For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Parallel translations
- WEB For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
- BSB Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
- NKJV For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
- NASB For whoever keeps the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all.
- NLT For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at one point is guilty of breaking all of it. God's law is a unified whole, and any breach is real guilt.
Overview
James states a sobering principle: the law expresses the will of one Lawgiver, so violating one command offends against the whole. This dismantles any notion that favoritism is a trivial exception. By showing that none can keep the law perfectly, the verse points to humanity's need for the grace and forgiveness found in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Gal 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
- Matt 5:18–19For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- Deut 27:26Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.
How James 2:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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