If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Parallel translations
- WEB And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
- BSB Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
- NKJV If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
- NASB If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
- NLT Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,
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
James imagines a fellow believer lacking clothing and daily food. He sets up an example of faith confronted with real human need.
Overview
To illustrate dead faith, James pictures a brother or sister in genuine destitution—without adequate clothing or daily provision. The scenario presses the question of how professed faith responds to obvious need. It recalls Jesus' teaching that love for Him is shown in caring for the hungry and ill-clad (Matthew 25:35-40).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Luke 3:11He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
- Matt 25:35–40For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
- Isa 58:7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
- Job 31:16–21If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
- Isa 58:10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
- Jas 2:5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
- Mark 14:7For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
- Heb 11:37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
- Ezek 18:7And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
- Acts 9:29And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
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 2:15 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.