Devine Scripture

James 2:6

What does James 2:6 mean?

A plain-English look at James 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 2:6 means

James rebukes the church for dishonoring the poor, pointing out the irony: it is often the rich who oppress believers and haul them before courts. Yet the congregation flatters them. This is not a blanket condemnation of every wealthy person, but an observation about prevailing patterns in their context. The lure of wealth and influence can blind believers to injustice and lead them to side with those who harm their brothers and sisters. James aims to awaken moral clarity: to favor those who misuse power while slighting the powerless is to misread both people and the times in which we live.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But you have put the poor man to shame. Are not the men of wealth rulers over you? do they not take you by force before their judges?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and ye did dishonour the poor one; do not the rich oppress you and themselves draw you to judgment-seats;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you by might? And do not they draw you before the judgment seats?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But ye have despised the poor [man]. Do not the rich oppress you, and [do not] they drag you before [the] tribunals?

Context

Following God’s valuing of the poor in verse 5, this verse exposes the contradiction between the church’s behavior and their lived experience with the powerful. Verse 7 will add a spiritual dimension—blasphemy against the name by which believers are called. Together, verses 6–7 heighten the charge that partiality is not only unkind but disloyal to God and His people. This prepares the move to the “royal law” in verse 8, where James grounds impartial love in Scripture.

v.5Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?

v.6This passage

v.7Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?

Cross references

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

  • Acts 16:19

    But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,

  • Job 20:19

    For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

  • Isaiah 3:14

    Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the princes thereof: It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses:

  • Acts 8:3

    But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.

  • Acts 4:1

    And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

  • Acts 5:26

    Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, but without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

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