Bible Strands
James 2:9
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — James writes to his fellow believers ("My brothers") while addressing internal community conduct, placing this warning between the command to love neighbors and the principle that breaking one law makes one guilty of all. He issues the instruction during a direct address to the church about how faith must operate in social and judicial interactions.
The words — προσωπολημπτεῖτε (prosōpolēmpteite) literally means "you show partiality" or "you receive faces," denoting discriminatory treatment. The text states that doing so causes one to "sin" (ἁμαρτάνετε) and be "convicted" (ἐλεγχόμενοι) by the law as transgressors.
The thread — The prohibition against partiality echoes Leviticus 19:15, which forbids showing favoritism to the poor or rich in judgment. James reinforces this theme by opening his letter with a direct command not to show favoritism (James 2:1) and linking the act to the broader biblical principle that conviction by the law applies to all who transgress.
Why it lands — The verse demands that readers abandon discriminatory treatment because such bias constitutes a direct violation of the law. It requires immediate self-examination to ensure that professed faith does not manifest as selective judgment.
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
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:15 You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
- James 2:1 My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism.
- John 8:9 When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.
- John 8:46 Which of you can prove Me guilty of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe Me?
- John 16:8 And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
- Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
- 1 John 3:4 Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
- Romans 7:7 What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have been mindful of sin if not for the law. For I would not have been aware of coveting if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”
- 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
- Galatians 2:19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God.