Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
'Aleph (') A B omit "adulterers and" (which C has): read simply, Ye adulteresses.' God is the rightful husband; the men of the world are collectively one adulteress; individually, adulteresses.
The world - in so far as men's motives and acts are alien to God; e.g., selfish "lusts" (James 4:3), covetous and ambitions "wars" (James 4:1).
Enmity - not merely 'inimical,' but enmity itself (cf. 1 John 2:15).
Whosoever therefore will be, х hos (G3739) ean (G1437) oun (G3767) bouleethee (G1014)] - 'shall be resolved to be.' Whether he succeed or not, if his wish be to be friend of the world, he renders himself, is constituted х kathistatai (G2525)] by the very fact, 'the enemy of God.' Contrast James 2:23.