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James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

KJV

πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον ἄνωθέν ἐστιν, καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ τοῦ πατρὸς τῶν φώτων, παρ’ ᾧ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγὴ ἢ τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα.

Greek NT

Omne datum optimum, et omne donum perfectum desursum est, descendens a Patre luminum, apud quem non est transmutatio, nec vicissitudinis obumbratio.

Vulgate

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.

ASV

Every best gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change nor shadow of alteration.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

21 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

δόσις
dosis
noun · 2×
δώρημα
dorema
noun · 2×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
καταβαίνω
katabaino
verb · 78×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
παρά
para
preposition · 191×
παραλλαγή
parallage
noun · 1×
πατήρ
pater
noun · 412×
πᾶς
pas
adjective · 1226×
τέλειος
teleios
adjective · 19×
τροπή
trope
noun · 1×
φῶς
phos
noun · 72×
ἀγαθός
agathos
adjective · 102×
ἀποσκίασμα
aposkiasma
noun · 1×
ἀπό
apo
preposition · 640×
ἄνωθεν
anothen
adverb · 13×
ἔνι
eni
verb · 6×
e
particle · 346×
o
article · 19778×
ὅς
os
relative_pronoun · 1404×

Themes

Historic Christian voices

17 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§212Over the centuries, Israel's faith was able to manifest and deepen realization of the riches contained in the revelation of the divine name. God is unique; there are no other gods besides him.24 He transcends the world and history. He made heaven and earth: "They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment....but you are the same, and your years have no e…
§2642The Revelation of "what must soon take place," the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy127 but also by the intercession of the "witnesses" (martyrs).128 The prophets and the saints, all those who were slain on earth for their witness to Jesus, the vast throng of those who, having come through the great tribulation, have gone before us into the Kingdom…
Chapter 21.—Of God’s Eternal and Unchangeable Knowledge and Will, Whereby All He Has Made Pleased Him in the Eternal Design as Well as in the Actual Result. For what else is to be understood by that invariable refrain, “And God saw that it was good,” than the approval of the work in its design, which is the wisdom of God? For certainly God did not in the actual achievement of t…
Confessions · 2 passages
Of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth years of his age, passed at Carthage, when, having completed his course of studies, he is caught in the snares of a licentious passion, and falls into the errors of the Manichæans. Chapter 1. Deluded by an Insane Love, He, Though Foul and Dishonourable, Desires to Be Thought Elegant and Urbane. 1. To Carthage I came, where a cauldr…
Then follows a period of nine years from the nineteenth year of his age, during which having lost a friend, he followed the Manichæans — and wrote books on the fair and fit, and published a work on the liberal arts, and the categories of Aristotle. Chapter 1. Concerning that Most Unhappy Time in Which He, Being Deceived, Deceived Others; And Concerning the Mockers of His Confes…
Summa Theologica · 2 passages
Is there knowledge in God? Does God understand Himself? Does He comprehend Himself? Is His understanding His substance? Does He understand other things besides Himself? Does He have a proper knowledge of them? Is the knowledge of God discursive? Is the knowledge of God the cause of things? Does God have knowledge of non-existing things? Does He have knowledge of evil? Does He h…
Was there any habitual grace in the soul of Christ? Were there virtues in Christ? Did He have faith? Did He have hope? Were there the gifts in Christ? Was the gift of fear in Christ? Were there any gratuitous graces in Christ? Was there prophecy in Christ? Was there the fulness of grace in Him? Was such fulness proper to Christ? Was the grace of Christ infinite? Could it have b…
Heidelberg Catechism · 3 passages
Q. What does the Lord require in the first commandment? A. That I, not wanting to endanger my very salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, magic, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. That I sincerely acknowledge the only true God, trust him alone, look to him for every good thing humbly and patiently, love him, fear him, and honor him with all my hea…
Q. What has God commanded us to pray for? A. Everything we need, spiritually and physically, as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord himself taught us.
Q. What does the fourth request mean? A. Give us today our daily bread means: Do take care of all our physical needs so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good, and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and to put trust in you alone.
To the saints honour must be paid as friends of Christ, as sons and heirs of God: in the words of John the theologian and evangelist, As many as received Him, to them gave He power to became sons of God. John 1:12 So that they are no longer servants, but sons: and if sons, also heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ : and the Lord in the holy Gospels says to His apostl…
It is one and the same God Whom both the Old and the New Testament proclaim, Who is praised and glorified in the Trinity: I have come, says the Lord, not to destroy the law but to fulfil it. Matthew 5:17 For He Himself worked out our salvation for which all Scripture and all mystery exists. And again, Search the Scriptures for they are they that testify of Me. John 5:39 And the…
We believe all things, both visible and invisible, to be governed by the Providence of God; though God is not the author of evil. But evil cometh to pass by reason of the malice of men or of demons, that is, when rational creatures, having received free-will from God, voluntarily turn aside from good. For it is the doctrine of the Church that God, who is the creator of all thin…
Whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just — these belong to God, regardless of who first articulated them. If a Greek philosopher said something true, he borrowed (perhaps unknowingly) from the truth that belongs to Christ. Clement insists that Christians should not fear philosophy but should claim every genuine truth as part of the inher…
Spurgeon preaches that the immutability of God is the foundation of all Christian comfort. God does not change — His love does not cool, His purposes do not shift, His promises do not fail. What He was to Abraham, He is to us. The same God who parted the Red Sea, who sustained Elijah, who raised Christ from the dead, is the God who holds your life in His hand today. In a world …

Cross-references

  • 1Chr 22:12 — Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
  • 1Chr 29:14 — But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
  • 1Chr 29:19 — And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
  • 1Chr 29:19 — And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.
  • 1Cor 4:7 — For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
  • 1Cor 4:7 — For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
  • 1Cor 12:4 — Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
  • 1John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  • 1John 1:5 — This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
  • 1John 1:7 — But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
  • 1John 4:10 — Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  • 1John 5:11 — And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
  • 1Kgs 4:29 — And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
  • 1Sam 15:29 — And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
  • 2Chr 1:11 — And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and
  • 2Cor 3:5 — Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
  • 2Cor 4:6 — For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
  • 2Cor 5:18 — And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
  • 2Cor 9:15 — Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
  • 2Tim 2:25 — In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
  • Acts 5:31 — Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
  • Acts 6:3 — Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
  • Acts 11:18 — When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
  • Dan 1:17 — As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
  • Dan 2:21 — And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
  • Dan 2:21 — And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
  • Dan 2:22 — He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
  • Dan 2:27 — Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
  • Dan 6:26 — I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed,
  • Deut 4:19 — And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD
  • Deut 32:4 — He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
  • Eccl 3:14 — I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
  • Eph 1:18 — The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
  • Eph 2:3 — Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
  • Eph 2:8 — For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
  • Eph 4:8 — Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
  • Exod 4:11 — And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
  • Exod 28:3 — And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s o
  • Exod 31:3 — And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
  • Exod 35:30 — And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;