James 3:16

Ὅπου γὰρ ζῆλος καὶ ἐριθεία, ἐκεῖ ἀκαταστασία καὶ πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα.

RBT Greek Interlinear:

Strongs 3699; hopou; ὅπου; wherever/where/anywhere; Adv

Strongs 1063; gar; γὰρ; for; Conj

Strongs 2205; zēlos; ζῆλος; jealousy; N-NMS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 2052; eritheia; ἐριθεία; self-interest [exist]; N-NFS

Strongs 1563; ekei; ἐκεῖ; there; Adv

Strongs 181; akatastasia; ἀκαταστασία; disorder; N-NFS

Strongs 2532; kai; καὶ; and; Conj

Strongs 3956; pan; πᾶν; all; Adj-NNS

Strongs 5337; phaulon; φαῦλον; cheap/worthless; Adj-NNS

Strongs 4229; pragma; πρᾶγμα; thing; N-NNS

RBT Translation:

For wherever jealousy/eager rivalry and partisanship/intrigue is, political chaos and every cheap/low thing is there.

ἀκαταστασία, ἡ Etymology: ἀ- (“not”) + καταστασία (“order, arrangement”) → literally, “lack of order.”

Meanings: Political / social sense: “instability, anarchy, confusion”
Classical and Hellenistic attestations: Stoic 3.99, Polybius 1.70.1, Nicolaus of Damascus, Vit. Caes. 28 Plural usage in LXX: Proverbs 26:28; Dio H., 6.31; 2 Corinthians 6:5
Physical / metaphorical sense: “unsteadiness, disorder of the body or mind” — e.g., Chrysippus, Stoic 3.121
Often coupled with extreme agitation: ἀ. καὶ μανία (Polybius 7.4.8)

Usage: Describes both societal/political disorder and personal/psychological instability. In political contexts, it captures riot, civil unrest, or general chaos, especially in classical historiography.

Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
For where envy and intrigue, there confusion and every bad deed.

LITV Translation:
For where jealousy and contention are , there is confusion and every foul deed.