James 3:16
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For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
envying--So English Version translates the Greek, which usually means "zeal"; "emulation," in Rom 13:13. "The envious man stands in his own light. He thinks his candle cannot shine in the presence of another's sun. He aims directly at men, obliquely at God, who makes men to differ." strife--rivalry [ALFORD]. confusion--literally, "tumultuous anarchy": both in society (translated "commotions," Luk 21:9; "tumults," Co2 6:5), and in the individual mind; in contrast to the "peaceable" composure of true "wisdom," Jam 3:17. James does not honor such effects of this earthly wisdom with the name "fruit," as he does in the case of the wisdom from above. Jam 3:18; compare Gal 5:19-22, "works of the flesh . . . fruit of the Spirit."
Open source ↗The apostle here reproves ambition, and an arrogant magisterial tongue; and shows the duty and advantage of bridling it because of its power to do mischief. Those who profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues (Jam 3:1-12). True wisdom makes men meek, and avoiders of strife and envy: and hereby it may easily be distinguished from a wisdom that is earthly and hypocritical (Jam 3:13 to the end).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man?
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.
idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.
Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.