Use Of Adulteresses In James 4:3-4
Exposition of James 4:4 and the Use of "Adulteresses"
James 4:4 (LITV) reads, "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever, then, purposes to be a friend of the world is shown to be an enemy of God." The use of "adulteresses" in this verse is striking, as it is not immediately clear why James addresses his audience with a term typically associated with marital infidelity.
The literary context of James 4:4 is a passage that warns against worldly desires and the conflicts they produce (James 4:1-10). James argues that the source of quarrels and fights among believers lies in their own evil desires (James 4:1) [7]. The preceding verses (James 4:1-3) discuss the lusts and desires that lead to conflict, setting the stage for the accusation in verse 4.
Historically, the imagery of adultery is rooted in the prophetic tradition of the Hebrew Bible, where Israel's idolatry is often depicted as adultery against God [1, 3]. In Hosea, for example, the prophet uses the metaphor of adultery to describe Israel's spiritual apostasy (Hosea 3:1; 4:14) [1, 8]. This metaphor is also seen in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 3:6) and other prophetic texts.
The term "adulteresses" in James 4:4 is likely used metaphorically to describe the spiritual infidelity of James' audience. According to Adam Clarke, the Jews are represented as being espoused to God, and their idolatry or general iniquity is represented under the notion of adultery [2]. John Gill similarly interprets "adulterers and adulteresses" figuratively, suggesting that those who set their affections on the world rather than God are considered adulterous [4].
Some manuscripts omit "adulterers and," reading simply "Ye adulteresses" [5]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown suggest that God is the rightful husband, and the men of the world are regarded collectively as one adulteress, and individually as adulteresses. This interpretation underscores the idea that spiritual adultery is not limited to one gender.
The use of "adulteresses" in James 4:4 has functioned in Christian tradition as a warning against spiritual infidelity. The early church fathers, such as Origen, discussed the concept of adultery in the context of spiritual purity [6]. The metaphor of adultery continues to be used in Christian theology to describe the relationship between God and his people.
The historical setting of James' letter is likely a Jewish-Christian community facing various challenges, including internal conflicts and the temptation to conform to worldly values. James' use of "adulteresses" serves as a rhetorical device to emphasize the gravity of their spiritual situation.
Sources
- Hosea “Hosea 4:14 (LEB) — ⌞I will not punish your daughters⌟ when they play the whore, or your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; because they go aside with whores, and they sacrifice with temple prostitutes, a people that does not understand comes to ruin.”
- James (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on James 4:4: Ye adulterers and adulteresses - The Jews, because of their covenant with God, are represented as being espoused to him; and hence their idolatry, and their iniquity in general, are represented under the notion of adultery. And although they had not since the Babylonish captivity been guilty of idolatry; according to the letter; yet what is intended by idolatry, having their hearts estranged from God, and seeking their portion in this life and out of God, is that of which the Jews were then notoriously guilty. And I rather think that it is in this sense especially tha”
- James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 4:4: 4:4-10 James explains the causes of conflict: love for the world, divided loyalty, and arrogant criticism (4:11-12). He gives exhortations which will rectify these causes and lead to peace. 4:4 You adulterers: James uses this prophetic imagery (see, e.g., Jer 3:6; Hos 3:1) because his readers were seeking what friendship with the world could give them—social acceptance (Jas 2:1-4), prestige (3:1), or wealth (4:13). Divided loyalty toward God (4:8) is like adultery against one’s spouse. • In the ancient world, friend was used as a title for special and exclusive rela”
- James (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on James 4:4: Ye adulterers and adulteresses,.... Not who were literally such, but in a figurative and metaphorical sense: as he is an adulterer that removes his affections from his own wife, and sets them upon another woman; and she is an adulteress that loves not her husband, but places her love upon another man; so such men and women are adulterers and adulteresses, who, instead of loving God, whom they ought to love with all their hearts and souls, set their affections upon the world, and the things of it: the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, leave out the word "adul”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 4:4: The oldest manuscripts omit "adulterers and," and read simply, "Ye adulteresses." God is the rightful husband; the men of the world are regarded collectively as one adulteress, and individually as adulteresses. the world--in so far as the men of it and their motives and acts are aliens to God, for example, its selfish "lusts" (Jam 4:3), and covetous and ambitious "wars and fightings" (Jam 4:1). enmity--not merely "inimical"; a state of enmity, and that enmity itself. Compare Jo1 2:15, "love . . . the world . . . the love of the Father." whosoever .”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 24. JEWISH CRITICISM OF THE LAW OF CHRIST. (part 2): monstrous, I do not know; for to endure sins of such heinousness which seem to be worse than adultery or fornication, will appear to be irrational; but again on the other hand to act contrary to the design of the teaching of the Saviour, every one would acknowledge to be impious. I wonder therefore why He did not say, Let no one put away his own wife saving for the cause of fornication, but says, "Whosoever shall put away his own wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maket”
- James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 4:1: 4:1 quarrels and fights (literally wars and battles): James uses military imagery to declare that their own evil desires at war within them were the immediate cause of the battles among church members. James uses the Greek word translated evil desires again in 4:3 (translated “pleasure”) to enclose the entire paragraph and indicate the source of conflict and unanswered prayer (Luke 8:14; Titus 3:3).”
- Hosea (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hosea 7:4: 7:4 adulterers: Hosea used this term earlier to describe spiritual apostasy (3:1); it refers here to those who were disloyal to the king.”