Devine Scripture

James 2:19

What does James 2:19 mean?

A plain-English look at James 2:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 2:19 means

James concedes that affirming true doctrine—“God is one”—is good, but warns that mere assent does not save. Even demons possess accurate theology about God’s uniqueness, and it makes them shudder, yet they remain rebels. Right belief without repentance and obedience leaves a person in the company of demons—knowing truth, fearing judgment, but not loving God. Genuine faith embraces truth with trust and yields to God in action. James is not belittling doctrine; he is insisting that doctrine believed must become doctrine lived, or it exposes an unchanged heart.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

thou--thou dost believe that God is one; thou dost well, and the demons believe, and they shudder!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Thou believest that there is one God. Thou dost well: the devils also believe and tremble.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Thou believest thatGod is one. Thou doest well. The demons even believe, and tremble.

Context

After arguing that faith must be shown by works (v. 18), James exposes the insufficiency of bare orthodoxy in verse 19. This paves the way for the sharper rebuke of verse 20 and the positive proofs from Scripture—Abraham and Rahab—in verses 21–25. The progression moves from general principle, to warning, to examples that unite belief and action in concrete stories of obedience.

v.18Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith.

v.19This passage

v.20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 46:9

    Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;

  • Mark 12:29

    Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:

  • Zechariah 14:9

    And Jehovah shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall Jehovah be one, and his name one.

  • Jude 1:4

    For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

  • Isaiah 45:6

    that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.

  • Mark 5:7

    and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.

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