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

    • 4 μοιχαλίδες, Adulteresses, οὐκ not οἴδατε have YOU known ὅτι that ἡ the φιλία friendship τοῦ of the κόσμου world ἔχθρα enmity τοῦ of the θεοῦ God ἐστίν; is? ὃς Who ἐὰν if ever οὖν therefore βουληθῇ should wish φίλος friend εἶναι to be τοῦ of the κόσμου, world, ἐχθρὸς enemy τοῦ of the θεοῦ God καθίσταται. is putting self down.

  • James 4:4
    American Standard Version

    • 4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

  • James 4:4
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 4 Adulteresses! Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity to God? Whosoever therefore is minded to be a friend of the world An enemy of God doth constitute himself.

  • James 4:4
    King James Version

    • 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

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

    • 4:4

      Adulteresses: Or “You unfaithful ones.” In the Hebrew Scriptures, Jehovah spoke of the nation of Israel as his wife because that nation was in a covenant relationship with him. However, when Israel turned to other gods or made alliances with other nations, God’s people became an unfaithful wife, an adulteress. (Jer 3:1, 8, 20; Eze 16:15, 25-29; Ho 4:15; 9:1) Jesus used a similar expression regarding unfaithful ones in his day. (Mt 12:39; Mr 8:38 and study note) James indicates that dedicated Christians who became friends of the world were unfaithful to God, committing spiritual adultery.​—Joh 17:14; 2Co 11:2; Re 14:4.

      do you not know . . . ?: In the preceding verses, James referred to wrong attitudes that some Christians had. (Jas 4:1-3) In fact, their actions resembled the ways of the wicked world around them. James here uses a pointed rhetorical question to help those Christians realize that their attitudes were making them friends of the world.

      friendship with the world is enmity with God: In this context, “the world” refers to the wicked human society that is alienated from God. (Jas 1:27; 1Jo 2:15-17; see Glossary, “World.”) “Friendship [Greek, phi·liʹa] with the world” indicates an emotional attachment to it. Friends of the world would develop the dominant attitude that permeates the world. (Eph 2:2 and study note) They would think like the world, reflecting its desires, ambitions, prejudices, and hatreds. By contrasting the terms “friendship” and “enmity,” James powerfully warns his readers of the consequences of friendship with the world​—they would make themselves enemies of God.