James 1:10

KJV

But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} the rich {G4145}, in {G1722} that he {G846} is made low {G5014}: because {G3754} as {G5613} the flower {G438} of the grass {G5528} he shall pass away {G3928}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But let the rich brother boast about his being humbled; since, like a wildflower, he will pass away.

Berean Standard Bible

But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field.

American Standard Version

and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
James 1:10 serves as a profound and sobering counterpoint to the preceding verse, offering a stark reminder to the wealthy concerning the ephemeral nature of their earthly status and possessions. While the poor believer is encouraged to exult in their spiritual elevation before God, the rich are called to acknowledge their inherent lowliness and mortality, understanding that their material abundance offers no lasting security or ultimate standing in the eternal economy of God. This verse powerfully underscores the transience of human life and worldly achievements, redirecting focus from temporal pride to eternal humility.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** James 1:10 is strategically placed in a section (James 1:9-11) that immediately follows James's instruction on enduring trials with joy and seeking wisdom from God ([James 1:2-8](/james/1-2-8 "James 1:2-8 - Enduring Trials and Seeking Wisdom")). This verse creates a sharp **contrast** with the "brother of low degree" who is exhorted to "rejoice in that he is exalted" ([James 1:9](/james/1-9 "James 1:9 - The Poor Brother's Exaltation")). By juxtaposing the spiritual exaltation of the humble with the inevitable humiliation of the rich, James highlights that true value and lasting security are found not in worldly status or possessions, but in one's relationship with God and the eternal perspective that faith provides. The passage then concludes in [James 1:11](/james/1-11 "James 1:11 - The Withering Sun and Rich Man") by further elaborating on the swift decay of the rich man, reinforcing the transient nature of all earthly glory.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the Greco-Roman world and even within Jewish society of the first century, wealth often conferred significant social status, power, and influence. Rich individuals were typically admired and held in high esteem, often seen as blessed by the gods or by God. Poverty, conversely, was frequently associated with misfortune or even divine disfavor. James's audience, likely a mix of Jewish Christians, faced internal social stratification and external pressures. His epistle challenges the prevailing cultural assumptions by asserting a radical, counter-cultural perspective rooted in the Kingdom of God. He confronts the pride and self-sufficiency that wealth can foster, reminding the rich that their perceived advantages are ultimately meaningless in the face of mortality and divine judgment. This message would have been particularly challenging for those who equated material prosperity with spiritual blessing.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in James's epistle and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it emphasizes **Humility and Mortality**, directly challenging the human tendency to derive pride or security from wealth. It asserts that the rich person, despite their material abundance, is ultimately "made low" by the reality of their mortality, highlighting that wealth cannot save them from death or secure their eternal standing. Secondly, the vivid metaphor of "the flower of the grass" underscores the **Transience of Earthly Life and Riches**. Just as a beautiful flower quickly withers, so too will the rich person's life and influence fade away. This theme resonates deeply with Old Testament wisdom, as seen in [Psalm 103:15-16](/psalms/103-15-16 "Psalm 103:15-16 - The Brevity of Life") and [Isaiah 40:6-8](/isaiah/40-6-8 "Isaiah 40:6-8 - All Flesh is Grass"), which famously declares, "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field." Finally, James encourages believers to adopt a **Divine and Eternal Perspective**, where worldly distinctions like wealth and poverty hold little ultimate significance. True value is found not in what one possesses, but in one's spiritual state and relationship with God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **rich (Greek, _ploúsios'_):** From *ploútos*, meaning "wealthy" or "abounding with." In this context, it refers to a person possessing significant material possessions and financial resources. James uses this term to denote not merely economic status but also the spiritual dangers and temptations that often accompany it, particularly the temptation to trust in wealth rather than God.
* **made low (Greek, _tapeínōsis'_):** From *tapeinóō*, signifying "depression (in rank or feeling)," "humiliation," "abasement," or "low estate." Here, it speaks to the inevitable humbling of the rich, not necessarily through a loss of wealth, but through the universal experience of mortality and the recognition of their ultimate insignificance before God, regardless of their earthly standing. It contrasts sharply with the "exaltation" of the poor in the preceding verse.
* **pass away (Greek, _parérchomai'_):** From *pará* (near/aside) and *érchomai* (to come), meaning "to come near or aside," "to go by (or away)," "perish," or "transgress." In this verse, it vividly conveys the idea of transient existence, the swift and irreversible departure from life, emphasizing the fleeting nature of the rich person's life and all their worldly accomplishments. It underscores the certainty of death and the impermanence of all things earthly.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the rich, in that he is made low":** This initial clause introduces a strong adversative "But," setting up a direct contrast with the "brother of low degree" in [James 1:9](/james/1-9 "James 1:9 - The Poor Brother's Exaltation"). The rich person, despite their worldly status, is inherently "made low" or humbled. This lowliness is not necessarily a result of losing wealth, but an intrinsic reality of their human condition and mortality. It is a spiritual and existential humbling, recognizing that their material possessions do not elevate them in God's eyes or grant them immunity from the universal human fate.
* **"because as the flower of the grass":** This clause introduces the reason for the rich man's lowliness and serves as a powerful simile. The "flower of the grass" is a common biblical metaphor for extreme fragility, beauty that quickly fades, and the brevity of life. Grass is abundant but easily withered by heat or drought, and its flowers are even more delicate and short-lived. This imagery immediately conjures a sense of impermanence and vulnerability, applicable to all human life, regardless of status.
* **"he shall pass away":** This final clause explicitly states the inevitable outcome for the rich person, drawing the conclusion from the preceding metaphor. Just as the flower of the grass withers and disappears, so too will the rich person's life, influence, and possessions "pass away." This is a direct declaration of mortality, emphasizing that wealth offers no exemption from death or the ultimate cessation of earthly existence. It highlights the futility of placing ultimate trust in temporary things.

