James 2:9 (DBY)

Passage

But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

Nearby Context

James 2:7 And [do not] *they* blaspheme the excellent name which has been called upon you?

James 2:8 If indeed ye keep [the] royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well.

James 2:9 But if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law and shall offend in one [point], he has come under the guilt of [breaking] all.

James 2:11 For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become transgressor of [the] law.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "respect", "persons", "commit", "convicted", and "transgressors". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "respect" and "persons", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "If indeed ye keep the royal law..." into verse 10's "For whoever shall keep the whole law...", so "respect" and "persons" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "respect" and "persons" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.