James 4:2

You lust, and you have not: you murder, and you strive, and you are not able to obtain: you fight and you war; and have not, because you do not ask:

1902 William Baxter Godbey NT

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

1Whence come wars and whence come battles within you? are they not from thence, from your pleasures warring in your members?

3you ask, and you receive not, because you ask wickedly, that you may expend it in your pleasures.

Read all of James 4

Cross References

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

John 16:24Until now you have asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, in order that your joy may be full.

James 1:5But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all cheerfully and upbraids none; and it will be given unto him.

Matthew Henry on James 4:2-11

Origin of War and Contention; Against Pride; Submission to God. ( a. d. 61.) 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 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. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study James 4:2