James 2:15
New International Version
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

New Living Translation
Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,

English Standard Version
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,

Berean Standard Bible
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

Berean Literal Bible
Now if a brother or a sister is without clothes and lacking of daily food,

King James Bible
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

New King James Version
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

New American Standard Bible
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

NASB 1995
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

NASB 1977
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

Legacy Standard Bible
If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,

Amplified Bible
If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day,

Christian Standard Bible
If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food

American Standard Version
If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,

Contemporary English Version
If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food,

English Revised Version
If a brother or sister be naked, and in lack of daily food,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Suppose a believer, whether a man or a woman, needs clothes or food

Good News Translation
Suppose there are brothers or sisters who need clothes and don't have enough to eat.

International Standard Version
Suppose a brother or sister does not have any clothes or daily food

Majority Standard Bible
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

NET Bible
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,

New Heart English Bible
And if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and may be lacking in daily food,

Webster's Bible Translation
If a brother or sister is naked, and destitute of daily food,

Weymouth New Testament
Suppose a Christian brother or sister is poorly clad or lacks daily food,

World English Bible
And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of daily food,

Berean Literal Bible
Now if a brother or a sister is without clothes and lacking of daily food,

Young's Literal Translation
and if a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of the daily food,

Smith's Literal Translation
And if a brother or sister be naked, and be failing of daily food,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if a brother or sister be naked, and want daily food:

Catholic Public Domain Version
So if a brother or sister is naked and daily in need of food,

New American Bible
If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,

New Revised Standard Version
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If a brother or sister be naked, and lacking of daily food,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if a brother or sister is naked and lacking daily food,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Godbey New Testament
If a brother or sister may be naked, and may be destitute of daily food,

Haweis New Testament
Now if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Mace New Testament
suppose one of your brethren should be destitute of cloths, and of his daily nourishment,

Weymouth New Testament
Suppose a Christian brother or sister is poorly clad or lacks daily food,

Worrell New Testament
If a brother or a sister be naked, and in want of daily food,

Worsley New Testament
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Faith and Works
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that?…

Cross References
1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Luke 3:11
John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

Proverbs 19:17
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.

Isaiah 58:7
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,

Acts 4:34-35
There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs. / Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. ...

Ezekiel 18:7
He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:16
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Job 31:16-20
If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail, / if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless— / though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow— ...

Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

2 Corinthians 9:9-11
As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” / Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. / You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.


Treasury of Scripture

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Job 31:16-21
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; …

Isaiah 58:7,10
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? …

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Christian Clad Clothes Clothing Daily Day's Destitute Food Ill-Clad Lack Naked Need Poorly Sister Suppose
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James 2
1. Do not regard the rich and despise the poor brothers;
13. rather we are to be loving and merciful;
14. and not to boast of faith without deeds;
17. because faith without deeds is useless;
19. as is the faith of the demons;
21. however, Abraham displayed both faith and actions;
25. as did Rahab.














If a brother or sister
The phrase "brother or sister" emphasizes the familial relationship among believers, reflecting the early Christian understanding of the church as a family. The Greek words used here, "ἀδελφός" (adelphos) for brother and "ἀδελφή" (adelphe) for sister, denote not just biological siblings but fellow members of the Christian community. This familial language underscores the responsibility Christians have towards one another, rooted in the teachings of Jesus about love and care within the body of Christ. Historically, the early church was known for its radical inclusivity and care for its members, which was a powerful testimony to the surrounding pagan culture.

is without clothes
The phrase "without clothes" translates the Greek "γυμνός" (gymnos), which can mean naked or poorly clothed. This highlights a state of extreme need and vulnerability. In the historical context of the early church, clothing was a basic necessity, and being without it signified dire poverty. The call to notice and respond to such a need is a practical outworking of faith, as clothing the naked is a recurring theme in Scripture, symbolizing righteousness and God's provision (e.g., Isaiah 58:7).

and daily food
The term "daily food" refers to the essential sustenance required for survival. The Greek word "ἐφήμερος" (ephēmeros) implies something necessary for each day, echoing the Lord's Prayer's request for "daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). This phrase points to the immediate and ongoing needs of individuals, emphasizing the urgency and regularity of care that should be extended by the Christian community. In the historical context, food insecurity was a common issue, and the early church often organized to provide for those in need, reflecting the teachings of Jesus on feeding the hungry (Matthew 25:35).

(15) But (the word should be added, for it continues an argument) if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food--i.e., the food for each day, not that which suffices for one, or for a present distress; the case is rather of worst and direst want, so that the heart untouched by the spectacle of such misery must be hard indeed.

Verses 15, 16. - Observe the practical character of the illustration chosen, from works of mercy (cf. James 1:27). Ωσι in ver. 15 should be deleted (omitted by B, C, K); also the disjunctive particle δὲ at the commencement of the verse (with א, B).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Suppose
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

a brother
ἀδελφὸς (adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

sister
ἀδελφὴ (adelphē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 79: A sister, a woman (fellow-)member of a church, a Christian woman. Fem of adephos; a sister.

is
ὑπάρχωσιν (hyparchōsin)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5225: To begin, am, exist, be in possession. From hupo and archomai; to begin under, i.e. Come into existence; expletively, to exist (verb).

without clothes
γυμνοὶ (gymnoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1131: Rarely: stark-naked; generally: wearing only the under-garment; bare, open, manifest; mere. Of uncertain affinity; nude.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

daily
ἐφημέρου (ephēmerou)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2184: For the day, daily, necessary for every day. From epi and hemera; for a day, i.e. Diurnal.

food.
τροφῆς (trophēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5160: Food, nourishment, maintenance. From trepho; nourishment; by implication, rations.


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NT Letters: James 2:15 And if a brother or sister (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 2:14
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