather than seized by the strife just condemned.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Everything we do in this life is a seed of future retribution, and that retribution itself is the fruit of present works, as the Apostle bears witness, saying: For whatever a man …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
And the principle productive of this righteousness is sown, like good seed, in the peace of a believer's mind, and brings forth a plentiful harvest of happiness, (which is the proper fruit of righteousness,) for them that make peace - That labour to promote this pure and holy peace among all men.
For light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart; and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
It is not gained by conversing with men, nor by the knowledge of the world (as some think and speak), but it comes from above. It consists of these several things:-- 1. It is pure, without mixture of maxims or aims that would debase it: and it is free from iniquity and defilements, not allowing of any known sin, but studious of holiness both in heart and life.
And the fruit of righteousness,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
And the fruit of righteousness is sown - The whole is the principle of righteousness in the soul, and all the above virtues are the fruits of that righteousness. Is sown in peace - When the peace of God rules the heart, all these virtues and graces grow and flourish abundantly. Of them that make peace - The peace-makers are continually recommending this wisdom to others, and their own conduct is represented as a sowing of heavenly seed, which brings forth Divine fruit. Perhaps sowing in peace signifies sowing prosperously - being very successful.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
There the results were present; here, future. fruit . . . sown--Compare Ps 97:11; Isa 61:3, "trees of righteousness." Anticipatory, that is, the seed whose "fruit," namely, "righteousness," shall be ultimately reaped, is now "sown in peace." "Righteousness," now in germ, when fully developed as "fruit" shall be itself the everlasting reward of the righteous.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And the fruit of righteousness - That which the righteousness here referred to produces, or that which is the effect of true religion. The meaning is, that righteousness or true religion produces certain results on the life like the effects of seed sown in good ground. Righteousness or true religion as certainly produces such effects, as seed that is sown produces a harvest. Is sown in peace - Is scattered over the world in a peaceful manner. That is, it is not done amidst contentions, and brawls, and strifes. The farmer sows his seed in peace. The fields are not sown amidst the tumults of a mob, or the excitements of a battle or a camp. Nothing is more calm, peaceful, quiet, and composed, than the farmer, as he walks with measured tread over his fields, scattering his seed. So it is in sowing the “seed of the kingdom,” in preparing for the great harvest of righteousness in the world. It is done by men of peace; it is done in peaceful scenes, and with a peaceful spirit; it is not in the tumult of war, or amidst the hoarse brawling of a mob. In a pure and holy life; in the peaceful scenes of the sanctuary and the Sabbath; by noiseless and unobtrusive laborers, the seed is scattered over the world, and the result is seen in an abundant harvest in producing peace and order. Of them that make peace - By those who desire to produce peace, or who are of a peaceful temper and disposition. They are engaged everywhere in scattering these blessed seeds of peace, contentment, and order; and the result shall be a glorious harvest for themselves and for mankind - a harvest rich and abundant on earth and in heaven. The whole effect, therefore, of religion, is to produce peace. It is all peace - peace in its origin and in its results; in the heart of the individual, and in society; on earth, and in heaven. […]
The words behind it
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καρπὸς | karpos | [The] fruit | G2590 → | 66 times |
| δὲ | de | moreover | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| δικαιοσύνης | dikaiosunes | of righteousness | G1343 → | 92 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| εἰρήνῃ | eirene | peace | G1515 → | 91 times |
| σπείρεται | speiretai | is sown | G4687 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | by those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ποιοῦσιν | poiousin | making | G4160 → | 569 times |
| εἰρήνην.¶ | eirenen | peace. | G1515 → | 91 times |
καρπὸς[The] fruit
karposG2590 →66 times
δὲmoreover
deG1161 →2765 times
δικαιοσύνηςof righteousness
dikaiosunesG1343 →92 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
εἰρήνῃpeace
eireneG1515 →91 times
σπείρεταιis sown
speiretaiG4687 →
τοῖςby those
toisG3588 →19766 times
ποιοῦσινmaking
poiousinG4160 →569 times
εἰρήνην.¶peace.
eirenenG1515 →91 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
Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- James 3:16–18
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Psalms 120:6
Too long have I dwelt among those who hate peace.
- Hebrews 12:14
Through
Hosea 10:12Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 4:3–4
For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
- Isaiah 45:8
Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open up that salvation may sprout and righteousness spring up with it; I, the LORD, have created it.
- Jeremiah 4:3–4
Through
Galatians 6:8The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
it leads to
- Romans 8:13
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Romans 8:13
Where this verse is studied
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About James
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, SERMONS ON GENESIS 10.3.