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

18Another person might say, “You have faith, but I do good things.” Show me your faith apart from the good things you do. I will show you my faith by the good things I do. 19You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear. You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless? 21Didn’t our ancestor Abraham receive God’s approval as a result of what he did when he offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the altar? 22You see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was shown to be genuine 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• wilt thouθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• Oὦō · oh!G5599
• vainκενόςkenos · emptyG2756
• manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• faithὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
• withoutχωρίςchōris · withoutG5565
• worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498

Cross-references for James 2:20

• James 1:26If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless.
• Job 11:11He knows who the scoundrels are. And when he sees sin, doesn’t he pay attention to it?
• Psalms 94:8Pay attention, you stupid people! When will you become wise, you fools?
• Proverbs 12:11Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat, but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.
• Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
• Romans 1:21They knew God but did not praise and thank him for being God. Instead, their thoughts were pointless, and their misguided minds were plunged into darkness.
• 1 Corinthians 15:35But someone will ask, “How do the dead come back to life? With what kind of body will they come back?”
• Galatians 6:3So if any one of you thinks you’re important when you’re really not, you’re only fooling yourself.
• Colossians 2:8Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⌞of this faith⌟ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.
• 1 Timothy 1:6Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to useless discussions.
• James 2:14My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn’t do any good things? Can this kind of 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