James 2:11
New International Version
For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

New Living Translation
For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

English Standard Version
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Berean Standard Bible
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Berean Literal Bible
For the One having said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." But if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

New American Standard Bible
For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do murder, you have become a violator of the Law.

NASB 1995
For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

NASB 1977
For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT COMMIT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Legacy Standard Bible
For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Amplified Bible
For He who said, “DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,” also said, “DO NOT MURDER.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become guilty of transgressing the [entire] Law.

Christian Standard Bible
For he who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you are a lawbreaker.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For He who said, Do not commit adultery, also said, Do not murder. So if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you are a lawbreaker.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. So even if you are faithful in marriage, but murder someone, you still have broken God's Law.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After all, the one who said, "Never commit adultery," is the same one who said, "Never murder." If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God's laws.

Good News Translation
For the same one who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Even if you do not commit adultery, you have become a lawbreaker if you commit murder.

International Standard Version
For the one who said, "Never commit adultery," also said, "Never murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you become a violator of the Law.

Majority Standard Bible
For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

NET Bible
For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
For he that said, Do not commit adultery; said also, Do not kill. Now if thou committest no adultery, yet if thou killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Weymouth New Testament
For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder," and if you are a murderer, although not an adulterer, you have become an offender against the Law.

World English Bible
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for He who is saying, “You may not commit adultery,” also said, “You may not murder”; but if you will not commit adultery, but will commit murder, you have become a transgressor of law;

Berean Literal Bible
For the One having said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not murder." But if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law.

Young's Literal Translation
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;

Smith's Literal Translation
For he having said, Thou shouldest not commit adultery, said also, Thou shouldest not kill: and if thou commit not adultery, and dost kill, thou hast become a transgressor of the law.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but shalt kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” So if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

New American Bible
For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not kill.” Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

New Revised Standard Version
For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For he who said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not kill. Now if you do not commit adultery, but you kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For he who said, “Do not commit adultery”, also said, “You shall not murder.” But if you are not committing adultery, but you have murdered, you have become a violator of The Law.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now, though you do not commit adultery, yet, if you kill, you are a transgressor of law.

Godbey New Testament
For the one saying, Thou shalt not commit adultery also said, Thou shalt not murder; but if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Haweis New Testament
For he that said, Thou shalt not commit adultery, said also, Thou shalt not commit murder. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, yet dost commit murder, thou art a transgressor of the law.

Mace New Testament
he that said, "do not commit adultery," said too, "do not kill." though you should not commit adultery, yet if you kill, you are a transgressor of the law.

Weymouth New Testament
For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder," and if you are a murderer, although not an adulterer, you have become an offender against the Law.

Worrell New Testament
For He Who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not kill." Now, if you do not commit adultery, but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Worsley New Testament
for He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou do not commit adultery, but committest murder, thou art a transgressor of the law.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Warning against Favoritism
10Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:13-14
You shall not murder. / You shall not commit adultery.

Deuteronomy 5:17-18
You shall not murder. / You shall not commit adultery.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 John 3:15
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.

Matthew 19:18
“Which ones?” the man asked. Jesus answered, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,

Mark 10:19
You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.’”

Luke 18:20
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

Leviticus 20:10
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

1 Timothy 1:9-10
We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, / for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching


Treasury of Scripture

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law.

he said that.

Exodus 20:13,14
Thou shalt not kill…

Deuteronomy 5:17,18
Thou shalt not kill…

Matthew 5:21-28
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: …

Now.

Leviticus 4:2,13,22
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: …

Psalm 130:3,4
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? …

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Adulterer Adultery Although Broken Commit Committest Death Kill Killest Law Married Murder Murderer Offender Transgressor Untrue
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Adulterer Adultery Although Broken Commit Committest Death Kill Killest Law Married Murder Murderer Offender Transgressor Untrue
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.














For He who said
This phrase emphasizes the divine authority behind the commandments. The "He" refers to God, the ultimate lawgiver. In the Greek, "He who said" (ὁ εἰπών) underscores the continuity and unity of God's moral law. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of the Torah as a direct revelation from God, binding and authoritative.

'Do not commit adultery,'
This commandment is one of the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18. The Greek word for adultery, "μοιχεύσεις" (moicheuseis), implies a breach of the marital covenant, which was considered a grave sin in Jewish culture. Adultery was not only a personal sin but a societal one, threatening the fabric of family and community life.

also said, 'Do not murder.'
Another commandment from the Decalogue, found in Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17. The Greek word for murder, "φονεύσεις" (phoneuseis), refers to the unlawful taking of a life. In the historical context, murder was seen as a direct assault on the image of God in humanity, a violation of the sanctity of life.

