Amplified Bible
James 2:12
12Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin].
James 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
- New International Version (NIV)Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
- English Standard Version (ESV)So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
Context of James 2:12
10For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of [breaking] all of it. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become guilty of transgressing the [entire] Law. Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin]. 13For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment. 14What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.]
Read all of James 2James 2:12 word by word
οὕτως λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- speak yeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- they that shallμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
- be judgedκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
- byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
- of libertyἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657
Cross-references for James 2:12
- Philippians 4:8Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
- Colossians 3:17Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
- 2 Peter 1:4For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.
- James 2:8If, however, you are [really] fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, if you have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” you are doing well.
- James 1:25But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a [careless] listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does [in his life of obedience].
Commentaries on James 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12So speak ye, and so do - Have respect to every commandment of God, for this the law of liberty - the Gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly requires; and this is the law by which all mankind, who have had the opportunity of knowing it, shall be judged. But all along St. James particularly refers to the precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty - On the phrase, “the law of liberty,” see the notes at James 1:25. Compare the notes at James 4:11. The meaning is, that in all our conduct we are to act under the constant impression of the truth that we are soon to be brought into judgment, and that the law by which we are to be judged is that by which it is contemplated that we shall be set free from the dominion of sin. In the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The law that gives freedom from the power of sin (see 1:25 and corresponding study note). It promotes endurance and grow towards perfection (1:3–4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Summing up of the previous reasonings. speak--referring back to Jas 1:19, 26; the fuller discussion of the topic is given Jas 3:5-12. judged by the law of liberty--(Jas 1:25); that is, the Gospel law of love, which is not a law of external constraint, but of internal, free, instinctive inclination. The law of liberty, through God's mercy, frees us from the curse of the law, that henceforth we should be free to love and obey willingly. If we will not…Read the comment
Topics related to James 2:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on James 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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