James 2:11

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} he that said {G2036}, Do {G3431} not {G3361} commit adultery {G3431}, said {G2036} also {G2532}, Do {G5407} not {G3361} kill {G5407}. Now {G1161} if {G1487} thou commit {G3431} no {G3756} adultery {G3431}, yet if {G1161} thou kill {G5407}, thou art become {G1096} a transgressor {G3848} of the law {G3551}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the One who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” Now, if you don’t commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Torah.

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.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
James 2:11 powerfully illustrates the indivisible nature of God's law, asserting that the divine commands are a unified whole originating from a single Lawgiver. By using the examples of adultery and murder, the apostle James demonstrates that to violate even one commandment is to become a "transgressor of the law" in its entirety, thereby challenging any notion of selective obedience and underscoring the absolute standard of God's righteousness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** James 2:11 is an integral part of James's broader argument in [James chapter 2](/james/2 "James 2 - Faith and Works") concerning the relationship between faith and works, and specifically against the sin of partiality. James has just introduced the "royal law" of loving one's neighbor as oneself in [James 2:8](/james/2-8 "James 2:8 - The Royal Law") and condemned favoritism as a transgression of this very law in [James 2:9](/james/2-9 "James 2:9 - Partiality is Sin"). Verse 11 directly builds upon the preceding statement in [James 2:10](/james/2-10 "James 2:10 - Stumbling in One Point"), which declares that "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James then uses two specific commandments from the Decalogue—"Do not commit adultery" and "Do not kill"—to illustrate that the Law originates from one divine Lawgiver, and therefore, disrespecting one part is disrespecting the whole. This serves to reinforce the gravity of any sin and the comprehensive nature of God's moral demands.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The audience for James's letter was primarily Jewish Christians dispersed among the nations, as indicated by the salutation in [James 1:1](/james/1-1 "James 1:1 - Greeting to the Twelve Tribes"). These believers would have been deeply familiar with the Mosaic Law, including the [Ten Commandments](/exodus/20-1-17 "Exodus 20:1-17 - The Ten Commandments"), which formed the bedrock of their ethical and religious understanding. In the Greco-Roman world, various philosophical schools often debated the hierarchy of virtues and vices, and some might have considered certain transgressions less severe than others. However, James's argument cuts against such human distinctions, grounding the law's authority in its divine origin. His emphasis on the unity of the law would have resonated with the Jewish understanding of Torah as a comprehensive, integrated revelation of God's will, where breaking any part was an affront to the Lawgiver.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within James's epistle and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it profoundly emphasizes **The Indivisibility of God's Law**, asserting that God's law is a unified whole, not a collection of independent suggestions from which one can pick and choose. Breaking even one command, whether perceived as "minor" or "major" by human standards, is an offense against the same divine authority. Secondly, it highlights **Sin as Transgression**, clearly defining sin not merely as a mistake or imperfection, but as a deliberate "transgression" or violation of God's revealed will. This underscores that all sins are serious in God's eyes because they are affronts to His holy character and His sovereign rule. Lastly, the verse reinforces the **Unity of the Lawgiver**, implicitly pointing to God as the singular source of all commandments ("he that said"). This means that to break any part of the law is to rebel against the one who gave the law, making every sin an act of defiance against God Himself, a concept foundational to understanding the need for grace and redemption as seen in passages like [Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Greek, _épō'_):** This word (G2036) is a primary verb meaning "to speak or say (by word or writing)." In this context, it refers to the divine utterance of God's commands. James's repetition of "he that said" emphasizes the singular, authoritative source of both commandments, underscoring that the same divine voice pronounced both "Do not commit adultery" and "Do not kill." This reinforces the unity and indivisibility of the Law, as it all proceeds from the same holy Lawgiver.
* **become (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This verb (G1096) means "to cause to be," or reflexively, "to become (come into being)." Here, it signifies a change in state or identity. When one transgresses even a single point of the law, they "become" or are constituted as a transgressor of the entire law. It's not merely that they *committed* a transgression, but that their very standing before the law is altered; they are now definitively a "lawbreaker" in God's sight, highlighting the profound implications of sin.
* **transgressor (Greek, _parabátēs'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to step across," this noun (G3848) literally means "a violator" or "one who steps beyond the boundary." It powerfully conveys the idea of violating a divine standard or overstepping a divinely appointed limit. This term emphasizes that sin is not merely a failure to perform, but an active, deliberate violation of a clear, established command, reinforcing the gravity of any sin as an act of rebellion against God's holy boundaries.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill."**: This opening clause establishes the premise of James's argument: the divine origin and unified authority of the Mosaic Law. By attributing both commandments to the same singular "He" (God), James asserts that the Law is not a collection of disparate rules but an integrated expression of God's character and will. The specific commandments against adultery and murder are chosen as prominent examples from the Decalogue, illustrating that all commandments share the same divine weight and source.
* **"Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill,"**: This clause presents a hypothetical scenario to drive home the point. It acknowledges that an individual might meticulously obey one command (e.g., not committing adultery) while failing in another (e.g., committing murder). The "Now if" (Greek: _dé ei_) introduces a logical step in the argument, setting up the inevitable conclusion. The juxtaposition highlights the human tendency to categorize sins, which James immediately dismantles.
* **"thou art become a transgressor of the law."**: This is the conclusive statement, revealing the profound implication of the preceding hypothetical. Regardless of one's obedience in other areas, a single act of transgression against any part of God's unified law renders one a "transgressor" of the entire law. This means that sin is not measured by its perceived severity but by its offense against the singular, holy Lawgiver. It underscores the absolute nature of God's standard and humanity's universal failure to meet it perfectly.

