{Whence} (pothen). This old interrogative adverb (here
twice) asks for the origin of wars and fights. James is full of
interrogatives, like all diatribes. {Wars} (polemoi)
{--fightings} (machai). {War} (polemos, old word,  Mt 24:6 )
pictures the chronic state or campaign, while mach(885c) (also old
word,  2Co 7:5 ) presents the separate conflicts or battles in
the war. So James covers the whole ground by using both words.
The origin of a war or of any quarrel is sometimes hard to find,
but James touches the sore spot here. {Of your pleasures} (ek
t(936e) h(8864)on(936e) hum(936e)). Old word from h(8864)omai. Ablative case here
after ek, "out of your sinful, sensual lusts," the desire to
get what one does not have and greatly desires. {That war} (	(936e)
strateuomen(936e)). Present middle articular participle (ablative
case agreeing with h(8864)on(936e)) of strateu(935c), to carry on a
campaign, here as in  1Pe 2:11  of the passions in the human
body. James seems to be addressing nominal Christians, "among
you" (en humin). Modern church disturbances are old enough in
practice.