James Chapter 1 verse 10 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) But the rich, in that he is made low (or, better, in his humiliation).--And, on the other hand, let a change of state be a cause of joy to the rich man, hard though the effort thereto must confessedly be.There is an antithesis between his humiliation and the humility of "the brother of low degree:" "God putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:7). Such seems to be the primary meaning of this passage, though, doubtless, there is a more spiritual significance underlying, which would teach the poorest that he may be "rich toward God," and win from the most wealthy the acknowledgment of his deep poverty beside the Lord of all "good treasure" (Deuteronomy 28:12). "I know thy poverty," said the Spirit unto the Church in Smyrna, "but thou art rich" (Revelation 2:9); and to the Laodiceans, "Thou sayest, I am rich . . ., but thou art poor" (Revelation 3:17).Because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.--No more simple and striking simile of human instability and vanity can be found than "the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven" (Matthew 6:30); and the thought suggests a picture to the mind of the writer, which he draws with strong and yet most tender lines. Our English version misses the setting of his graceful idyl, the exquisite beauty of which can hardly be transferred from the Greek; but the following attempt is at least nearer the original:-- . . . Parallel Commentaries ...GreekButδὲ (de)ConjunctionStrong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.the [one who is]ὁ (ho)Article - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.richπλούσιος (plousios)Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 4145: Rich, abounding in, wealthy; subst: a rich man. From ploutos; wealthy; figuratively, abounding with.[should exult] inἐν (en)PrepositionStrong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.hisαὐτοῦ (autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person SingularStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.low position,ταπεινώσει (tapeinōsei)Noun - Dative Feminine SingularStrong's 5014: Abasement (in spirit), low condition (in circumstances). From tapeinoo; depression.becauseὅτι (hoti)ConjunctionStrong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.he will pass awayπαρελεύσεται (pareleusetai)Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person SingularStrong's 3928: From para and erchomai; to come near or aside, i.e. To approach, go by, perish or neglect, avert.likeὡς (hōs)AdverbStrong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.a flowerἄνθος (anthos)Noun - Nominative Neuter SingularStrong's 438: Bloom, possibly a reference to the bright flowers, such as poppies (among the grass). A primary word; a blossom.of the field.χόρτου (chortou)Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularStrong's 5528: Grass, herbage, growing grain, hay. Apparently a primary word; a 'court' or 'garden', i.e. herbage or vegetation.Jump to PreviousEnd Flower Flowering Flowers Glory Grass Herbage Humble Humiliation Low Position Pride Rejoice Rich Wealth Wild