James 2:15 Meaning and Explanation
“If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →James pictures a fellow believer lacking clothing and daily food.
What Does James 2:15 Mean?
James grounds the question in a concrete case. Suppose a brother or sister is without clothing and lacks the food needed for the day. The need is immediate and visible, a fellow believer in real distress, not a distant abstraction.
By naming a brother or sister, James places the need inside the family of faith, among those the believer is most bound to love. The destitution is daily, the bare necessities of survival. He is setting up a test of what faith actually does when love is required and within reach. The scene waits for a response, and the kind of response given will reveal whether the faith behind it is living or merely spoken.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 2:15
What does James 2:15 mean?
James pictures a fellow believer lacking clothing and daily food.