James 2:20

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

18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless? 21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did.

James 2:20 word by word

θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ, ὅτι ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν;Read the interlinear

• Oὦō · oh!G5599
• foolishκενόςkenos · emptyG2756
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• ·δέde · thenG1161
• do you wantθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• evidenceγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• deedsἔργονergon · workG2041
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• worthlessἀργόςargos · idleG692

Cross-references for James 2:20

• James 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
• Job 11:11Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
• Psalms 94:8Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?
• Proverbs 12:11The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me? They followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves.
• Romans 1:21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.
• 1 Corinthians 15:35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”
• Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
• Colossians 2:8See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
• 1 Timothy 1:6Some have strayed from these ways and turned aside to empty talk.
• James 2:14What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such 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

• Faith
• Hypocrisy
• Justification
• Religion
• Righteousness
• Works

In the dictionaries

• Convince
• Dead
• Draw
• Justify
• Offend
• Respect
• Rich
• Sister
• Faith
• Justification

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