James 2:5

Poverty and the vulnerable Faith The kingdom of God

³ If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

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

⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?

⁷ Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
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?
WEB: Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
ASV: Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?
DARBY: Hear, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen the poor as to the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to them that love him?
BLB: Listen, my beloved brothers: Did not God choose the poor in this world [to be] rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those loving Him?

ÅB: Hør dog, mine elskede brødre: Har ikke Gud utvalgt dem som er fattige på verdens gods, til å være rike i troen og arvinger til det rike han har lovt dem som elsker ham?
OTB: Hør, mine kjære brødre og søstre: Har ikke Gud valgt dem som er fattige i verdens øyne til å være rike i tro og arvinger til riket Han lovet dem som elsker Ham?
B1930: Hør dog, mine elskede brødre: Har ikke Gud utvalgt dem som er fattige på verdens gods, til å være rike i troen og arvinger til det rike han har lovt dem som elsker ham?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Read in context
Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Read in context
Revelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 1:26–28
Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Read in context
Luke 12:21
This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Read in context
Hebrews 11:26
He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
Read in context
Luke 12:32
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Read in context