01/18/2020
Another way to read this passage in James from the KJV after looking more in depth at the meaning of specific words in the verse with the Greek origin in mind.
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?”
James 4:5 KJV
The Greek word for “dwelleth” is katoikidzo, a compound of the words kata and oikos. The word kata carries the idea of settling down, and the word oikos is the word for a house. Taken together, the new word means to take up residency or to dwell in a house.
The word “lusteth” is taken from the Greek word epipothei, which is a compound of two Greek words —epi and pothei. The word epi adds force to the word, and the word pothei means an intense desire or yearning. When compounded, the new word describes an intense, excessive yearning for something.
This word “envy” comes from the Greek word phthonos, which was frequently used in literature from the New Testament period, thus enabling us to know precisely what it means. The word phthonos means jealousy —an emotion so strong that it tends toward taking vengeance upon someone.
With all of this in mind, James 4:5 could be read this way: “The Spirit who has come to settle down, make His home, and permanently dwell in us is moved by an all-consuming, ever-growing, passionate desire to possess us —and He is envious and filled with malice toward anything or anyone who tries to take His place in our lives.”
The lover of our soul♥️