#### Literary Devices
James employs several potent **Literary Devices** to convey his message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically antithetical parallelism, by juxtaposing "Do not commit adultery" with "Do not kill." This structure highlights the equivalent weight and divine origin of seemingly different commandments, underscoring that both are equally binding and equally from God. Furthermore, James utilizes **Argument by Illustration**, using these two specific, well-known commandments from the Decalogue to represent the entirety of God's law. This is a form of **Synecdoche**, where two parts stand for the whole, effectively demonstrating that a breach in any single command constitutes a breach of the entire divine code. The entire verse functions as a **Logical Deduction**, moving from the premise of a singular Lawgiver to the conclusion that a violation of any part of His law makes one guilty of violating the whole, thereby dismantling any human-made hierarchy of sins.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
James 2:11 serves as a foundational text for understanding the nature of God's law and humanity's relationship to it. It dismantles the human tendency to compartmentalize sin, revealing that all sin, regardless of its perceived severity, is an offense against the singular, holy character of God. Because God is the unified source of all commandments, a transgression against any one of them is an affront to His entire being and authority. This verse highlights the absolute standard of divine righteousness, demonstrating that perfect obedience is required, and any deviation renders one a "transgressor." This theological truth underscores humanity's universal need for grace and a righteousness that comes from outside themselves, as no one can perfectly uphold the law.

* [Matthew 5:17-18](/matthew/5-17-18 "Matthew 5:17-18 - Christ Fulfills the Law"): Jesus affirms that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, emphasizing its enduring validity and comprehensive nature.
* [Galatians 3:10](/galatians/3-10 "Galatians 3:10 - Cursed is Everyone Who Does Not Abide by All Things"): Paul echoes James's point, stating that "cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them," reinforcing the all-or-nothing demand of the Law.
* [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - By the Law Comes Knowledge of Sin"): Paul clarifies that "by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin," aligning with James's implication that the law reveals our inability to achieve righteousness on our own.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
James 2:11 is a stark reminder of the profound holiness of God and the serious nature of sin, challenging our often-casual approach to moral transgression. It calls us to abandon the dangerous human tendency to categorize sins into "big" and "small," or to believe that obedience in some areas can compensate for disobedience in others. In God's eyes, any transgression makes one a lawbreaker, revealing the depth of human fallenness and the universal need for divine grace. This verse should cultivate profound humility within us, recognizing our utter inability to perfectly keep God's law and our absolute dependence on the atoning work of Jesus Christ for salvation. For believers, it encourages a consistent pursuit of holiness across all areas of life, not just those sins we deem more egregious. It promotes a holistic approach to Christian living, striving to honor God in every thought, word, and deed, empowered by the Holy Spirit, understanding that true love for God means honoring His entire will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to categorize sins as "minor" or "less serious" than others?**
* **How does the indivisibility of God's law challenge my understanding of personal righteousness and my need for Christ?**
* **What specific steps can I take to cultivate a more consistent and holistic obedience to God's entire will, rather than just selective adherence?**

### FAQ
**Does James 2:11 mean that all sins are equally severe in God's eyes?**

Answer: James 2:11 emphasizes that all sins, regardless of their perceived severity by human standards, are equally an offense against the singular, unified Lawgiver. The point is not that the consequences of all sins are the same (e.g., murder has different societal and personal consequences than lying), but that any sin makes one a "transgressor of the law" in God's sight. It highlights that the Law is a whole, and to break any part of it is to break the whole, because it is an offense against the one who gave the Law. So, while there may be degrees of consequence, there are no "small" sins in terms of their impact on our standing before a holy God. This foundational truth underscores our universal need for God's grace and mercy, as revealed through [Jesus Christ](/romans/3-23-24 "Romans 3:23-24 - Justified by Grace").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
James 2:11, by exposing the indivisible nature of God's law and humanity's universal failure to keep it, powerfully points to the absolute necessity of Christ. The verse reveals that all humanity stands condemned as "transgressors of the law," not merely for specific heinous acts, but for any single deviation from God's perfect standard. This profound truth sets the stage for the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the only one who perfectly fulfilled the entire Law, living a life of flawless obedience where humanity utterly failed ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Christ Fulfills the Law")). Furthermore, Christ, as the Lamb of God, bore the full penalty for our transgressions, taking upon Himself the curse of the Law that we deserved ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems Us from the Curse of the Law")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He provided the perfect righteousness that we lack, which is imputed to all who believe ([Romans 4:5](/romans/4-5 "Romans 4:5 - Righteousness by Faith")). Therefore, James 2:11, while exposing our guilt, ultimately magnifies the saving work of Christ, who perfectly satisfied the Law's demands and offers complete forgiveness and a new standing before God to all who trust in Him ([Romans 8:3-4](/romans/8-3-4 "Romans 8:3-4 - The Righteous Requirement of the Law Fulfilled in Us")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:13

Thou shalt not kill.

Exodus 20:14

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Matthew 5:21

¶ 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:

Matthew 5:28

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Deuteronomy 5:17

Thou shalt not kill.

Deuteronomy 5:18

Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

Romans 13:9

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.