James 2:14 (KJV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

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,

James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "doth", "profit", "brethren", "though", "hath", and "works". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "doth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "For he shall have judgment without mercy..." into verse 15's "If a brother or sister be naked...", so "faith" and "doth" 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 "faith" and "doth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.