James 2:5 kjv

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

James 2:5 nkjv

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

James 2:5 niv

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

James 2:5 esv

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

James 2:5 nlt

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?

James 2 verses

James 2 5 Meaning

God, in His divine reversal of worldly standards, has specifically chosen those who are considered materially poor in this world to be profoundly rich in faith. These individuals are designated as heirs to the glorious Kingdom that He Himself promised to all who genuinely love Him. This verse underscores God's impartial grace, contrasting it with human tendencies towards partiality based on external wealth.

James 2 5 Context

James 2:5 serves as the theological bedrock and justification for the condemnation of partiality elaborated in the preceding verses (James 2:1-4). James observes the unjust practice within the Christian assembly of showing favoritism to wealthy individuals, granting them preferred seating and status, while dishonoring the poor. This practice fundamentally contradicted the essence of Christian brotherhood and God's own priorities. Verse 5 challenges this worldly judgment, shifting the focus from external appearances and material wealth to God's divine perspective. It explains why the poor should not be disrespected and why material wealth should not be esteemed above all else in the Christian community: because God Himself has chosen the materially poor to be spiritually rich and heirs of His Kingdom. The broader context of James' letter emphasizes practical faith, illustrating how genuine faith is evidenced through actions, love, and living according to God's wisdom, contrasting sharply with hypocritical outward displays or worldly discernment.

James 2 5 Word analysis

• "Listen" (ἀκούσατε - akousate): An imperative verb, a forceful command calling for attentive hearing and mindful reception of what follows. It denotes urgency and importance, demanding a change of heart or perspective.
• "my dear brothers" (ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί - adelphoi mou agapētoi): A term of affectionate address, highlighting the familial bond and mutual love within the Christian community. It sets a tender tone despite the severe critique.
• "Has not God chosen" (οὐχ ὁ θεὸς ἐξελέξατο - ouch ho theos exelexato): A rhetorical question expecting an emphatic "yes." It stresses divine initiative and sovereignty. ἐξελέξατο (exelexato) is a key Greek word signifying divine election, a purposeful selection by God Himself.
• "those who are poor in the eyes of the world" (τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ - tous ptōchous tō kosmō): πτωχοὺς (ptōchous) describes the extremely poor, the destitute, who rely entirely on others for survival. The phrase "in the eyes of the world" clarifies that this is a worldly evaluation of worth, contrasted with God's evaluation.
• "to be rich in faith" (πλουσίους ἐν πίστει - plousious en pistei): The divinely purposed outcome. πλουσίους (plousious) means abundantly supplied. "in faith" denotes that faith is the realm or means by which they are truly wealthy. This richness is spiritual, a deep trust and reliance on God.
• "and to inherit" (καὶ κληρονόμους - kai klēronomous): Designates them as 'heirs,' recipients of an appointed possession. This implies a future reality, secured by divine promise and lineage through Christ.
• "the kingdom he promised" (τῆς βασιλείας τῆς ἐπηγγελμένης - tēs basileias tēs epēngelmenēs): The specific inheritance. "The Kingdom" refers to God's present and future reign, encompassing His spiritual rule in believers' lives and the consummated heavenly kingdom. "He promised" emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant word.
• "those who love him" (τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν - tois agapōsin auton): This clause defines the specific recipients of the promise and inheritance. Love for God is not mere emotion but active devotion, demonstrated through obedience and life (present active participle, continuous action). It serves as the ultimate criterion and evidence of genuine faith.

Words-group Analysis:

• "God chosen those who are poor... to be rich in faith": This reveals God's counter-cultural and redemptive nature. While the world values outward show, God intentionally elects and enriches the humble. This choice is rooted in His justice and grace, showcasing a divine reversal of earthly norms, affirming that spiritual wealth (faith) far surpasses material wealth.
• "rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised": This linkage emphasizes that true spiritual wealth (faith) leads directly to eternal spiritual inheritance. Faith is not just a virtue but the means to partake in God’s ultimate promise—His Kingdom. The Kingdom is a divine gift, not something earned.
• "kingdom he promised those who love him": This phrase underlines that the promise of the Kingdom is specific, sure, and conditioned on a responsive, active love for God. Love is not a meritorious work for salvation, but the defining characteristic and evidence of those truly chosen and spiritually alive in Christ.

James 2 5 Bonus section

• This verse directly challenges the deeply entrenched social hierarchy of the Greco-Roman world, where status, wealth, and honor dictated societal interactions. James proclaims a "Christ's kingdom culture" that utterly reorients these values, asserting that true honor and future hope reside not in earthly gain but in God's divine election and the resulting spiritual wealth of faith.
• The concept of "chosen" (ἐξελέξατο - exelexato) resonates deeply with Old Testament themes of God's election of Israel as His peculiar treasure, and in the New Testament, of believers being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. God’s choice here emphasizes His grace and sovereignty rather than human merit.
• The combination of "rich in faith" and "love him" illustrates that genuine faith is never stagnant; it is an active, living trust in God that culminates in devoted affection and obedience towards Him. This challenges any notion of a mere intellectual assent to beliefs being sufficient for a Kingdom inheritance.

James 2 5 Commentary

James 2:5 profoundly articulates God's value system, directly confronting the worldly partiality that had crept into the early church. It establishes that God’s choice falls not on the materially opulent, but on those who, though often poor by worldly standards, possess a deep and active faith. These are the ones God has purposed to be spiritually rich and, ultimately, to inherit His promised Kingdom. The inheritance of the Kingdom is secured by divine promise and received by those who love God, where such love is the natural fruit of genuine faith. This verse teaches believers to discern value as God does, valuing inward spiritual reality (faith and love for God) over outward social or material status. It calls the church to reflect God's own impartiality and to recognize the true worth of every believer, regardless of their earthly circumstances.