James 2:12
in James 2Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.
KJV
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
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This verse in James 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verseThus, by "the whole law" one should understand the law of love, about which the apostle speaks preeminently, and he calls impartiality "the law of liberty," for one who acts with partiality is not free but a slave, because: "by whom a person is overcome, …
This site's exposition
Speak and act as those
on James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, the perfect law of 1:25. For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful, as in Matthew 7:1. Mercy triumphs over judgment, boasting over it like a victor.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Hilary of ArlesINTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES · Written before 449.
proposed
By the New Testament law everyone is born again, free and equal with one another.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Thus speak, and thus act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. The law of liberty is the law of charity, of which it is said: If, however, you fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures: You shall love …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
So speak ye, and so do,.... Both words and actions should be taken care of; it becomes men to observe what they say, and what they do; for both sinful words and works are transgressions of the law, and will be brought to judgment; every idle word, as well as every evil work, both open and secret, men must give an account of in the day of judgment: wherefore it is incumbent on them so to behave, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty: See Gill on Jas 1:25 with which compare Rom 2:
The gospel is called a law. It has all the requisites of a law: precepts with rewards and punishments annexed; it prescribes duty, as well as administers comfort; and Christ is a king to rule us as well as a prophet to teach us, and a priest to sacrifice and intercede for us. We are under the law to Christ.
); we here find there is a kingdom too. And, as the crown is a crown of life, so the kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom. All these things, laid together, show how highly the poor in this world, if rich in faith, are now honoured, and shall hereafter be advanced by God; and consequently how very sinful a thing it was for them to despise the poor.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Summing up of the previous reasonings. speak--referring back to Jas 1:19, 26; the fuller discussion of the topic is given Jas 3:5-12. judged by the law of liberty-- (Jas 1:25); that is, the Gospel law of love, which is not a law of external constraint, but of internal, free, instinctive inclination.
So speak ye, and so do - Have respect to every commandment of God, for this the law of liberty - the Gospel of Jesus Christ, particularly requires; and this is the law by which all mankind, who have had the opportunity of knowing it, shall be judged. But all along St. James particularly refers to the precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty - On the phrase, “the law of liberty,” see the notes at Jas 1:25. Compare the notes at Jas 4:11. The meaning is, that in all our conduct we are to act under the constant impression of the truth that we are soon to be brought into judgment, and that the law by which we are to be judged is that by which it is contemplated that we shall be set free from the dominion of sin. In the rule which God has laid down in his word, called “the law of liberty,” or the rule by which true freedom is to be secured, a system of religion is revealed by which it is designed that man shall be emancipated not only from one sin, but from all. Now, it is with reference to such a law that we are to be judged; that is, we shall not be able to plead on our trial that we were under a necessity of sinning, but we shall be judged under that law by which the arrangement was made that we might be free from sin. If we might be free from sin; if an arrangement was made by which we could have led holy lives, then it will be proper that we shall be judged and condemned if we are not righteous. The sense is, “In all your conduct, whatever you do or say, remember that you are to be judged, or that you are to give an impartial account; and remember also that the rule by which you are to be judged is that by which provision is made for being delivered from the dominion of sin, and brought into the freedom of the gospel.” The argument here seems to be, that he who habitually feels that he is soon to be judged by a law under which it was contemplated that he might be, and should be, free from the bondage of sin, has one of the strongest of all inducements to lead a holy life.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὕτως | houtos | Thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| λαλεῖτε | laleite | do speak | G2980 → | 294 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| ποιεῖτε | poieite | do act | G4160 → | 569 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | |
| νόμου | nomou | [the] law | G3551 → | 192 times |
| ἐλευθερίας | eleutherias | of freedom | G1657 → | |
| μέλλοντες | mellontes | being about | G3195 → | |
| κρίνεσθαι. | krinesthai | to be judged. | G2919 → | 114 times |
οὕτωςThus
houtosG3779 →208 times
λαλεῖτεdo speak
laleiteG2980 →294 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
ποιεῖτεdo act
poieiteG4160 →569 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →
νόμου[the] law
nomouG3551 →192 times
ἐλευθερίαςof freedom
eleutheriasG1657 →
μέλλοντεςbeing about
mellontesG3195 →
κρίνεσθαι.to be judged.
krinesthaiG2919 →114 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
it leads to
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Romans 12:9–21
Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- James 3:17
Through
Colossians 3:17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About James
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on James.