James 2:20

KJV1611 – Modern English

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ, ὅτι ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν;

Transliteration

Theleis de gnōnai, O anthrōpe kene, that the pistis without the ergōn nekra estin?

Grammar Details

• *Theleis*: present, active, indicative, 2nd person singular - you wish
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *gnōnai*: aorist, active, infinitive - to know
• ὦ: vocative particle - O
• *anthrōpe*: vocative, masculine, singular - man/person
• *kene*: vocative, masculine, singular - empty/foolish
• ὅτι: conjunction - that
• ἡ *pistis*: nominative, feminine, singular - the faith
• χωρὶς: preposition + genitive - without/apart from
• τῶν *ergōn*: genitive, neuter, plural - the works
• *nekra*: nominative, feminine, singular, adjective - dead
• *estin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - is

Word Meanings

• *Theleis*: you wish/want/desire
• *gnōnai*: to know/understand/learn
• *anthrōpe*: man/person/human
• *kene*: empty/foolish/vain
• *pistis*: faith/belief/trust
• *ergōn*: works/deeds/actions
• *nekra*: dead/lifeless
• *estin*: is/exists

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless?

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Wilt thou vnderstonde o thou vayne man that fayth with out dedes is deed?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Wilt thou vnderstode o thou vayne man that faith with out dedes is deed:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But wilt thou vnderstand, O thou vaine man, that the faith which is without workes, is dead?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But wylt thou knowe, O thou vayne man, that that fayth which is without workes, is dead?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And dost thou wish to know, O vain man, that the faith apart from the works is dead?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Do you not see, O foolish man, that faith without works is of no use?

• World English Bible (2000)

  But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Referenced Verses

• Prov 12:11 : 11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows vain persons is void of understanding.
• Gal 5:6 : 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision matters nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
• Rom 1:21 : 21 Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
• Jas 2:26 : 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
• Gal 6:3 : 3 For if a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
• Col 2:8 : 8 Beware lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the basic principles of the world, and not after Christ.
• 1 Tim 1:6 : 6 From which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
• Titus 1:10 : 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
• Jas 1:26 : 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is useless.
• Jas 2:17 : 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
• Jer 2:5 : 5 Thus says the LORD, What wrong have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have followed idols, and have become idolaters?
• Job 11:11-12 : 11 For He knows deceptive men; He sees wickedness also; will He not then consider it? 12 For hollow man would be wise, though man is born like a wild donkey's colt.
• Ps 94:8-9 : 8 Understand, you senseless among the people: and you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastises the nations, shall he not correct? he that teaches man knowledge, shall he not know? 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
• 1 Cor 15:35-36 : 35 But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?' 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies.