Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
What does James 4:8 mean?
Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside James 4:7-8 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you - Compare 2 Chronicles 15:2 . This declaration contains a great and important principle in religion. If we wish the favor of God, we must come to him; nor can we hope for his mercy, unless we approach him and ask him for it. We cannot come literally any nearer to God than we always are, for he is always round about us; but we may come nearer in a spiritual sense. We may address him directly in prayer; we may approach him by meditation on his character; we may draw near to him in the ordinances of religion.
Context in James 4
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James 4 belongs to the late movement of the book, especially the section often described as patience, prayer, and restoration. James is a wisdom-shaped epistle about testing, speech, wealth, impartiality, works, prayer, and practical holiness. Read this chapter with the wider themes of works, wisdom, and speech in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Passages on asking, persistence, confession, dependence, and the way prayer shapes Christian life and attention.
Verses on the fear of the Lord, wise speech, practical judgment, teachability, and the difference between biblical wisdom and mere cleverness.
Who quoted James 4:8?
Find out who used James 4:8 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted James 4:8?
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «draw nigh to God»):