James 2:19 kjv
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:19 nkjv
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe?and tremble!
James 2:19 niv
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that?and shudder.
James 2:19 esv
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe ? and shudder!
James 2:19 nlt
You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
James 2 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Monotheism & Knowledge of God | ||
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." | Foundation of Israel's monotheism. |
| Isa 45:5-6 | "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God..." | God's exclusive claim to deity. |
| Mal 2:10 | "Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?" | Humanity's common creator, highlighting monotheism. |
| Rom 1:19-20 | "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them... so they are without excuse." | Humanity has innate knowledge of God. |
| Demonic Recognition & Fear | ||
| Mt 8:29 | "What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" | Demons acknowledge Jesus' divine identity and fear judgment. |
| Mk 1:24 | "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." | Demons recognize Jesus' holy authority. |
| Lk 4:34 | "Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." | Similar to Mark, fear of destruction. |
| Acts 19:15 | "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" | Demons differentiate true spiritual authority from false. |
| Insufficient Faith / False Profession | ||
| Mt 7:21-23 | "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom... but he who does the will of My Father..." | Profession without practical obedience is worthless. |
| Tit 1:16 | "They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works." | Contradiction between confession and conduct. |
| 2 Tim 3:5 | "having a form of godliness but denying its power." | External piety without internal transformation. |
| Isa 29:13 | "These people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me..." | Lip service without genuine heart devotion. |
| Eze 33:31 | "They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them..." | Hearing God's word without acting upon it. |
| Jn 5:42 | "I know that you do not have the love of God within you." | Lack of love for God reveals a lack of true connection. |
| True Faith & Works | ||
| Gal 5:6 | "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." | Saving faith is active and motivated by love. |
| Eph 2:8-10 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith... created in Christ Jesus for good works..." | Salvation results in good works, not by them. |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." | Believing in God and His character implies active pursuit. |
| Heb 11 | The entire chapter exemplifies how faith is demonstrated through concrete actions of biblical figures. | Faith is consistently evidenced by deeds. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you..." | Practical application of salvation; active participation. |
| Mt 3:8 | "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance..." | Repentance should lead to observable change in behavior. |
| Lk 6:46 | "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?" | True lordship demands obedience and submission. |
| Ti 2:11-14 | "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared... training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives..." | Grace enables and instructs in holy living. |
| Reverential Fear vs. Demonic Fear | ||
| Ps 111:10 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments." | Right kind of fear leads to wisdom and obedience. |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Knowing God properly involves reverence. |
| Lk 12:4-5 | "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" | Fear God's ultimate authority and judgment. |
| Heb 10:31 | "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." | Emphasizes the gravity of God's judgment. |
| Phil 2:12 | "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..." | A reverential awe for God's work in salvation. |
James 2 verses
James 2 19 Meaning
James 2:19 declares that merely believing intellectually in the existence of one God, while true and good, is not sufficient for genuine, living faith. Even demons possess this cognitive belief, yet their acknowledgment of God's power causes them only to tremble in terror at their impending judgment, rather than leading to repentance, obedience, or a changed life. This verse powerfully differentiates between a dead, intellectual assent and a vibrant, transformative faith that necessarily produces action.
James 2 19 Context
James chapter 2, beginning at verse 14, directly addresses the indispensable link between faith and works. James questions the utility of a "faith" that claims belief but produces no observable fruit (v. 14). He uses the practical example of neglecting a hungry or cold person, arguing that such "faith" is barren and "dead" (v. 15-17). Verse 19 then serves as a critical illustration of this point, demonstrating that even a fundamental and true theological belief in monotheism is insufficient for saving faith if it lacks transforming power. James, likely writing to Jewish Christians, corrects a potential misunderstanding of salvation by grace through faith. He seeks to counter any tendency towards antinomianism or a superficial adherence that disconnects spiritual conviction from daily life and action, underscoring that genuine faith must manifest in concrete obedience and love.
James 2 19 Word analysis
You believe: (σὺ πιστεύεις, sy pisteueis). This uses the singular "you," indicating a direct address to an individual or to any person making such a claim. "Believe" here primarily refers to intellectual assent, the cognitive acceptance of a fact or statement as true, rather than active trust and surrender.
that there is one God: (ὅτι εἷς ὁ θεός, hoti heis ho theos). This phrase is a cornerstone of Jewish theology, echoing the Shema from Deut 6:4 ("The LORD our God, the LORD is one"). It signifies belief in absolute monotheism—the truth that there is only one unique and supreme deity. James affirms this as a correct and foundational truth.
