James 1:18

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of James 1:18 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo James 1:18 — 19 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Leviticus 23:10“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest.
  2. Jeremiah 2:3Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
  3. Amos 6:1Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.
  4. John 1:13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
  5. John 3:3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
  6. Romans 4:17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the presence of God, in whom he believed, the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not yet exist.
  7. Romans 8:29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
  8. Romans 9:15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
  9. 1 Corinthians 4:15Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
  10. Ephesians 1:12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.
  11. Ephesians 2:4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
  12. Colossians 1:20and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
  13. 2 Thessalonians 2:13But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
  14. Hebrews 12:23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
  15. James 1:21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.
  16. 1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
  17. 1 Peter 1:23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
  18. 1 John 3:9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
  19. Revelation 14:4These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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