James 2:8

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”^[a] you are doing right.

James 2:8 in Other Translations

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

8 You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: "Love others as you love yourself."

8 Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

8 You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

8 If you really carry out the royal law prescribed in Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself , you are doing well.

8 The royal law is found in Scripture. It says, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."(Leviticus 19:18) If you really keep that law, you are doing what is right.

James 2:8 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:8

If ye fulfil the royal law
Which is the law of love to men, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it is the law of the King of kings; hence the Syriac version renders it, "the law of God", it is the law of Christ, who is King of saints; and because it is a principal law, the chief of laws; as love to God is the sum of the first and great commandment in the law, and may be called the king of laws; so love to the neighbour is the second and next unto it, and may very well bear the name of the queen of laws, and so has royalty in it; and indeed this last is said to be the fulfilling of the law, ( Romans 13:8-10 ) ( Galatians 5:14 ) and it is also submitted to, and obeyed by such who are made kings and priests to God; and that in a royal manner, with a princely spirit, willingly, and with all readiness: the same word, in the Hebrew language, (Mybydn) , signifies "princes", and to be willing. The Jews frequently ascribe royalty to the law, and often speak of (hrwt rtk) , "the crown of the law" ^F23; and they suppose the Israelites had crowns upon their heads, when the law was given them on Mount Sinai, in which were engraven the name of God, and which they were stripped of when they made the golden calf ^F24: now this royal law is fulfilled, when it is regarded without respect of persons,

according to the Scripture,
in ( Leviticus 19:18 )

thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself;
and which is to be understood of every nation, without distinction of Jews and Gentiles, and of persons of every state and condition, rich and poor, without any difference: and when this law is so observed, it is commendable:

ye do well:
that which is right, and which is a man's duty to do; this, when done from right principles, and to a right end, is a good work, and is doing a good work well.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F23 Pirke Abot, c. 4. sect. 13. & Abot R. Nathan, c. 41. T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 28. 2. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 4. fol. 183. 2. & sect. 14. fol. 215. 2. & Midrash Kohelet, fol. 73. 4. Targum Jon in Deut. xxxiv. 5.
F24 Vid. Targum. Jon. & Jerus. in Exod. xxxii. 25. & xxxiii. 4.

James 2:8 In-Context

6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 19:18; S Matthew 5:43

Footnotes

• [a]. Lev. 19:18