James 2:23

James 2:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
• New International Version (NIV)And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Context of James 2:23

21Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route?

James 2:23 word by word

καὶ ἐπληρώθη ἡ γραφὴ ἡ λέγουσα· ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην καὶ φίλος θεοῦ ἐκλήθη.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• the scriptureγραφήgraphē · a writingG1124
• was fulfilledπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137
• which saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·δέde · thenG1161
• AbrahamἈβραάμAbraam · AbrahamG11
• believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• it was imputedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• forεἰςeis · towardG1519
• righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• he was calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• the Friendφίλοςphilos · friendly/friendG5384

Cross-references for James 2:23

• Mark 12:10Haven’t you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
• Luke 4:21He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”
• Acts 1:16“Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
• Romans 9:17For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.
• Romans 11:2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Or don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah — how he pleads with God against Israel?
• Galatians 3:8Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
• 2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,
• 1 Peter 2:6For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.
• Genesis 15:6Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
• Romans 4:3For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.
• Galatians 3:6just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?
• Exodus 33:11The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.
• 2 Chronicles 20:7Are you not our God who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and who gave it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
• Job 16:21I wish that someone might argue for a man with God just as anyone would for a friend.
• Isaiah 41:8But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham, my friend —

Commentaries on James 2:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23The scripture was fulfilled - He believed God; this faith was never inactive, it was accounted to him for righteousness: and being justified by thus believing, his life of obedience showed that he had not received the grace of God in vain. See the notes on Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; (note); Galatians 3:6; (note); where this subject is largely explained. The friend of God - The highest character ever given to man. As among friends every thing is in common…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith - That is, the fair and full meaning of the language of Scripture was expressed by this act, showing in the highest sense that his faith was genuine; or the declaration that he truly believed, was confirmed or established by this act. His faith was shown to be genuine; and the fair meaning of the declaration that he believed God was carried out in the subsequent act. The passage here referred to occurs in…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. 23the Scripture was fulfilled: James saw the offering of Isaac in Genesis 22 as fulfilling the pledge of the faith of Abraham and the declaration of God that Abraham was righteous (quoted from Genesis 15:6). he was called a friend of God: James emphasizes that faith is a relationship of complete loyalty (James 1:5–8; 4:4; John 15:15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. scripture was fulfilled--Ge 15:6, quoted by Paul, as realized in Abraham's justification by faith; but by James, as realized subsequently in Abraham's work of offering Isaac, which, he says, justified him. Plainly, then, James must mean by works the same thing as Paul means by faith, only that he speaks of faith at its manifested development, whereas Paul speaks of it in its germ. Abraham's offering of Isaac was not a mere act of obedience, but an act…Read the comment

Topics related to James 2:23

• Abraham
• Faith
• Hypocrisy
• Justification
• Quotations and Allusions
• Religion
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• Abraham
• God
• Abraham, Abram
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Convince
• Dead
• Draw
• Justify
• Offend
• Respect

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