Focused Passage

James 2:8-13

Mercy, Partiality, and Living Faith

James moves from condemning favoritism in the assembly, to exposing partiality as lawbreaking, to calling believers to mercy before judgment, and finally to demonstrating that genuine faith is living, active, and completed in works.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

8 If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.

13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 8

Original words

If Εἰ G1487 Conjunction vvv μέντοι G3305 Conjunction you really fulfill τελεῖτε G5055 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural [the] royal βασιλικὸν G937 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular stated in κατὰ G2596 Preposition - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular Scripture γραφήν G1124 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Love Ἀγαπήσεις G25 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular neighbor πλησίον G4139 Adverb as ὡς G5613 Adverb yourself σεαυτόν G4572 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular you are doing ποιεῖτε G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural well καλῶς G2573 Adverb

BSB notes

  • Leviticus 19:18
Verse 9

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction you show favoritism προσωπολημπτεῖτε G4380 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural you ἐργάζεσθε G2038 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural sin ἁμαρτίαν G266 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [and] are convicted ἐλεγχόμενοι G1651 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural by ὑπὸ G5259 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular as ὡς G5613 Adverb transgressors παραβάται G3848 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 10

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction Whoever Ὅστις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular keeps τηρήσῃ G5083 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular whole ὅλον G3650 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction stumbles πταίσῃ G4417 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular at ἐν G1722 Preposition just one [point] ἑνί G1520 Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular is γέγονεν G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular guilty ἔνοχος G1777 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular of [breaking] all of it πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Verse 11

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction He who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular said εἰπών G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv Μὴ G3361 Adverb Do not commit adultery μοιχεύσῃς G3431 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular also καί G2532 Conjunction said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv Μὴ G3361 Adverb Do not murder φονεύσῃς G5407 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction If εἰ G1487 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you do not commit adultery μοιχεύεις G3431 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular but δέ G1161 Conjunction do commit murder φονεύεις G5407 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular you have become γέγονας G1096 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv παραβάτης G3848 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular a lawbreaker νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
  • Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
Verse 12

Original words

- Οὕτως G3779 Adverb Speak λαλεῖτε G2980 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - οὕτως G3779 Adverb act ποιεῖτε G4160 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural as ὡς G5613 Adverb those who are going μέλλοντες G3195 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural to be judged κρίνεσθαι G2919 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive by διὰ G1223 Preposition [the] law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular that gives freedom ἐλευθερίας G1657 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 13

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular judgment κρίσις G2920 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular without mercy [ will be shown to ] ἀνέλεος G448 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular anyone who τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb has not been merciful ποιήσαντι G4160 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular . . . ἔλεος G1656 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Mercy ἔλεος G1656 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular triumphs over κατακαυχᾶται G2620 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular judgment κρίσεως G2920 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.