James 2:11 Meaning and Explanation
“For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The same God who forbade adultery forbade killing, so breaking either makes one a transgressor.
What Does James 2:11 Mean?
James proves the point with two commandments. The One who said do not commit adultery also said do not kill. The authority behind every command is the same God, so to break one is to defy the One who gave them all.
Therefore a person who avoids adultery but commits murder has still become a transgressor of the law. Keeping one command does not offset breaking another, because the law is bound together by the will of its single Author. The argument quietly returns to favoritism: it too is a breach of the one law, however carefully other commands are kept. James leaves the reader with no partial righteousness to hide in, and so with every reason to seek the mercy found in Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 2:11
What does James 2:11 mean?
The same God who forbade adultery forbade killing, so breaking either makes one a transgressor.