For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's often missed is that "every vile practice" doesn't just mean a list of sins, but a fundamental worthlessness that permeates everything. When jealousy and selfish ambition take root, they don't just lead to bad actions; they corrupt the very character and capacity for anything truly good, making everything they touch cheap and useless.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James has just contrasted earthly, demonic wisdom with wisdom from above, and here he explains why that earthly kind is so destructive. He's arguing that the divisive spirit marked by jealousy and self-serving ambition, when unleashed, inevitably creates chaos and leads to all sorts of wicked actions, a stark opposite to the peace and goodness of true, God-given wisdom.
Ever seen a 'friendly competition' turn nasty? James pinpoints the dangerous energy behind it.
James uses the Greek word for 'zeal' (or 'emulation') here, but it's not the good kind of passion for God or others. It's a fiery, inflammatory energy focused on self. When this 'zeal' is combined with 'selfish ambition'—a drive for personal status and power—it doesn't lead to noble pursuits. Instead, it creates a toxic environment where people are driven by rivalry and a desire to win at all costs.
What kind of 'fruit' does selfish ambition bear? James doesn't hold back.
The 'disorder' James mentions isn't just a little mess; it's 'tumultuous anarchy.' Think of a constant state of unrest, instability, and conflict where nothing can grow or flourish. This isn't a temporary problem; it's the natural outcome of jealousy and selfish ambition. And it doesn't stop there. This disorder breeds 'every vile practice'—every worthless, corrupting action. James isn't just describing bad behavior; he's revealing the character of a wisdom that is 'earthly, unspiritual, and of the devil' (James 3:15). It corrupts everything it touches, from individual hearts to entire communities.
Understand the original words
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zēlos · Greek Noun
The painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another, often leading to envy and strife; biblically, it is an evidence of the fleshly nature opposed to God's love.
eritheia · Greek Noun
A spirit of rivalry, party spirit, or self-seeking; it describes a person driven by personal interest rather than the glory of God.
akatastasia · Greek Noun
Instability, confusion, or a state of anarchy; it signifies a condition where God's order and peace are absent.
phaulos · Greek Adjective
Refers to that which is morally worthless, evil, or base in conduct; it characterizes actions that are corrupt and contrary to holiness.
This passage directly lists the 'works of the flesh,' which align perfectly with the 'every vile practice' that stems from jealousy and selfish ambition, showing the destructive outcomes of ungodly desires.
1 Corinthians 3:3Paul describes a similar situation in the Corinthian church, where jealousy and strife ('divisions') are evident, leading to disorder and an inability to grasp spiritual truths, mirroring James' warning.
Romans 13:13This verse contrasts the chaos of selfish ambition with the proper conduct of believers, urging them to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ' and avoid 'rivalries and jealousy,' directly addressing the root causes James condemns.
Philippians 2:3This verse offers the antidote to jealousy and selfish ambition by calling believers to 'do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves,' highlighting the virtuous alternative.
Proverbs 14:30This proverb echoes James' sentiment, stating 'A tranquil heart gives life to the body, but envy makes the bones rot,' illustrating the internal decay and disorder that envy brings.
barnesJames 3:16: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion - Margin, tumult or unquietness. Everything is unsettled and agitated. There is no mutual confidence; there is no union of plan and effort; there is no co-operation in promoting a common object; there is no stability in any plan; for a purpose, though for good, formed by one portion, is defeated by another. And every evil work - Of the truth of this no one c…
clarkeJames 3:16: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."
For where envying and strife is - Ζηλος και εριθεια· Zeal - fiery, inflammatory passion, and contention - altercations about the different points of the law, of no use for edification, such as those mentioned, Titus 3:9 . The Jews were the most intolerant of all mankind; it was a maxim with them to kill those who would not conform to their law; and their salvation they believed to be impossible. This has been…
What's often missed is that "every vile practice" doesn't just mean a list of sins, but a fundamental worthlessness that permeates everything. When jealousy and selfish ambition take root, they don't just lead to bad actions; they corrupt the very character and capacity for anything truly good, making everything they touch cheap and useless.
James has just contrasted earthly, demonic wisdom with wisdom from above, and here he explains why that earthly kind is so destructive. He's arguing that the divisive spirit marked by jealousy and self-serving ambition, when unleashed, inevitably creates chaos and leads to all sorts of wicked actions, a stark opposite to the peace and goodness of true, God-given wisdom.
James has just contrasted earthly, demonic wisdom with wisdom from above, and here he explains why that earthly kind is so destructive. He's arguing that the divisive spirit marked by jealousy and self-serving ambition, when unleashed, inevitably creates chaos and leads to all sorts of wicked actions, a stark opposite to the peace and goodness of true, God-given wisdom.
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice." — What's often missed is that "every vile practice" doesn't just mean a list of sins, but a fundamental worthlessness that permeates everything. When jealousy and selfish ambition take root, they don…
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Last reviewed October 2026