Meaning, commentary and cross references
James 4:14
“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
NIV · New International Version
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
WEB · World English Bible
Yet you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
What does James 4:14 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow,.... Whether there would be a morrow for them or not, whether they should live till tomorrow; and if they should, they knew not what a morrow would bring forth, or what things would happen, which might prevent their intended journey and success: no man can secure a day, an hour, a moment, and much less a year of continuance in this life; nor can he foresee what will befall him today or tomorrow; therefore it is great stupidity to determine on this, and the other, without the leave of God, in whom he lives, moves, and has his being; and by whose providence all events are governed and directed; see Proverbs 27:1 for what is your life? of what…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on James 4:11–17
And then, as to all these particulars, the frailty, shortness, and uncertainty of life, ought to check the vanity and presumptuous confidence of such projectors for futurity: What is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away, Jam 4:14. God that wisely left us in the dark concerning future events, and even concerning the duration of life itself. We know not what shall be on the morrow; we may know what we intend to do and to be, but a thousand things may happen to prevent us.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on James 4:13–17
For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 14 Qui nescitis quid cras futurum sit; quae enim est vita nostra? vapor est scilicet ad exiguum tempus apparens, deinde evanescens: 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 15 Quum dicere debeatis, Si Dominus voluerit, et vixerimus, faciemus hoc vel illud. 16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 16 Nunc autem gloriamini in superbiis vestris; omnia gloriatio talis, mala est. 17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 17 Qui ergo novit facere bonum, nec facit, peccati reus est. 13 Go…
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: James 4:11–17 (WEB)
11Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another? 13Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” 14Yet you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.” 16But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. 17To him therefore who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
Cross references
- 1 Peter 1:24
For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;
- Psalms 39:5
- 1 John 2:17
The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.
- Psalms 102:3
- Job 7:6–7
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
- James 1:10
and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away.
- Job 14:1–2
“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
- Job 9:25–26
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.