James 2:14 (YLT)

Passage

What <FI>is<Fi> the profit, my brethren, if faith, any one may speak of having, and works he may not have? is that faith able to save him?

Nearby Context

James 2:12 so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,

James 2:13 for the judgment without kindness <FI>is<Fi> to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.

James 2:14 What <FI>is<Fi> the profit, my brethren, if faith, any one may speak of having, and works he may not have? is that faith able to save him?

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

James 2:16 and any one of you may say to them, `Depart ye in peace, be warmed, and be filled,' and may not give to them the things needful for the body, what <FI>is<Fi> the profit?

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "for the judgment without kindness FI is..." into verse 15's "and if a brother or sister may...", so "faith" and "profit" 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 "profit" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.