Word Study on James 2:8-11, Essay Example

There are many important words contained within James 2:8-11 that allow the reader to fully understand the meaning of this passage. This passage is a well-known portion of Scripture because it contains the famous words “Love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:8 Lev. 19:18). It also defines lawfulness by stating “You shall not commit adultery” (James 2:11 Exodus 20:14; Deut. 5:18) and “You shall not murder” (James 2:11 Exodus 20:13; Deut. 5:17). It is important to understand the particular meanings of the words used in these passages because they provide a context for additional biblical portions and provide a general guideline for good moral ethics. Therefore, the precise words used in each of these sentences will be analyzed in context.

The bible teaches us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, although it is possible to interpret this phrase in several different ways. Thus, it is essential to define the meaning of “neighbor” because it is important to the context of the sentence. This phrase can refer to the literal meaning of neighbor, which is an individual that lives nearby in the same community at that one may consider an acquaintance and interact with on a casual basis. However, neighbor can also refer to the people that exist within the proximity of a person. Therefore, neighbors can be defined as those who we interact with on a daily basis, independently of where they physically live. As such, neighbors can be friends, family, co-workers, or passersby on the street. Based on the ethical principles that Christianity teaches, it is likely that “neighbor” refers to all people that one comes face to face with rather than an actual neighbor, although it is important to respect both these types of people equally. Therefore, “Love your neighbor as yourself” can be paraphrased to mean things like treat all people equally and treat others the way you want to be treated. The specific act of kindness is emphasized in this passage rather than who the act of kindness should be done upon.

Although the definition of “neighbor” is somewhat loose and up to interpretation, there are several words in James 2:8-11 that are clearly defined and should be obeyed as written. For example, the act of adultery in the statement “You shall not commit adultery” is clearly implying that one should remain faithful to their spouse and the act of murder in “You shall not murder” clearly states that killing is wrong. It is interesting to note that the words that are definite or up for debate in the passage are directly tied into their connotation. Since the word “neighbor” is loosely defined, the definition is somewhat up to the reader and allows them to decide who deserves kindness. On the other hand, the definition of murder and adultery is clear and not up for debate because these actions should never be done.

This passage exemplifies that the particular wording of statements throughout the bible is important, and allows us to understand when we may choose when and how to act in addition to the actions that are strictly prohibited. The way these words are written in addition to the words themselves are equally important and effort must be made to truly understand them. It is therefore essential to apply similar analyses to other biblical passages of the bible in order to elucidate their deeper meaning.