James 2:14
What does James 2:14 mean?
A plain-English look at James 2:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 2:14 means
James poses two questions to expose empty profession: What profit is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that kind of faith save him? The stress falls on a claimed faith that remains fruitless. Salvation is not by works, yet the faith that saves never stands alone—it acts. James refuses a definition of faith that is mere assent or religious speech. He is not opposing the gospel of grace but defending it from distortion: genuine trust in Christ inevitably produces obedience, love, and mercy. A faith without such evidence is unprofitable and unreliable in the day of judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?
KJV
King James Version · 1611What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What use is it, my brothers, for a man to say that he has faith, if he does nothing? will such a faith give him salvation?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862What <FI>is<Fi> the profit, my brethren, if faith, any one may speak of having, and works he may not have? is that faith able to save him?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath not works? Shall faith be able to save him?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890What [is] the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him?
Context
Moving from mercy and judgment (v. 13), James begins a sustained argument (vv. 14–26) that faith must be accompanied by works. Verses 15–16 present a practical example of empty words without helping a needy brother or sister, leading to the conclusion in verse 17 that such faith is dead. Verses 18–19 engage an imagined objector, and verses 20–25 supply examples from Abraham and Rahab. The section culminates in verse 26 with a final analogy.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 3:8
Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:
- Acts 8:21
Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.
- 1 Corinthians 15:2
by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;
- Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
- 1 Corinthians 13:2
And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
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