See in Reader
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Every good gift and every perfect gift
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. James uses them to emphasize that anything good that a person has comes from God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet)
from above
"from heaven"
the Father of lights
God is the creator of all the lights in the sky (sun, moon, and stars).
He does not change like shifting shadows
This is a simile that compares the unchanging God being a constant light to the changing and moving lights in the sky (sun, moon, and stars). AT: "God does not change like shadows that appear and disappear." (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)
to give us
The word "us" refers to James and his audience (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-inclusive).
give us life
"give us spiritual life" (UDB)
the word of truth
"the Gospel" or "the teachings of Jesus"
like firstfruits
James is emphasizing that just like the first fruit of a crop, his audience was among the first believers of what would be many believers in the future. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)
among his creatures
"among his people"