James 2:21
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
- KJV
- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
- WEB
- Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
- ASV
- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
- DARBY
- Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
- BLB
- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, having offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
- ÅB
- Abraham, vår far, ble ikke han rettferdiggjort ved gjerninger, da han ofret sin sønn Isak på alteret?
- OTB
- Ble ikke vår far Abraham rettferdiggjort ved gjerninger da han ofret sin sønn Isak på alteret?
- B1930
- Abraham, vår far, blev ikke han rettferdiggjort ved gjerninger, da han ofret sin sønn Isak på alteret?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 22:16–18
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Read in contextGenesis 22:9–12
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Read in contextJohn 8:39
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Read in contextMatthew 12:37
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Read in contextRomans 4:16
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
Read in contextJohn 8:53
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Read in contextIsaiah 51:2
Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
Read in contextJames 2:18
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Read in context