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

21Think about our ancestor Abraham. He offered his son Isaac on the altar as a gift to God. Because he did that good thing, God accepted him as right with himself. 22Abraham believed in God, and he did what God asked him to do. So you can see that both of these were necessary. When he did this good thing, he showed that he believed in God completely. The Bible tells us what happened. It says, ‘Abraham believed God. As a result, God accepted Abraham as right with him.’ God also called Abraham his friend. 24So you see how God accepts someone as right with himself. That person must not only believe in God. He must also do good things to show that he has faith. 25It was the same with Rahab, long ago. She was a prostitute. She helped some of God's people who came to her house. She kept them safe from their enemies and she sent them away again by a different road. Because she did those good things, God accepted her as right with himself.

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 12:10I am sure that you have read these words in the Bible: “The builders refused to use a certain stone. They thought that it had no value. But now that stone has become the most important stone at the corner of the building.
• Mark 15:28[The Bible says that this would happen. It says, ‘People thought of him as someone who did not obey God's Law.’]
• Luke 4:21Jesus said to them, ‘Today this message has become true. It has happened while you were listening.’
• Acts 1:16‘My friends, long ago, the Holy Spirit gave King David a message to speak from God. He spoke about the things that Judas would do. Judas was the one who showed the soldiers how to catch Jesus. These things had to happen in the way that David wrote in the Bible long ago.
• Romans 9:17The Bible tells us what God said to Pharaoh: ‘This is why I caused you to be king of Egypt. My purpose was to show how powerful I am. As a result, people everywhere would know that I am great.’
• Romans 11:2God chose who would be his people from the beginning. He has not turned against them now. Remember what the Bible tells us about Elijah. He wanted God to punish Israel's people. Elijah said:
• Galatians 3:8The Bible already said what would happen at a future time. It said that God would make the Gentiles right with himself, if they believed in him. God showed this good news to Abraham a long time before it happened. He said to Abraham, ‘I will bless people from all countries because of you.’
• 2 Timothy 3:16Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God's Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives.
• 1 Peter 2:6In the Bible, God says this: ‘Look, I have chosen a stone that is very valuable. I have chosen this stone as the most important stone, for the corner of my house in Zion. Anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.’
• Genesis 15:6Abram believed the Lord. As a result, the Lord accepted Abram as right with him.
• Romans 4:3Remember what the Bible tells us. It says: ‘Abraham believed God. As a result, God accepted Abraham as right with him.’
• Galatians 3:6Think about our Jewish ancestor Abraham. We know this: ‘Abraham believed God. As a result, God accepted Abraham as right with him’.
• Exodus 33:11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But Nun's son Joshua always stayed in the special tent. Joshua was a young man who helped Moses.
• 2 Chronicles 20:7Our God, you chased out the people who were living in this land, so that your people, the Israelites, could move in. You have given this land to the descendants of your friend Abraham. It belongs to them for ever.
• Job 16:21I need someone to speak to God on my behalf. He should ask God not to punish me, as someone might try to help his friends.
• Isaiah 41:8‘But you, Israel, are my servant. Yes, I have chosen you, descendants of Jacob. You are descendants of my friend, Abraham.

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