# James 2.13

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-06-01 | updated: 2026-06-01 -->

**Book:** [James](/codex/james-the-brother-of-jesus/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12. So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.
>
> **13. For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.**
>
> 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, (James 2:11-15, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 11. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12. So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.
>
> **13. For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.**
>
> 14. What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? 15. And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, (James 2:11-15, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 11. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. <sup>he that: or, that law which</sup> 12. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
>
> **13. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. <sup>rejoiceth: or, glorieth</sup>**
>
> 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (James 2:11-15, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 11. for He who is saying, 'Thou mayest not commit adultery,' said also, 'Thou mayest do no murder;' and if thou shalt not commit adultery, and shalt commit murder, thou hast become a transgressor of law; 12. so speak ye and so do, as about by a law of liberty to be judged,
>
> **13. for the judgment without kindness [is] to him not having done kindness, and exult doth kindness over judgment.**
>
> 14. What [is] 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? 15. and if a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of the daily food, (James 2:11-15, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._

- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_
- _TBD_

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## Quoted in

**Lexicon:**

- [G1656 - eleos](/codex/g1656-eleos/)

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_Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.