James 2:12

James 2:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
• New International Version (NIV)Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
• English Standard Version (ESV)So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

Context of James 2:12

10For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. 14What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?

James 2:12 word by word

οὕτως λαλεῖτε καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε ὡς διὰ νόμου ἐλευθερίας μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• speak yeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• they that shallμέλλωmellō · to ensueG3195
• be judgedκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
• byδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• of libertyἐλευθερίαeleutheria · freedomG1657

Cross-references for James 2:12

• Philippians 4:8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
• Colossians 3:17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
• 2 Peter 1:4And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
• James 2:8Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• James 1:25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Commentaries on James 2:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12So speak ye, and so do - Have respect to every commandment of God, for this the law of liberty - the Gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly requires; and this is the law by which all mankind, who have had the opportunity of knowing it, shall be judged. But all along St. James particularly refers to the precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty - On the phrase, “the law of liberty,” see the notes at James 1:25. Compare the notes at James 4:11. The meaning is, that in all our conduct we are to act under the constant impression of the truth that we are soon to be brought into judgment, and that the law by which we are to be judged is that by which it is contemplated that we shall be set free from the dominion of sin. In the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The law that gives freedom from the power of sin (see 1:25 and corresponding study note). It promotes endurance and grow towards perfection (1:3–4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Summing up of the previous reasonings. speak--referring back to Jas 1:19, 26; the fuller discussion of the topic is given Jas 3:5-12. judged by the law of liberty--(Jas 1:25); that is, the Gospel law of love, which is not a law of external constraint, but of internal, free, instinctive inclination. The law of liberty, through God's mercy, frees us from the curse of the law, that henceforth we should be free to love and obey willingly. If we will not…Read the comment

Topics related to James 2:12

• Commandments
• Faith
• Judgment
• Obedience
• Religion

In the dictionaries

• Convince
• Dead
• Draw
• Justify
• Offend
• Respect
• Rich
• Sister
• Romans, Epistle to the

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