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James 2

James 2:20 KJV (With Strong’s)

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20
But
de (Greek #1161)
but, and, etc.
KJV usage: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Pronounce: deh
Origin: a primary particle (adversative or continuative)
wilt thou
thelo (Greek #2309)
to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas 1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in
KJV usage: desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).
Pronounce: thel'-o
Origin: or ἐθέλω (eth-el'-o), in certain tenses θελέω (thel-eh'-o), and ἐθελέω (eth-el-eh'-o), which are otherwise obsolete apparently strengthened from the alternate form of 138
know
ginosko (Greek #1097)
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
KJV usage: allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.
Pronounce: ghin-oce'-ko
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb
, O
o (Greek #5599)
as a sign of the vocative case, O; as a note of exclamation, oh
KJV usage: O.
Pronounce: o
Origin: a primary interjection
vain
kenos (Greek #2756)
empty (literally or figuratively)
KJV usage: empty, (in) vain.
Pronounce: ken-os'
Origin: apparently a primary word
man
anthropos (Greek #444)
man-faced, i.e. a human being
KJV usage: certain, man.
Pronounce: anth'-ro-pos
Origin: from 435 and ὤψ (the countenance; from 3700)
, that
hoti (Greek #3754)
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
KJV usage: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Pronounce: hot'-ee
Origin: neuter of 3748 as conjunction
faith
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
pistis (Greek #4102)
persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself
KJV usage: assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Pronounce: pis'-tis
Origin: from 3982
without
choris (Greek #5565)
at a space, i.e. separately or apart from (often as preposition)
KJV usage: beside, by itself, without.
Pronounce: kho-rece'
Origin: adverb from 5561
works
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
ergon (Greek #2041)
toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act
KJV usage: deed, doing, labour, work.
Pronounce: er'-gon
Origin: from a primary (but obsolete) ἔργω (to work)
is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
dead
nekros (Greek #3498)
dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun)
KJV usage: dead.
Pronounce: nek-ros'
Origin: from an apparently primary νέκυς (a corpse)
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More on:

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Faith

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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O vain.
James 1:26• 26If any one think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this man's religion is vain. (James 1:26)
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Job 11:11‑12• 11For he knoweth vain men, and seeth wickedness when man doth not consider it;
 12Yet a senseless man will make bold, though man be born like the foal of a wild ass. (Job 11:11‑12)
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Psa. 94:8‑11• 8Understand, ye brutish among the people; and ye fools, when will ye be wise?
 9He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?
 10He that instructeth the nations, shall not he correct--he that teacheth man knowledge?
 11Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. (Psa. 94:8‑11)
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Prov. 12:11• 11He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless is void of understanding. (Prov. 12:11)
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Jer. 2:5• 5Thus saith Jehovah: What injustice have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and become vain? (Jer. 2:5)
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Rom. 1:21• 21Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened: (Rom. 1:21)
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1 Cor. 15:35‑36• 35But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what body do they come?
 36Fool; what *thou* sowest is not quickened unless it die. (1 Cor. 15:35‑36)
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Gal. 6:3• 3For if any man reputes himself to be something, being nothing, he deceives himself; (Gal. 6:3)
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Col. 2:8• 8See that there be no one who shall lead *you* away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the teaching of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. (Col. 2:8)
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1 Tim. 1:6• 6which things some having missed, have turned aside to vain discourse, (1 Tim. 1:6)
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Titus 1:10• 10For there are many and disorderly vain speakers and deceivers of people's minds, specially those of the circumcision, (Titus 1:10)
that.
James 2:14• 14What is the profit, my brethren, if any one say he have faith, but have not works? can faith save him? (James 2:14)
• From verse 20 to the end he presents a fresh proof of his thesis. (“James 2” by J.N. Darby)
• “Faith without works is dead.” This is the pretention to having faith. “Though a man say he hath faith” (vs. 14), “if it hath not works, is dead” (vs. 17). The evidences of having faith are totally lacking, even though “dead works” may be making a fair show. Works are never the means of salvation (Rom. 3:28; 4:45; 11:6; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Isa. 64:6; Titus 3:8). (“Help on Hard Verses” by A.C. Brown)
• James speaks simply of works, and not of good works. The point is not that every true believer must do a number of kindly and charitable actions-though it is of course good and right for him so to do—but that his works are bound to be such as shall display his faith in action if men are to see that his faith is real. (“James 2” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is deade?

JND Translation Notes

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e
Or as some MSS. "fruitless and inoperative."

W. Kelly Translation

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20
But art thou willing to learna, O vain man, that faith apart from works is deadb?

WK Translation Notes

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a
Or, "know."
b
Or, "idle." The great majority of MSS. gives "dead" (which may well have slipped in from the context); but the witness for "idle" is ancient and excellent. The shade is slight, the substantial sense remains as before. Only there was here as elsewhere the danger of assimilation, for the chapter ends with the conclusion that faith apart from works is "dead." If "idle" were the true text in vs. 20, the language of vs. 26 would not be a repetition but a striking and effective climax.