KJV King James Version
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
VERSE STUDY • KJV
James 2:21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
WEB World English Bible
Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
ASV American Standard Version
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
Abraham our father—was not he declared righteous out of works, having brought up Isaac his son upon the altar?
Surrounding context — James 2
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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ἈβραὰμG11 · AbraamAbrahamὁG3588 · hothe/this/whoπατὴρG3962 · patērfatherἡμῶνG3165 · memeοὐκG3756 · ounoἐξG1537 · ekout fromἔργωνG2041 · ergonworkἐδικαιώθηG1344 · dikaioōto justifyἀνενέγκαςG399 · anapherōto carry upἸσαὰκG2464 · IsaakIsaacτὸνG3588 · hothe/this/whoυἱὸνG5207 · uhiossonαὐτοῦG846 · autosit/s/heἐπὶG1909 · epiupon/to/againstτὸG3588 · hothe/this/whoθυσιαστήριον;G2379 · thusiastērionaltar
Cross-references
Genesis 22:16-18And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son]:Genesis 22:9-12And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.John 8:39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.Romans 4:16Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,Matthew 12:37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.Romans 4:12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised.James 2:18Yea, 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.Romans 3:20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.Matthew 25:31-40When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:Psalm 143:2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.Romans 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?Luke 16:30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.Matthew 3:9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.Acts 7:2And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,Luke 16:24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.Isaiah 51:2Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.Joshua 24:3And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.John 8:53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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