Getting Into the Weeds: Why James 4:5 is so Hard to Translate

James 4:5 is one of the hardest verses to translate in the New Testament. What makes it so challenging and what does the verse really mean? While it is hard to have total certainty, we can at least begin to move toward some solutions. And maybe our exercise here will help us think more critically and (we hope!) accurately regarding other passages in the future.

"Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?" (James 4:5 NIV)