James 4:7
James 4:7 in Multiple Translations
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
For this cause be ruled by God; but make war on the Evil One and he will be put to flight before you.
So place yourself under God's direction. Confront the devil, and he will run away from you.
Submit your selues to God: resist the deuill, and he will flee from you.
be subject, then, to God; stand up against the devil, and he will flee from you;
Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Be subject therefore to God, but resist the devil, and he will fly from you.
So submit yourselves to God. ◄Resist the devil/Refuse to do what the devil wants►, and as a result he will run away from you.
So listen to God, and follow him, and do what he says. Fight back against the devil, the boss over the bad spirits. Whenever he tries to get you to go wrong, just tell him to be quiet, and don’t listen to him. Then he will leave you, and he will run away from you.
Berean Amplified Bible — James 4:7
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James 4:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — James 4:7
Study Notes — James 4:7
- Context
- Cross References
- James 4:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on James 4:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 4:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 4:7
- Trapp's Commentary on James 4:7
- Ellicott's Commentary on James 4:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 4:7
- Cambridge Bible on James 4:7
- Barnes' Notes on James 4:7
- Whedon's Commentary on James 4:7
- Sermons on James 4:7
Context — Drawing Near to God
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Peter 5:8–9 | Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. |
| 2 | Ephesians 4:27 | and do not give the devil a foothold. |
| 3 | Ephesians 6:11–12 | Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. |
| 4 | 1 Peter 5:6 | Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. |
| 5 | Luke 4:2–13 | where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry. The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ ” Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. “I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You carefully; and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. |
| 6 | Matthew 4:3–11 | The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him. |
| 7 | Hebrews 12:9 | Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? |
| 8 | Romans 10:3 | Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. |
| 9 | 2 Chronicles 30:8 | Now do not stiffen your necks as your fathers did. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you. |
| 10 | Matthew 11:29 | Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. |
James 4:7 Summary
[This verse is telling us to give our lives to God and to stand up against the devil. When we do this, the devil will run away from us because he is not as powerful as God. Submitting to God means we trust Him and follow His ways, as seen in Romans 12:1-2 where we are told to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Resisting the devil means we say no to his temptations and yes to God's will, and when we do, God gives us the power to overcome them, as promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to submit to God?
Submitting to God means humbly yielding our will to His, recognizing His sovereignty and authority in our lives, as seen in James 4:6 where it says God gives grace to the humble, and also in Proverbs 3:5-6 where we are told to trust in the Lord with all our heart.
How can we resist the devil?
Resisting the devil involves standing firm in our faith, putting on the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6:10-18, and trusting in God's power to overcome evil, as promised in 1 John 4:4 where it says greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
Why will the devil flee from us if we resist him?
The devil will flee from us because he is a defeated enemy, as seen in Colossians 2:15 where it says Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities, and when we resist him in the name of Jesus, he has no power over us, as promised in Luke 10:19 where Jesus gives us authority over all the power of the enemy.
Is submitting to God and resisting the devil something we can do on our own?
No, submitting to God and resisting the devil requires the power of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Zechariah 4:6 where it says not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, and also in Philippians 2:13 where it says God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose.
Reflection Questions
- What areas of my life am I currently not submitting to God, and how can I yield them to Him?
- What are some ways the devil is currently tempting or attacking me, and how can I resist him in those areas?
- How can I daily put on the armor of God to stand firm against the devil's schemes?
- What does it mean for the devil to 'flee from me', and how will my life change when he does?
- In what ways can I seek God's power and grace to help me submit to Him and resist the devil?
Gill's Exposition on James 4:7
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 4:7
Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 4:7
Trapp's Commentary on James 4:7
Ellicott's Commentary on James 4:7
Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 4:7
Cambridge Bible on James 4:7
Barnes' Notes on James 4:7
Whedon's Commentary on James 4:7
Sermons on James 4:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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A Day's Journey Into the Wilderness by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and authority of God. He references the story of Elijah and how God demonstrated His power by consuming the captain and his 50 men |
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(Nicaragua) the Lord Has Promised to Deliver You by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher, who has been preaching for over 54 years, emphasizes the faithfulness of God throughout his ministry. He mentions that he and another pastor, Gary, wi |
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A Target of Satan's Envy by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher begins by encouraging the congregation to seek strength and guidance from God in their spiritual battles. He acknowledges that despite hearing numerous |
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Devil, You Can't Walk on Me Anymore by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of God-loving people being oppressed and discouraged by the enemy. He emphasizes that God is looking at this situation with disbeli |
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The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening by J. Edwin Orr | In this sermon, the pastor emphasizes four important steps for spiritual growth. First, he urges the audience to put away any doubtful habits from their lives. Second, he emphasize |
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Turn the Tide by Abigail Miller | This sermon emphasizes the need to stand strong against evil forces that threaten to corrupt society, highlighting the importance of turning to God for restoration and revival. It |
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(In the Word) 01 - Spiritual Warfare_how We Are Decieved by Milton Green | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of relying on the Word of God rather than human traditions. They share a personal testimony about how the powers of darkness h |





