James 2:14

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τί τὸ ὄφελος, ἀδελφοί μου, ἐὰν πίστιν λέγῃ τις ἔχειν, ἔργα δὲ μὴ ἔχῃ; μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν;

Transliteration

What the ophelos, adelphoi my, if pistin legē tis echein, erga de not echē? Not dynatai the pistis sōsai him?

Grammar Details

• Τί: interrogative pronoun, nominative, neuter, singular - what
• τὸ *ophelos*: nominative, neuter, singular - the profit/advantage
• *adelphoi*: vocative, masculine, plural - brothers
• μου: genitive, first person, singular - my/of me
• ἐὰν: conditional particle - if
• *pistin*: accusative, feminine, singular - faith
• *legē*: present, active, subjunctive, 3rd person singular - may say
• τις: indefinite pronoun, nominative, masculine, singular - someone
• *echein*: present, active, infinitive - to have
• *erga*: accusative, neuter, plural - works
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• μὴ: negative particle (interrogative) - not
• *echē*: present, active, subjunctive, 3rd person singular - may have
• *dynatai*: present, middle, indicative, 3rd person singular - is able
• ἡ *pistis*: nominative, feminine, singular - the faith
• *sōsai*: aorist, active, infinitive - to save
• αὐτόν: accusative, masculine, singular - him

Word Meanings

• *ophelos*: profit/advantage/benefit/use
• *adelphoi*: brothers/fellow believers/siblings in faith
• *pistin*: faith/belief/trust
• *legē*: may say/claim/profess
• *echein*: to have/possess
• *erga*: works/deeds/actions
• *echē*: may have/possess
• *dynatai*: is able/can
• *pistis*: faith/belief/trust
• *sōsai*: to save/rescue/deliver

Referenced Verses

• Matt 7:26-27 : 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
• Matt 7:21-23 : 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• Jas 1:22-25 : 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
• 2 Pet 1:5 : 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
• Heb 11:7-8 : 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
• Heb 13:9 : 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
• Heb 11:17 : 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
• Matt 5:20 : 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
• 1 Cor 13:2-3 : 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
• 1 Cor 15:2 : 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
• Luke 6:49 : 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
• Acts 8:13 : 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
• Acts 8:21 : 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
• Acts 15:9 : 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
• Eph 2:8-9 : 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
• 1 Thess 1:3 : 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
• Gal 5:6 : 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
• Titus 1:16 : 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
• Titus 3:8 : 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable{(G5624)} unto men.
• Gal 5:13 : 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
• 1 Tim 1:5 : 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
• 1 John 5:4-5 : 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
• Jas 2:16 : 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
• Jas 2:18 : 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.
• Jas 2:26 : 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
• 1 Tim 4:8 : 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable{(G5624)} unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
• Rom 2:25 : 25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
• 1 Cor 16:22 : 22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.