American Standard Version
James 2:20
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
James 2:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- New International Version (NIV)You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
- New King James Version (NKJV)But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Context of James 2:20
18Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. 19Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
Read all of James 2James 2:20 word by word
θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ, ὅτι ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν;Read the interlinear
Cross-references for James 2:20
- James 1:26If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- Job 11:11For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.
- Psalms 94:8Consider, ye brutish among the people; And ye fools, when will ye be wise?
- Proverbs 12:11He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.
- Jeremiah 2:5Thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
- Romans 1:21because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
- 1 Corinthians 15:35But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?
- Galatians 6:3For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
- Colossians 2:8Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:
- 1 Timothy 1:6from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking;
- James 2:14What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?
Commentaries on James 2:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But wilt thou know - Art thou willing to be instructed in the nature of true saving faith? Then attend to the following examples.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20But wilt thou know - Will you have a full demonstration of it; will you have the clearest proof in the case. The apostle evidently felt that the instances to which he was about to refer, those of Abraham and Rahab, were decisive. O vain man - The reference by this language is to a man who held an opinion that could not be defended. The word “vain” here used ( kene) means properly “empty,” as opposed to “full” - as empty hands, having nothing in them; then…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-26Verses 14-26 Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from this saving faith. A bare…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-26James shows through Scripture that true faith is shown through actions.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. wilt thou know--"Vain" men are not willing to know, since they have no wish to "do" the will of God. James beseeches such a one to lay aside his perverse unwillingness to know what is palpable to all who are willing to do. vain--who deceivest thyself with a delusive hope, resting on an unreal faith. without works--The Greek, implies separate from the works [Alford] which ought to flow from it if it were real. is dead--Some of the best manuscripts…Read the comment
Topics related to James 2:20
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
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries