Short answer: James 4:7 gives two linked commands: submit to God, and resist the devil. The promise is that when believers do both—yielding to God and standing firm against evil—the devil will flee. Resistance to temptation works only when it flows from surrender to God.
The context
James 4 confronts believers about quarrels, worldliness, and pride. He warns that "friendship of the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4) and quotes that God "giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). Verse 7 begins a series of urgent commands (verses 7–10) calling readers to humble themselves, draw near to God, and turn from sin. Submitting and resisting are the first steps of that repentance.
The King James Version reads: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
What it means, phrase by phrase
- "Submit yourselves therefore to God" — The word "therefore" ties this to verse 6: because God gives grace to the humble, we should yield to his authority. Submission comes first; it is the foundation.
- "Resist the devil" — To resist is to stand firm and refuse to give in to temptation and the enemy's influence. It is active opposition, not passivity.
- "and he will flee from you" — a genuine promise. The devil is not undefeatable; when met with firm resistance grounded in submission to God, he retreats.
The order matters: only those who are first submitted to God have the standing and strength to resist the devil effectively.
Cross-references
1 Peter 5:8–9 gives a close parallel: "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith." Ephesians 6:11 urges believers to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand." And 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God provides "a way to escape" temptation.
How to apply it today
James 4:7 shows that fighting temptation is not mainly about willpower against the devil; it starts with surrender to God. When you feel tempted or spiritually attacked, the first move is to humble yourself before God—admitting your dependence and yielding to him—and then to stand firm against the temptation. Practically, that can mean turning to God in prayer, naming the temptation, and refusing it in his strength, trusting the promise that the enemy will flee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does "submit to God" come before "resist the devil"? Because resistance draws its strength from surrender. Only those who have humbled themselves under God's authority have the grace and standing to stand against the enemy. Trying to resist temptation without first yielding to God relies on mere willpower, which James's whole argument (verse 6) says is not enough.
Does "he will flee" mean the devil will never tempt me again? No. It means that firm, God-grounded resistance causes the devil to retreat in that moment. Temptation may return—even Jesus was tempted more than once—so resisting is an ongoing practice, not a one-time victory. The promise assures us that resistance genuinely works.
How do I practically "resist the devil"? Scripture models resisting through submission to God, prayer, and standing firm in truth. Jesus answered temptation with Scripture (Matthew 4), Peter says to resist "stedfast in the faith" (1 Peter 5:9), and Paul describes putting on God's armor (Ephesians 6). Resistance is active reliance on God, not fighting in your own strength.