James 2:10 kjv

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:10 nkjv

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:10 niv

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

James 2:10 esv

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

James 2:10 nlt

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws.

James 2 verses

James 2 10 Meaning

James 2:10 teaches that the Mosaic Law is a unified whole, divinely given by one God. Consequently, a single transgression against any part of this law renders one guilty of violating the entire Law, as it demonstrates a disregard for the authority of the Law-Giver himself. This means that failing in just one command makes a person accountable for a complete breach of God's perfect standard, underscoring the universal need for divine mercy and not reliance on human effort for righteousness.

James 2 10 Context

James 2:10 is embedded within James's forceful exhortation against favoritism and hypocrisy among believers, directly following his strong denunciation of showing partiality towards the wealthy over the poor (James 2:1-9). James explicitly calls such favoritism a "transgression of the law" (James 2:9). The verse clarifies why showing partiality is so serious: it's not just a minor infraction but a complete failure in God's unified law. The broader context of James chapter 2 is the essential relationship between faith and works, asserting that true faith is always demonstrated through obedient action, including the fulfillment of God's "royal law" (James 2:8) to love one's neighbor. This verse underlines the radical demands of the divine law and sets the stage for James's famous illustration that faith without works is dead. Historically, the early Jewish Christian community to whom James wrote was accustomed to the indivisibility of the Mosaic Law, understanding that the Law, given by God, expressed a single divine will.

James 2 10 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction indicating explanation or justification. It connects the statement in verse 10 to the preceding declaration that showing favoritism is a sin (v. 9), explaining why it's so grievous.
• whoever (ὅστις - hostis): Indefinite relative pronoun, meaning "whoever," "everyone who." It speaks universally, applying to all people, emphasizing a principle.
• keeps (τηρήσῃ - tērēsē): From tēreō, meaning "to watch over, guard, observe, keep safe, obey." Implies careful and diligent adherence to the Law. The subjunctive mood ("should keep") sets up a hypothetical but real scenario.
• the whole law (ὅλον τὸν νόμον - holon ton nomon): This phrase emphasizes the entirety and totality of God's revealed law, whether Mosaic or general divine command. It highlights that the Law is not a collection of independent statutes but a cohesive system, an expression of a singular divine will.
• and yet stumbles (πταίσῃ - ptaisē): From ptaio, meaning "to stumble, fall, err, make a mistake, offend." It denotes a failure, a transgression, a breaking of a command. The Greek implies a singular instance of falling.
• at just one point (ἑνὶ δέ - heni de): "At one [point/thing/command]." Hen is from heis (one). This single point emphasizes that the violation of any single command, no matter how seemingly small, carries profound implications because it defiles the integrity of the whole.
• is guilty of breaking (γέγονεν πάντων ἔνοχος - gegonen pantōn enochos): Literally "has become of all liable," or "held accountable for all."
  • γέγονεν (gegonen) - Perfect active indicative of ginomai ("to come to be, become"). Signifies a state that has been entered into and continues to exist. Once violated, the guilt is permanent unless removed by grace.
  • ἔνοχος (enochos) - Meaning "held within, subject to, answerable for, liable to, guilty." This is a legal term, indicating that one is caught or implicated, bound by penalty, or obligated.
• all of it (πάντων - pantōn): Genitive plural of pas (all). Reinforces the comprehensive nature of the guilt. It's not just a failure on one point but an offense against the whole Law, and thereby against the Law-Giver.

Words-Group by words-group analysis:

• For whoever keeps the whole law: This hypothetical premise underscores the monumental task of perfect law-keeping, implying that such complete adherence is nearly impossible. James sets up the ultimate scenario of human effort before demonstrating its fatal flaw.
• and yet stumbles at just one point: This phrase highlights the radical demand of the Law. It’s not a quantitative scale where many successes outweigh one failure; one single moral failure fundamentally breaks the Law’s integrity. This mirrors the biblical teaching that sin is not merely isolated acts but a rebellion against God’s authority.
• is guilty of breaking all of it: This is the core teaching. The guilt is not compartmentalized; violating one part dishonors the divine author of all parts. The Law is not divisible. To break a commandment against theft is to challenge the authority of the God who forbids murder and adultery. It demonstrates that the problem is not just the specific sin, but the principle of defiance against God’s complete authority.

James 2 10 Bonus section

This verse powerfully serves as a polemic against the subtle legalistic mindset common among some Jewish Christians of James's time, who might have believed their meticulous adherence to many parts of the Law excused their failure in others (like partiality or neglect of the poor). It highlights that such a view fundamentally misunderstands the Law's nature and the Law-Giver's character. The principle here resonates with Old Testament pronouncements about covenant breaking; violating even one aspect of the covenant broke the entire covenant relationship with God. The Law is like a chain: breaking one link renders the entire chain unusable for its purpose. It's not about how many links remain unbroken, but that the integrity of the whole has been compromised. This underscores the need for divine intervention, as no one can claim innocence or earn salvation based on human merit when confronted with this unified standard.

James 2 10 Commentary

James 2:10 is a foundational theological statement emphasizing the unity and indivisibility of God’s Law. It directly counters any perception that moral obedience is a graded scale where a few good deeds or adherence to most commands can outweigh a few infractions. The point is not that every sin is equally grievous in its direct consequence (e.g., lying vs. murder), but that any sin, even the smallest, equally violates the holy character and unified authority of the divine Law-Giver. The Law proceeds from God’s perfect, indivisible nature. Therefore, to disregard one commandment is to disregard the one who gave it all. This absolute standard profoundly reveals humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through law-keeping, pushing the listener to the grace provided through Christ, who alone perfectly fulfilled the Law and bore its curse. It functions as a powerful indictment against hypocrisy, partial obedience, and self-righteousness, stressing that every human, due to inevitable failure, stands condemned before a holy God and is utterly dependent on Christ’s redemptive work. For practical usage, consider: 1) It highlights the seriousness of all sin, urging genuine repentance for every transgression. 2) It prevents a selective application of biblical commands, reminding believers to strive for holiness in all areas of life, not just the ones they find easy. 3) It directs attention to God’s mercy and Christ’s complete righteousness, which alone satisfy the Law’s demands on our behalf, offering true peace.