James 1:8 – Reprise

James 1:8 is rendered thus in various translations of the Bible:

“Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” –NIV
“he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” –ESV
“being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” –NASB
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” –KJV
“An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.” –HCSB (my favorite translation of the Bible)

Having two minds…

“Double-minded,” here, is actually the better translation of the Greek, though “indecisive” captures the meaning pretty well. The word used is “dipsuchos,” which literally means “double-minded” (“di” – two. “psyche” – mind/soul.). The imagery is like a man who can’t decide which side of the street to walk along. He is pulled from left to right; he waffles from one side to the other, never making a choice. (In context, the indecisive man is one who can’t decide whether he trusts God or doubts Him.)

Mr. Miyagi puts it this way:

Walk on road, hm? Walk right side — safe. Walk left side — safe. Walk middle — sooner or later, get’a squish just like grape.

Now, in the Christian context, the left and right sides of the road are not equally safe. But being indecisive is even more dangerous, that is — less stable, than being doubtful.

Orchard Christian Fellowship proudly serves the communities of Temecula, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, and the rest of the Inland Empire. Orchard Christian Fellowship is an independent Bible-centered, Christ-following church, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.