If you do not commit adultery
This phrase acknowledges the observance of one part of the law. The Greek structure here suggests a hypothetical scenario, emphasizing that partial obedience is insufficient. The historical context of James' audience, likely Jewish Christians, would have understood the importance of adhering to the whole law, not just parts of it.

but do commit murder
This presents a contrasting scenario, highlighting inconsistency in moral behavior. The Greek conjunction "δέ" (de) indicates a shift or contrast. Historically, this would resonate with the early Christian community's struggle to live out their faith consistently amidst various cultural pressures.

you have become a lawbreaker
The term "lawbreaker" in Greek is "παραβάτης" (parabatēs), meaning one who transgresses or violates the law. This underscores the holistic nature of God's law; breaking one part is akin to breaking the whole. In the scriptural context, this reflects the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:19, where He emphasizes the importance of keeping even the least of the commandments.

(11) For he that said . . .--All men have favourite vices and indulgences; and most

"Compound for sins they have a mind to

By damning those they're not inclined to;"

forgetful that the same Lawgiver has laid His restrictions upon every sort and kind. Not that we can believe all sins are the same in their deadening effect upon the soul, or, further, in their punishment. The point which St. James urges is that sin, as sin, involves the curse of the law; and that "respect of persons," with its unloving and unlovely results, must bring its deceived possessor into condemnation before God. Just as our Lord referred the Sixth and Seventh Commandments (Matthew 5:21-32) to the first issues of the angry or lustful heart, and by no means confined them as did the Rabbinical teachers to the very act, so now in like manner the Apostle takes his stand upon the guiltiness of any breach whatever of the Law. Love is its complete fulfilment, we are well informed (Romans 13:10), but in that startling briefness lies comprehended all the decalogue, with its utmost ramifications; and men of the world would find a rule of the most minute and rigid ceremony easier to be followed than this simple all-embracing one. "The fulfilling of the Law" is very different from the substitution of a single plain command for a difficult code; this would seem to be the mistake of many, noisily asserting their freedom from the older obligations, who do not so evidently live under the mild bondage of the new.

A curious question may be raised upon the inverted order of the Sixth and Seventh Commandments in this passage, as well as in Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9. (Not so however, observe, in the sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:21-27.) Professor Plumptre says they are thus placed because "standing first in the second table, the Fifth being classed by most Jewish writers as belonging to the first," and "there was, probably, a traditional order of the Tenth, varying from that at present found in the Hebrew Pentateuch." The Greek version, known as the Septuagint, supports this theory, placing "Thou shalt not commit adultery" in James 2:13 of Exodus 20, and "Thou shalt not kill" in James 2:15. . . .

Verse 11. - Do not commit adultery... do not kill. The order of the commandments is remarkable; what is now the seventh is placed bolero the sixth. This appears to have been the usual order at that time. In this order our Lord quotes them in Luke 18:20, and St. Paul in Romans 13:9. Philo also has the same order, and expressly comments on it, drawing from it an argument for the heinousness of adultery ('Dec.,' 12:24). In the Vatican Manuscript of the LXX. in Exodus 20:13-15 the order is, "Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not kill." But the Alexandrian Manuscript has the usual order, which is also found in Matthew 19:18 and Mark 10:19 (according to the correct reading).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

He who
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

said,
εἰπών (eipōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Do not commit adultery,”
μοιχεύσῃς (moicheusēs)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3431: To commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). From moichos; to commit adultery.

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

said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Do not murder.”
φονεύσῃς (phoneusēs)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5407: To murder, kill. From phoneus; to be a murderer.

If
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

you do not commit adultery,
μοιχεύεις (moicheueis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 3431: To commit adultery (of a man with a married woman, but also of a married man). From moichos; to commit adultery.

but
δέ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

do commit murder,
φονεύεις (phoneueis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5407: To murder, kill. From phoneus; to be a murderer.

you have become
γέγονας (gegonas)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

a lawbreaker.
νόμου (nomou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3551: From a primary nemo; law, genitive case, specially, (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively.


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NT Letters: James 2:11 For he who said Do not commit (Ja Jas. Jam)
James 2:10
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