Verse Lens · Concise explanation
James 3:15 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 15. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse denies heavenly origin to rivalry-shaped wisdom and calls it earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
Read It With
- James 3:13–18
Read James 3:15 with 3:13–18. This verse denies heavenly origin to rivalry-shaped wisdom and calls it earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. The complete unit establishes this movement: Wisdom is shown through good conduct and gentle works, not self-promotion: bitter jealousy and selfish ambition produce disorder, while wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, considerate, teachable, merciful, fruitful, impartial, sincere, and sows a harvest of righteousness in peace.
Why This Verse Appears Here
James supplies a positive test for authoritative speech and conduct before diagnosing the rival desires that fracture the community. Within that movement, this verse denies heavenly origin to rivalry-shaped wisdom and calls it earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
Read James 3:13–18 together
Why these verses belong together: Conduct and fruit distinguish rival wisdom from wisdom above and culminate in active peace-making.
Verse 13. 13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Verse 14. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Verse 15. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Verse 16. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Verse 17. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Verse 18. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“earthly, sensual, devilish”
In plain language: The claimed wisdom's source is exposed by its self-seeking character and effects.
denies heavenly origin to rivalry-shaped wisdom and calls it earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. A religious label cannot sanctify wisdom that reproduces destructive rivalry.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
A religious label cannot sanctify wisdom that reproduces destructive rivalry.
How It Can Shape Life
- Evaluate advice by fruit, evidence, mercy, and equity rather than spiritual branding.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read James 3:13–18 — Wisdom from Above Is Gentle, Merciful, Impartial, and Peace-MakingSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: James 3:13–18, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/Jas.txt, 3:13–18
Open the James Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — James with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official six-page James PDF, 3:13–18 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET James PDF ↗