James 2:24

James 2:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
• New International Version (NIV)You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
• English Standard Version (ESV)You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
• New King James Version (NKJV)You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Context of James 2:24

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. 23The 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. So 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. 26If our bodies have no spirit, they are dead. In the same way, if our faith does not lead us to do good things, it is dead.

James 2:24 word by word

ὁρᾶτε ὅτι ἐξ ἔργων δικαιοῦται ἄνθρωπος καὶ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως μόνον.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Ye seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• thenτοίνυνtoinun · thenG5106
• how thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• byἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• is justifiedδικαιόωdikaioō · to justifyG1344
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440

Cross-references for James 2:24

• James 2:15For example, maybe a believer does not have enough clothes to wear or enough food to eat.
• Psalms 60:12With God's help, we will win! He will beat down our enemies for us.

Commentaries on James 2:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Ye see then how - It is evident from this example that Abraham's faith was not merely believing that there is a God; but a principle that led him to credit God's promises relative to the future Redeemer, and to implore God's mercy: this he received, and was justified by faith. His faith now began to work by love, and therefore he was found ever obedient to the will of his Maker. He brought forth the fruits of righteousness; and his works justified…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Ye see then - From the course of reasoning pursued, and the example referred to. How that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only - Not by a cold, abstract, inoperative faith. It must be by a faith that shall produce good works, and whose existence will be shown to men by good works. As justification takes place in the sight of God, it is by faith, for he sees that the faith is genuine, and that it will produce good works if the individual who…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. 24Not by faith alone: This means that true faith is not like demons who simply believe something is true (2:19). But it is through a belief that leads to generous actions like God himself does (1:17). Some think this teaching contradicts Paul, but it does not. Paul does not oppose good deeds, but he warns against seeking forgiveness of sins through them (Romans 3:28; Galatians 2:16). Paul understands that it is necessary for true faith to leads to love and…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. justified and, not by faith only--that is, by "faith without (separated from: severed from) works," its proper fruits (see on Jas 2:20). Faith to justify must, from the first, include obedience in germ (to be developed subsequently), though the former alone is the ground of justification. The scion must be grafted on the stock that it may live; it must bring forth fruit to prove that it does live.Read the comment

Topics related to James 2:24

• Abraham
• Faith
• Hypocrisy
• Religion
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

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

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