James 2:17 (KJV)

Passage

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Nearby Context

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?

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And one of you say unto them..." into verse 18's "Yea a man may say Thou hast...", so "faith" and "even" 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 "even" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.