James 2:11 (LSB)

Passage

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Nearby Context

James 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

James 2:11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

James 2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of freedom.

James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "For whoever keeps the whole law and..." into verse 12's "So speak and so act as those...", so "said" and "commit" 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 "said" and "commit" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.