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 2:23KJV
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James 2:23 (KJV)

What does James 2:23 mean?

James 2:23 connects Abraham’s trust in God with God’s recognition of him as righteous, or right before God. James also calls Abraham “the Friend of God,” a description that portrays a close relationship between them.

After describing Abraham’s willingness to offer his son Isaac, James says an earlier statement of Scripture was fulfilled. That statement comes from Genesis 15:6, where Abraham believed God’s promise about his descendants.

The Greek behind James 2:23

  • “fulfilled” — πληρόω (plēroō): The word carries the sense of bringing something to completion. James uses it to connect the earlier statement about Abraham’s belief with the later account of his action.
  • “imputed” — λογίζομαι (logizomai): The word can mean to count or reckon something. Here it pictures Abraham’s belief being counted to him as righteousness, using language like an entry in an account.

Why James 2:23 matters

  • The timing of the two accounts helps explain James’s argument. Genesis describes Abraham believing God before the account of Isaac’s offering, while James 2:22 says Abraham’s faith and actions worked together.
  • “Friend of God” gives a personal picture alongside the account language. The description also appears in 2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8.
  • Christians differ in how they understand James’s account of faith and actions alongside Paul’s use of Genesis 15:6 in Romans 4.

Where else these words appear

“Friend” Greek G5384 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
  • Luke 14:12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
  • John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

“imputed” Greek G3049 · used in 40 verses

  • Mark 11:31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
  • Romans 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
  • 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

“scripture” Greek G1124 · used in 51 verses

  • Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
  • John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
  • Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

“Abraham” Greek G11 · used in 69 verses

  • Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  • John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
  • Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.