You do well!: (καλῶς ποιεῖς, kalōs poieis). This expression acknowledges the intellectual belief as true and commendable in itself. It’s an affirmation that it’s indeed "good" or "right" to hold this foundational truth. However, this praise is immediately qualified, implying that while good, it is not enough for genuine salvation.
The demons: (τὰ δαιμόνια, ta daimonia). These refer to evil spiritual entities, fallen angels, often associated with opposition to God and the cause of suffering and possession in the New Testament. They are consistently portrayed as possessing accurate knowledge of Jesus's identity and God's ultimate power.
also believe—: (καὶ πιστεύουσιν, kai pisteuousin). The identical verb "believe" is used for the demons, explicitly drawing a parallel. This emphasizes that their "belief" is the same intellectual recognition and cognitive assent as the one being described, reinforcing the point that such intellectual assent alone is shared even by those who remain entirely opposed to God.
and tremble!: (καὶ φρίσσουσιν, kai phrissousin). This powerful verb indicates a physical reaction of shivering, shuddering, or trembling due to intense fear, dread, or horror. For demons, their belief in God's existence and power evokes only terror of judgment, not worship or obedience. Their knowledge brings forth fear of destruction, starkly contrasting with the reverential fear that leads believers to repentance and devoted service.
Words-group analysis:
- "You believe that there is one God. You do well!": This phrase grants initial affirmation, confirming that believing in the monotheistic God is a good and correct theological position. However, it's a strategic rhetorical move. By acknowledging this intellectual truth, James sets the stage to challenge its sufficiency, not its veracity. He aims to expose a limited understanding of faith that rests solely on cognitive assent.
- "The demons also believe—and tremble!": This is the heart of James's critique. It creates a striking contrast. If mere intellectual assent were sufficient, then even demonic entities would be considered righteous. The addition of "and tremble" highlights the profound difference in the result of their belief versus true saving faith. Demons believe and their belief leads to dread and terror because they know God's ultimate power and their coming judgment. This demonstrates that a belief without moral transformation, without a turn to obedience and love, is ultimately akin to the terror-filled acknowledgement of God's enemies.
James 2 19 Bonus section
This verse often serves as a key text in understanding the relationship between faith and works in the New Testament, frequently debated in light of Paul's teachings. Rather than contradicting Paul, James clarifies that the "faith" Paul speaks of (which brings justification) is a holistic, active, and transformative trust, not the mere intellectual assent that James criticizes here. The "tremble" (φρίσσουσιν, phrissousin) of the demons highlights their unique situation; unlike humanity, they have no hope of repentance or forgiveness, knowing only God’s inevitable judgment for their rebellion. This terror stands in contrast to the believer's "fear of the Lord" (Ps 111:10; Prov 1:7; Phil 2:12), which is a reverential awe and humble obedience leading to wisdom and blessing. Therefore, James is not condemning monotheistic belief, but the complacency that might accompany it if it remains only an intellectual proposition, failing to penetrate the heart and reshape one's life. The rhetorical force of the comparison with demons ensures that readers fully grasp the gravity and active nature of genuine, saving faith.
James 2 19 Commentary
James 2:19 provides a sharp, concise argument against an inert, intellectual "faith" that claims to know God but fails to produce spiritual fruit. While acknowledging the absolute truth of monotheism—a foundational doctrine for any believer—James demonstrates its insufficiency for salvation by highlighting that even evil spirits grasp this fundamental truth. Their belief, however, leads only to terror and shuddering (φρίσσουσιν, phrissousin), recognizing God’s power and impending judgment without any change of heart or allegiance. This powerfully distinguishes true, living faith, which is an active trust leading to love, repentance, and obedience, from a barren intellectual assent. James aims to correct a shallow interpretation of faith that allows for profession without practice. The passage essentially asks: if your belief doesn't move you to love and good deeds, but leaves you in a state of intellectual recognition without active submission to God, how is it different from the unproductive terror felt by demons? For example, one might believe that fire is hot, but true belief is demonstrated by avoiding a direct touch. Similarly, to believe in God means not just knowing He exists, but acting in accordance with His will, not just fearing His power.