Bible Strands
James 2:11
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — James addresses believers navigating ethical conduct, positioning this instruction between a warning about total law-keeping and a call to future judgment.
The words — The participle εἰπὼν (eipōn) means “having said,” anchoring the command to divine authority, while μοιχεύσῃς (moicheusēs) denotes “you may commit adultery.”
The thread — The murder prohibition runs through Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17, and Matthew 5:21.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to treat any single command violation as total lawbreaking, demanding consistent obedience rather than selective compliance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Cross-references
- Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.
- Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
- Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder.
- Romans 13:9 The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Psalms 130:3 If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
- Matthew 19:18 “Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,
- Mark 10:19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”
- Luke 18:20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”
- Leviticus 4:13 Now if the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly so that they violate any of the LORD’s commandments and incur guilt by doing what is forbidden,
- Leviticus 4:22 When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is prohibited by any of the commandments of the LORD his God, he incurs guilt.