• James 4:2
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 2 ἐπιθυμεῖτε, YOU are desiring, καὶ and οὐκ not ἔχετε· YOU are having; φονεύετε YOU are murdering καὶ and ζηλοῦτε, YOU are being jealous, καὶ and οὐ not δύνασθε YOU are able ἐπιτυχεῖν· to obtain; μάχεσθε YOU are fighting καὶ and πολεμεῖτε. YOU are warring. οὐκ Not ἔχετε YOU are having διὰ through τὸ the μὴ not αἰτεῖσθαι to be asking ὑμᾶς· YOU;

  • James Study Notes—Chapter 4
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 4:2

      You desire, and yet you do not have: Evidently, some first-century Christians failed to control their selfish desires. Since God would not fulfill those desires, they kept fighting one another in an effort to obtain what they craved. (La 3:44; Jas 4:1, 3) If their desires had been in harmony with his will, Jehovah would have been delighted to be generous with those Christians.​—Jas 1:17; 1Jo 5:14.

      You go on murdering: It seems that some Christians were nurturing such intense jealousy and hatred that James says that they were “murdering.” Clearly, James was speaking figuratively; any unrepentant murderers would have been removed from the congregation. (1Co 5:13) If a person failed to correct his hostile, hateful attitude, Jehovah might eventually judge him as a murderer.​—Compare Mt 5:22 and study note.

      and coveting: Or “and are jealous.”​—See study note on 1Co 13:4, where the same Greek word is rendered “jealous.”