What Does James 3:15 Mean in the King James?
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
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
James names three signatures, ground-bound, shaped by the living soul, and demon-like, so this wisdom is recognized by its character, not by how clever it sounds.
THE MEANING
When a thought presents itself as wisdom, this verse lets you see its character: it belongs to the ground, takes its shape from the living soul, and resembles what is demonic. Its character reveals its source, however persuasive it sounds.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that persuasive or personally compelling thought must come from above; its appeal cannot certify its source.
THE ROOT
ψυχικός
psychikos
GROWS FROM
ψυχή
psychē
Living soul; animate life or self.
The Greek adjective describes what belongs to the living soul. This gives “sensual” a broader reach: the verse names wisdom shaped within the sphere of the living soul, rather than naming only bodily sensation.
ALSO GROWS
psychē: Living soul.
ψυχή
This is the noun at the heart of the adjective, showing the sphere this wisdom belongs to.
psychikos: Natural; belonging to the living soul.
ψυχικός
The same adjective describes the “natural man” in 1 Corinthians 2:14, where the verse contrasts this sphere with what comes from God’s breath.
δαιμονιώδης
daimoniōdēs
GROWS FROM
δαιμον-
daimon-
Demon or spirit-being; the adjective means resembling or characterized by one.
“devilish” in this verse is daimoniōdēs. The word names more than faulty judgment: it describes wisdom by a demonic likeness. Its character is part of the diagnosis James gives of its source.
ALSO GROWS
daimonion: Demon.
δαιμόνιον
This related noun makes explicit the kind of likeness named by the adjective.
daimonizomai: To be under demonic influence.
δαιμονίζομαι
This related verb shows the same word family describing influence, extending the image beyond a passing mistake.
ἐπίγειος
epigeios
GROWS FROM
γῆ
gē
Earth, land, or ground.
“earthly” in this verse is epigeios. The adjective joins “upon” to “earth,” placing this wisdom within the ground-bound realm. Beside “from above,” it makes the verse’s contrast one of origin and orientation.
ALSO GROWS
gē: Earth, land, or ground.
γῆ
The noun supplies the ground image beneath “earthly.”
geōrgos: Farmer; one who works the ground.
γεωργός
This related compound carries the same ground word, making the physical sense of the root visible.
THE PATTERN
The character and fruit of wisdom disclose the source it belongs to.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.THE THREAD
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.“Natural” here translates ψυχικός (psychikos), meaning “belonging to the living soul”, the same Greek adjective James uses for this wisdom. Together, the verses name the sphere shaping it and the limits of what that sphere can receive.
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