#### Literary Devices
James employs several potent literary devices in this concise verse. The primary device is **Simile**, specifically comparing the rich person's transient existence to "the flower of the grass." This vivid **Imagery** is a powerful and common biblical motif (e.g., [Psalm 103:15](/psalms/103-15 "Psalm 103:15 - The Brevity of Human Life"), [Isaiah 40:6-8](/isaiah/40-6-8 "Isaiah 40:6-8 - The Word of God Endures")) that immediately conveys fragility, beauty, and ultimate impermanence. The **Contrast** established with the "brother of low degree" in the preceding verse ([James 1:9](/james/1-9 "James 1:9 - The Exaltation of the Humble")) is also crucial, as it highlights the paradoxical nature of God's economy where the humble are exalted and the proud are brought low. This contrast serves to underscore James's broader theme of true wisdom and values being antithetical to worldly ones. The verse also contains an element of **Irony**, as the rich, who are often seen as elevated and secure in society, are precisely the ones who are "made low" by the reality of their mortality.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
James 1:10 profoundly challenges worldly values by asserting God's eternal perspective on wealth and human life. It underscores the universal truth of human mortality, reminding us that all earthly distinctions, including riches, are ultimately fleeting and hold no sway in the face of eternity. This verse calls for a radical reorientation of priorities, urging believers to recognize that true security and lasting significance are found not in material accumulation but in a humble relationship with God. It aligns with the broader biblical teaching that God often exalts the humble and brings low the proud, demonstrating that His kingdom values are diametrically opposed to those of the world. The transient nature of life, likened to grass and its flower, serves as a powerful memento mori, prompting reflection on where one's ultimate hope and trust truly lie.

* [Psalm 90:5-6](/psalms/90-5-6 "Psalm 90:5-6 - The Fleeting Nature of Life")
* [Luke 12:16-21](/luke/12-16-21 "Luke 12:16-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool")
* [1 Timothy 6:7-10](/1_timothy/6-7-10 "1 Timothy 6:7-10 - The Love of Money")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
James 1:10 serves as a vital spiritual compass for believers in every generation, particularly in cultures that often equate success with material wealth. It compels us to critically examine our hearts and ask where our ultimate security and identity truly reside. For those with material abundance, it is a call to profound humility, recognizing that wealth is a temporary stewardship, not a source of lasting worth or an escape from mortality. For all believers, it is an urgent reminder to invest in eternal riches—spiritual growth, acts of charity, and building God's kingdom—rather than chasing after perishable earthly treasures. This verse challenges us to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our true value is found in Christ and our spiritual standing before God, not in the fleeting accolades or possessions of this world. It encourages a detachment from materialism and a deeper attachment to the One who is eternal.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to find my security or identity in my possessions or worldly status, rather than in Christ?**
* **How does the "flower of the grass" metaphor challenge my daily priorities and long-term goals?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater humility and an eternal perspective in my life, regardless of my financial situation?**

### FAQ
**Does James condemn all wealth or being rich?**

Answer: James 1:10 does not inherently condemn wealth itself, but rather the pride, trust, and false security that often accompany it. The verse highlights the *danger* of riches, particularly their transient nature and their inability to provide lasting significance or escape from mortality. James's concern is with the rich person's perspective and attitude: if they find their identity or hope in their wealth, they are deluding themselves, for their earthly status is fleeting, just like the "flower of the grass." The issue is not the possession of wealth, but the *attachment* to it and the *pride* it can foster, which blinds one to the ultimate reality of human mortality and God's sovereignty. Other scriptures, like [1 Timothy 6:17-19](/1_timothy/6-17-19 "1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Instructions to the Rich"), instruct the rich to be generous and to put their hope in God, not in uncertain riches.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
James 1:10, with its stark declaration of the rich man's inevitable humbling and passing away like a fading flower, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the verse highlights the transient nature of earthly glory and the universal reality of human mortality, Christ embodies the ultimate answer to both. Jesus, though "rich" in divine glory and eternal majesty, "made himself poor" for our sakes ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Riches")), humbling himself and taking on the form of a servant, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:6-8](/philippians/2-6-8 "Philippians 2:6-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). He willingly "passed away" through death, entering the grave, yet He did so not as a victim of mortality but as its conqueror. His resurrection demonstrates that true life and lasting glory are found not in earthly possessions that wither, but in the eternal life that He offers to all who believe. In Christ, the "made low" find true exaltation, and those who would otherwise "pass away" find an enduring, imperishable inheritance ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope")). He is the ultimate "flower" that never fades, the source of eternal life that transcends the brevity of human existence and the futility of earthly riches.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 1:24

¶ For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

1 John 2:17

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Job 14:2

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

1 Timothy 6:17

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Matthew 5:3

¶ Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Psalms 103:15

[As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

1 Corinthians 7:31

And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.