James 2:16

16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

James 2:16 in Other Translations

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup - where does that get you?

16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it?

James 2:16 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:16

And one of you say unto them
That is, one of the same faith, and in the same communion and church fellowship.

Depart in peace;
wishing them all prosperity and happiness, inward and outward:

be ye warmed and filled;
clothed and fed; signifying, that they wished them all the accommodations of life:

notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful for
the body;
neither clothes to wear, nor food to eat; nothing to warm their bodies, or fill their bellies:

what doth it profit?
the Ethiopic version reads, "what doth it profit them?" either the poor brother, or sister, to whom these good words are given, and nothing else; for these will neither warm them, nor fill them; or the persons themselves, that say these tidings to them: and the apostle, by this instance, shows, that as that charity which lies only in words, and in tongue, and not in deed, and in truth, is unprofitable, and good for nothing, even to them that profess it; so that faith, which a man says he has, and yet is without works, is alike unprofitable unto him.

James 2:16 In-Context

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 3:11; 1 John 3:17,18