• James 2:23
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 23 καὶ and ἐπληρώθη was fulfilled ἡ the γραφὴ scripture ἡ the (one) λέγουσα saying ᾿Επίστευσεν Believed δὲ but ᾿Αβραὰμ Abraham τῷ to the θεῷ, God, καὶ and ἐλογίσθη it was reckoned αὐτῷ to him εἰς into δικαιοσύνην, righteousness, καὶ and φίλος friend θεοῦ of God ἐκλήθη. he was called.

  • James 2:23
    King James Version

    • 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

  • James Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 2:23

      Jehovah: In this quote from Ge 15:6, the divine name, represented by four Hebrew consonants (transliterated YHWH), occurs in the original Hebrew text. Existing Greek manuscripts of James’ letter have the word The·osʹ (God) here, perhaps reflecting the term used at Ge 15:6 in available manuscripts of the Septuagint. This use of “God” in Greek manuscripts may explain why most translations say “God” here. However, the original Hebrew text from which this quotation is taken contains the Tetragrammaton, and therefore the divine name is used in the main text of the New World Translation. The whole phrase taken from Ge 15:6 is also quoted at Ro 4:3 and Ga 3:6.​—See App. C1 and C2.

      it was counted to him as righteousness: Abraham’s faith was “counted [or, “credited; attributed”] to him as righteousness” by Jehovah, according to the words of Ge 15:6. Thus God viewed Abraham as guiltless in a relative sense. (Ro 4:3 and study note) But that declaration of Jehovah was fulfilled, or verified, when Abraham further proved his faith by works. His willingness to offer up Isaac, the offspring that God had promised him, demonstrated that Abraham’s faith in God was unwavering.​—Ge 22:12.

      and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend: James here refers to the most precious friendship that any human can enjoy. Abraham put faith in Jehovah and proved it by obedience. Jehovah, in turn, showed in various ways that Abraham was His friend. For example, Jehovah did so when he openly revealed his intentions regarding Sodom. (Ge 18:17; compare Joh 15:15 and study note.) Jehovah honored his friendship with Abraham throughout the man’s life and has loyally continued to do so.​—Ge 18:19, 23-33; 22:12; Ex 3:6; Isa 41:8; Mt 22:31, 32.

      Jehovah’s friend: James may here be alluding to the two instances in the Hebrew Scriptures in which Abraham is called God’s friend. (2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8) The Hebrew expression used in those two verses literally means “one who loves.” In the case of Abraham, the term refers to a loving and beloved friend. The friendship between God and his beloved servant was marked on both sides by loyalty, trust, and open communication. Here at Jas 2:23, James uses the Greek word phiʹlos (friend), which is related to the verb meaning “to have affection for.”​—See study notes on Joh 5:20; 16:27; for the use of the divine name here, see App. C3 introduction; Jas 2:23.