James 2:21 (KJV)

Passage

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Nearby Context

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

James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "justified", "abraham", "father", "works", "offered", "isaac", "upon", and "altar". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "justified" and "abraham", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "But wilt thou know O vain man..." into verse 22's "Seest thou how faith wrought with his...", so "justified" and "abraham" 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 "justified" and "abraham" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.