James 2 · Verse 17

James 2:17

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:17, King James Version

James 2:17 in other translations

BSBSo too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
WEBEven so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
ASVEven so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.
YLTso also the faith, if it may not have works, is dead by itself.
DARBYSo also faith, if it have not works, is dead by itself.
BBEEven so faith without works is dead.
WebsterEven so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

What does James 2:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. faith ... being alone--Alford joins "is dead in itself." So Bengel, "If the works which living faith produces have no existence, it is a proof that faith itself (literally, 'in respect to itself') has no existence; that is, that what one boasts of as faith, is dead." "Faith" is said to be "dead in itself," because when it has works it is alive, and it is discerned to be so, not in respect to its works, but in respect to itself. English Version, if retained, must not be understood to mean that faith can exist "alone" (that is, severed from works), but thus: Even so presumed faith, if it have not works, is dead, being by itself "alone," that is, severed from works of charity; just as the body would be "dead" if alone, that is, severed from the spirit (Jas 2:26). So Estius.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Jas 2:15.

(+) "alone" or, "by itself"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 If it hath not works, is dead - The faith that does not produce works of charity and mercy is without the living principle which animates all true faith, that is, love to God and love to man. They had faith, such as a man has who credits a well-circumstanced relation because it has all the appearance of truth; but they had nothing of that faith that a sinner, convinced of his sinfulness, God's purity, and the strictness of the Divine laws, is obliged to exert in the Lord Jesus, in order to be saved from his sins.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 2:14-26

Those are wrong who put a mere notional belief of the gospel for the whole of evangelical religion, as many now do. No doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ's righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from…

Read the full comment on James 2:14-26 →

James 2:17 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὕτωςhoutōsSoG3779
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἡhē<the>G3588
πίστις,pistisfaith,G4102
ἐὰνeanonlyG1437
μὴmēunlessG3361
ἔχῃechēit shall haveG2192
ἔργα,ergaworksG2041
νεκράnekra[then] deadG3498
ἐστινestinit isG1510
καθ᾽kath᾽byG2596
ἑαυτήν.¶he'autēnitself.G1438

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for James 2:17

  • James 2:26

    For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

  • 2 Peter 1:5-9

    And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. …

  • James 2:19-20

    Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

  • James 2:14

    What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

  • 1 Corinthians 13:13

    And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

  • 1 Timothy 1:5

    Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:3

    Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
so.
14,19,20,26; 1Co 13:3,13; 1Th 1:3; 1Ti 1:5; 2Pe 1:5-9
alone. Gr. by itself.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • James 2:16

    And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

  • James 2:17

    Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

  • James 2:18

    Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Read all of James 2

James 2:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Así también la fe, si no tuviere obras, es muerta en sí misma.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		De même aussi la foi, si elle n’a pas d’œuvres, est morte par elle-même.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Also ist auch der Glaube, wenn er nicht Werke hat, an sich selbst tot.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sic et fides, si non habeat opera, mortua est in semetipsa.