James 2 · Verse 8

James 2:8

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
James 2:8, King James Version

James 2:8 in other translations

BSBIf you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
WEBHowever, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
ASVHowbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:
YLTIf, indeed, royal law ye complete, according to the Writing, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' --ye do well;
DARBYIf indeed ye keep the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.
BBEBut if you keep the greatest law of all, as it is given in the holy Writings, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself, you do well:
WebsterIf ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

What does James 2:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. The Greek may be translated, "If, however, ye fulfil," &c., that is, as Alford, after Estius, explains, "Still I do not say, hate the rich (for their oppressions) and drive them from your assemblies; if you choose to observe the royal law ... well and good; but respect of persons is a breach of that law." I think the translation is, "If in very deed (or 'indeed on the one hand') ye fulfil the royal law ... ye do well, but if (on the other hand) ye respect persons, ye practice sin." The Jewish Christians boasted of, and rested in, the "law" (Ac 15:1; 21:18-24; Ro 2:17; Ga 2:12). To this the "indeed" alludes. "(Ye rest in the law): If indeed (then) ye fulfil it, ye do well; but if," &c. royal--the law that is king of all laws, being the sum and essence of the ten commandments. The great King, God, is love; His law is the royal law of love, and that law, like Himself, reigns supreme. He "is no respecter of persons"; therefore to respect persons is at variance with Him and His royal law, which is at once a law of love and of liberty (Jas 2:12). The law is the "whole"; "the (particular) Scripture" (Le 19:18) quoted is a part. To break a part is to break the whole (Jas 2:10). ye do well--being "blessed in your deed" ("doing," Margin) as a doer, not a forgetful hearer of the law (Jas 1:25).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. If ye fulfil the royal law. That is, the law which he immediately mentions requiring us to love our neighbour as ourselves. It is called a "royal law," or kingly law, on account of its excellence or nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it has some such prominence and importance among other laws as a king has among other men; that is, it is majestic, noble, worthy of veneration. It is a law which ought to govern and direct us in all our intercourse with men--as a king rules his subjects.

According to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Lev 19:18. Compare Mt 19:19. See it explained by the Saviour, in the parable of the good Samaritan, Lk 10:25-37. In regard to its meaning, Mt 19:19.

Ye do well. That is, "if you fairly comply with the spirit of this law, you do all that is required of you in regulating your intercourse with others. You are to regard all persons as your neighbours, and are to treat them according to their real worth; you are not to be influenced in judging of them, or in your treatment of them, by their apparel, or their complexion, or the circumstances of their birth, but by the fact that they are fellow-beings." This is another reason why they should not show partiality in their treatment of others, for if, in the true sense, they regarded all others as "neighbours," they would treat no one with neglect or contempt.

(a) "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" Lev 19:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 The royal law - Νομον βασιλικον. This epithet, of all the New Testament writers, is peculiar to James; but it is frequent among the Greek writers in the sense in which it appears St. James uses it. Βασιλικος, royal, is used to signify any thing that is of general concern, is suitable to all, and necessary for all, as brotherly love is. This commandment; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, is a royal law, not only because it is ordained of God, and proceeds from his kingly authority over men, but because it is so useful, suitable, and necessary to the present state of man; and as it was given us particularly by Christ himself, Joh 13:34; Joh 15:12, who is our King, as well as Prophet and Priest, it should ever put us in mind of his authority over us, and our subjection to him. As the regal state is the most excellent for secular dignity and civil utility that exists among men, hence we give the epithet royal to whatever is excellent, noble, grand, or useful.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 2:1-13

Chapter Outline All professions of faith are vain, if not producing love and justice to others. (1-13) The necessity of good works to prove the sincerity of faith, which otherwise will be of no more advantage than the faith of devils. (14-26) Verses 1-13 Those who profess faith in Christ as the Lord of glory, must not respect persons on account of mere outward circumstances and appearances, in a manner not agreeing…

Read the full comment on James 2:1-13 →

James 2:8 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.

εἰeiIfG1487
μέντοιmentoiindeedG3305
νόμονnomon[the] lawG3551
τελεῖτεteleiteyou keepG5055
βασιλικὸνbasilikonroyalG937
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὴνtēntheG3588
γραφήν·graphēnScripture;G1124
ἀγαπήσειςagapēseisYou will loveG25
τὸνtontheG3588
πλησίονplēsionneighbourG4139
σουsouof youG4771
ὡςhōsasG5613
σεαυτόν,seautonyourself,G4771
καλῶςkalōswellG2573
ποιεῖτε·poieiteyou are doing;G4160

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

Cross references for James 2:8

  • Leviticus 19:18

    Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

  • Galatians 5:14

    For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Matthew 22:39

    And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • Romans 13:8-9

    Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

  • James 2:12

    So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

  • Mark 12:31-33

    And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

  • Galatians 6:2

    Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

  • Leviticus 19:34

    But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

  • James 1:25

    But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • 2 Kings 7:9

    Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.

  • Luke 10:27-37

    And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the royal.
12; 1:25; 1Pe 2:9
Thou.
Le 19:18,34; Mt 22:39; Mr 12:31-33; Lu 10:27-37; Ro 13:8,9; Ga 5:14
Ga 6:2; 1Th 4:9
ye do.
19; 1Ki 8:18; 2Ki 7:9; Jon 4:4,9; Mt 25:21,23; Php 4:14

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

Context

  • James 2:7

    Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

  • James 2:8

    If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

  • James 2:9

    But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Read all of James 2

James 2:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si en verdad cumplís vosotros la ley real, conforme á la Escritura: Amarás á tu prójimo como á ti mismo, bien hacéis:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si en effet vous accomplissez la loi royale, selon l’écriture: « Tu aimeras ton prochain comme toi-même », vous faites bien;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ihr wirklich das königliche Gesetz erfüllet nach der Schrift: "Du sollst deinen Nächsten lieben wie dich selbst", so tut ihr wohl.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si tamen legem perficitis regalem secundum Scripturas: Diliges proximum tuum sicut teipsum: bene facitis: