Giacomo 2:2

2 Perché, se nella vostra raunanza entra un uomo con l’anello d’oro, vestito splendidamente, e v’entra pure un povero vestito malamente,

Giacomo 2:2 Meaning and Commentary

James 2:2

For if there come unto your assembly
The place of religious worship where saints are assembled together for that purpose; though some think a civil court of judicature is intended, and to which the context seems to incline; see ( James 2:6 )

a man with a gold ring;
on his finger, which shows him to be a man of dignity and wealth; so those of the senatorian and equestrian orders among the Romans were distinguished from the common people by wearing gold rings; though in time the use of them became promiscuous ^F17; the ancients used to wear but one ^F18, as here but one is mentioned; and only freemen, not servants, might wear it: however, by this circumstance, the apostle describes a rich man, adding,

in goodly apparel;
gay clothing, bright shining garments, glistering with gold and silver, very rich and costly, as well as whole, neat, and clean:

and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
mean and despicable, filthy and ragged: in the courts of judicature with the Jews, two men, who were at law with one another, might not have different apparel on while they were in court, and their cause was trying: their law runs thus ^F19;

``two adversaries (at law with each other), if one of them is clothed "with precious garments", ((Myrqy Mydgb) , "goodly apparel",) and the other is clothed with (Nyywzb Mydgb) , "vile raiment", (the judge) says to the honourable person, either clothe him as thou art, while thou contendest with him, or be clothed as he is, that ye may be alike, or on an equal foot.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 29.
F18 Isidor. Hispal. Originum, l. 19. c. 32. p. 171.
F19 Maimon. Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 21. sect. 2.

Giacomo 2:2 In-Context

1 Fratelli miei, la vostra fede nel nostro Signor Gesù Cristo, il Signor della gloria, sia scevra da riguardi personali.

2 Perché, se nella vostra raunanza entra un uomo con l’anello d’oro, vestito splendidamente, e v’entra pure un povero vestito malamente,

3 e voi avete riguardo a quello che veste splendidamente e gli dite: Tu, siedi qui in un posto onorevole; e al povero dite: Tu, stattene là in piè, o siedi appiè del mio sgabello,

4 non fate voi una differenza nella vostra mente, e non diventate giudici dai pensieri malvagi?

5 Ascoltate, fratelli miei diletti: Iddio non ha egli scelto quei che sono poveri secondo il mondo perché siano ricchi in fede ed eredi del Regno che ha promesso a coloro che l’amano?