James 2:13 (KJV)

Passage

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Nearby Context

James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "shall", "judgment", "without", "hath", and "shewed". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "shall", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "So speak ye and so do as..." into verse 14's "What doth it profit my brethren though...", so "mercy" and "shall" 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 "mercy" and "shall" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.