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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - James 4:14 - 4:14
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Whereas ye know not (hoitines ouk epistasthe). The longer relative hostis defines here more precisely (like Latin qui) hoi legontes (ye who say) of Jam 4:13 in a causal sense, as in Act 10:47, “who indeed do not know” (present middle indicative of epistamai).
What shall be on the morrow (tēs aurion). Supply hēmeras (day) after aurion. This is the reading of B (Westcott) “on the morrow” (genitive of time), but Aleph K L cursives have to tēs aurion (“the matter of tomorrow”), while A P cursives have ta tēs aurion (“the things of tomorrow”). The sense is practically the same, though to tēs aurion is likely correct.
What is your life? (poia hē zōē humōn). Thus Westcott and Hort punctuate it as an indirect question, not direct. Poia is a qualitative interrogative (of what character).
As vapour (atmis). This is the answer. Old word for mist (like atmos, from which our “atmosphere”), in N.T. only here and Act 2:19 with kapnou (vapour of smoke (from Joe 2:30).
For a little time (pros oligon). See same phrase in 1Ti 4:8, pros kairon in Luk 8:13, pros hōran in Joh 5:35.
That appeareth and then vanisheth away (phainomenē epeita kai aphanizomenē). Present middle participles agreeing with atmis, “appearing, then also disappearing,” with play on the two verbs (phainomai, aphanizō as in Mat 6:19, from aphanēs hidden Heb 4:13) with the same root phan (phainō, ȧphaṅēs).