James 2:9 Meaning and Explanation
“But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Showing favoritism is sin and convicts one as a lawbreaker.
What Does James 2:9 Mean?
The verdict is direct. If you show favoritism, you commit sin, and the law itself convicts you as a transgressor. What seemed a small social preference is named plainly as sin, and the royal law stands as judge.
James will not let partiality hide behind custom or comfort. Measured against the command to love the neighbor, favoritism is a clear breach, and the law convicts the one who practices it. There is no neutral ground where one may honor the rich and slight the poor without guilt. The reader who heard the seating of the two men described, and felt it ordinary, is now told its true name. Recognizing it as sin is the first step toward leaving it behind.
James 2:9 in the Original Language
hamartia (ἁμαρτία), 'sin' -- a missing of the mark, falling short of God's righteous standard.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 2:9
What does James 2:9 mean?
Showing favoritism is sin and convicts one as a lawbreaker.