James 4:2
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not.

lust.

James 5:1-5 Go to now, ye rich men: weep and howl in your miseries, which shall come upon you. . . .

Proverbs 1:19 Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:

Ecclesiastes 4:8 There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

Habakkuk 2:5 And as wine deceiveth him that drinketh it: so shall the proud man be, and he shall not be honoured: who hath enlarged his desire like hell: and is himself like death, and he is never satisfied: but will gather together unto him all nations, and heap together unto him all people.

1 Timothy 6:9,10 For they that will become rich fall into temptation and into the snare of the devil and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires, which drown men into destruction and perdition. . . .

kill.

James 1:5 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him.

Isaiah 7:12 And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord.

Matthew 7:7,8 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. . . .

Luke 11:9-13 And I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. . . .

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her: If thou didst know the gift of God and who he is that saith to thee: Give me to drink; thou perhaps wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

John 16:24 Hitherto, you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full.

Context
Warning against Pride
1From whence are wars and contentions among you? Are they not hence, from your concupiscences, which war in your members? 2You covet, and have not: you kill and envy and cannot obtain. You contend and war, and you have not: because you ask not. 3You ask and receive not: because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your concupiscences.…
Cross References
James 5:6
You have condemned and put to death the Just One: and he resisted you not.

1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.

Lexicon
You crave
ἐπιθυμεῖτε (epithymeite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 1937: To long for, covet, lust after, set the heart upon. From epi and thumos; to set the heart upon, i.e. Long for.

[what]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 2532: And, even, also, namely.

{you do} not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

have.
ἔχετε (echete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

You kill
φονεύετε (phoneuete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 5407: To murder, kill. From phoneus; to be a murderer.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 2532: And, even, also, namely.

covet,
ζηλοῦτε (zēloute)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 2206: From zelos; to have warmth of feeling for or against.

but
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 2532: And, even, also, namely.

are unable
δύνασθε (dynasthe)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

to obtain [it].
ἐπιτυχεῖν (epitychein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's Greek 2013: To attain, obtain, acquire. From epi and tugchano; to chance upon, i.e. to attain.

You quarrel
μάχεσθε (machesthe)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 3164: To engage in battle, fight; hence: To strive, contend, dispute.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's Greek 2532: And, even, also, namely.

fight.
πολεμεῖτε (polemeite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 4170: To make war, contend, fight, battle. From polemos; to be in warfare, i.e. To battle: -fight, war.

You do not have,
ἔχετε (echete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

because
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's Greek 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

you
ὑμᾶς (hymas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's Greek 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

{do} not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's Greek 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

ask.
αἰτεῖσθαι (aiteisthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle
Strong's Greek 154: To ask, request, petition, demand. Of uncertain derivation; to ask.


Additional Translations
You crave what you do not have. You kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

You desire and do not have. You kill and covet and are not able to obtain. You fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye lust and have not: ye kill and are full of envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye have not because ye ask not.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye lust and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

You covet things and yet cannot get them; you commit murder; you have passionate desires and yet cannot gain your end; you begin to fight and make war. You have not, because you do not pray;

You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.

ye desire, and ye have not; ye murder, and are zealous, and are not able to attain; ye fight and war, and ye have not, because of your not asking;
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Able Begin Burning Commit Covet Death Desire Desires End Envious Envy Fight Fighting Full Gain Kill Lust Making Murder Obtain Passionate Quarrel Request Want War
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Able Begin Burning Commit Covet Death Desire Desires End Envious Envy Fight Fighting Full Gain Kill Lust Making Murder Obtain Passionate Quarrel Request Want War
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