What Does James 3:13 Mean in the King James?
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Wisdom becomes visible in the work a life produces and in the gentleness with which that work appears.
THE MEANING
The question lands on you now: wisdom is recognized where understanding takes form in visible works. Those works emerge through a good way of living, carried with meekness. The verse holds strength and gentleness together rather than making them opposites.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that knowing the right things is enough to establish wisdom dissolves here; wisdom is seen in a life and its works, shaped by meekness.
THE ROOT
ἀναστροφή
anastrophē
GROWS FROM
στρεφ- (stref-), from στρέφω (strephō)
Turn; turn oneself; conduct oneself.
The KJV’s “conversation” names conduct, and ἀναστροφή means one’s manner of life. Its word family grows from στρέφω, “to turn,” locating wisdom in the direction and repeated shape of a life, where works make it visible.
ALSO GROWS
epistrephō: Turn back; return.
ἐπιστρέφω
This branch uses the same στρεφ- root to describe a change of direction, showing how turning can shape a person’s course.
apostrephō: Turn away; turn aside.
ἀποστρέφω
This branch also grows from στρεφ-, revealing conduct as a direction a person takes or turns from.
πραΰτης
prautēs
GROWS FROM
πραΰ- (prau-), from πραΰς (praus)
Gentle, mild; gentleness of disposition.
Meekness does not erase the works; it describes how they are shown. Wisdom’s strength appears without force or self-display, so gentleness becomes evidence of wisdom, not its absence.
ALSO GROWS
praus: Gentle; meek.
πραΰς
The adjective names the quality that the verse makes wisdom’s manner.
prautēs: Gentleness; meekness.
πραΰτης
This noun names that same quality as a disposition, joining the way wisdom acts to what wisdom is like.
σοφός
sophos
GROWS FROM
σοφ-
soph-
Wisdom; understanding or skill in discerning and acting.
“wise / wisdom” in this verse is sophos. The “wise man” and “wisdom” are forms of the same Greek word family. The verse joins the person and the quality: wisdom is not merely claimed as knowledge but becomes recognizable in works carried with meekness.
ALSO GROWS
sophos: Wise; discerning.
σοφός
This is the person described as wise in the verse, sharing its root with the wisdom that shapes the works.
sophia: Wisdom.
σοφία
This is the quality that gives meekness its character, connecting discernment with the manner of action.
THE PATTERN
Wisdom is made recognizable through humble conduct rather than self-assertion.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.THE THREAD
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.Both verses use πραΰτης (prautēs), “meekness” or “gentleness.” Here wisdom’s works appear in meekness; there the word is received in meekness, showing the same quality in both what takes root and what comes forth.
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