James 1:8

8 A waveringe mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes.

James 1:8 Meaning and Commentary

James 1:8

A double minded man
A man of two souls, or of a double heart, that speaks and asks with an heart, and an heart, as in ( Psalms 12:2 ) who halts between two opinions, and is at an uncertainty what to do or say, and is undetermined what to ask for; or who is not sincere and upright in his requests, who asks for one thing, and means another, and asks amiss, and with an ill design; does not call upon God in truth, and in the sincerity of his soul; draws nigh to him with his mouth, and honours him with his lips, but his heart is far from him. Such an one is

unstable in all his ways;
he is confused in his mind; restless in his thoughts, unsettled in his designs and intentions; inconstant in his petitions; uncertain in his notions and opinion of things; and very variable in his actions, and especially in matters of religion; he is always changing, and never at a point, but at a continual uncertainty, both in a way of thinking and doing: he never continues long either in an opinion, or in a practice, but is ever shifting and moving.

James 1:8 In-Context

6 But let him axe in fayth and waver not. For he that douteth is lyke the waves of the see tost of the wynde and caried with violence.

7 Nether let that man thinke that he shall receave eny thinge of the Lorde.

8 A waveringe mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes.

9 Let the brother of lowe degre reioyce in yt he is exalted

10 and the ryche in that he is made lowe. For eve as ye flower of the grasse shall he vanysshe awaye.