יעקב 2:8

Delitzsche Hebrew New Testament

הֵן בַּעֲשׂוֹתְכֶם אֶת־הַמִּצְוָה הַמֹּלֶכֶת עַל־כֻּלָּן כְּפִי הַכָּתוּב וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ תֵּיטִיבוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת׃

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Modern Translation
הן בקימכם את המצוה המלכת על כלן כפי הכתוב ואהבת לרעך כמוך תיטיבו לעשות׃

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the royal: James 2:12, James 1:25, 1 Peter 2:9

Thou: Leviticus 19:18, Leviticus 19:34, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31-33, Luke 10:27-37, Romans 13:8, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, Galatians 6:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:9

ye do: James 2:19, 1 Kings 8:18, 2 Kings 7:9, Jonah 4:4, Jonah 4:9, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 25:23, Philippians 4:14

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 22:13 - to fulfil Psalms 119:34 - I shall Matthew 5:43 - Thou Matthew 19:19 - Thou Matthew 22:40 - General Luke 6:31 - General Luke 18:20 - Do not commit John 13:34 - That ye love Romans 3:31 - yea Ephesians 6:9 - the same Philippians 2:4 - General 2 Timothy 3:2 - lovers 2 Peter 1:19 - ye do 1 John 2:7 - but

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If ye fulfil the royal law,.... Which is the law of love to men, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it is the law of the King of kings; hence the Syriac version renders it, "the law of God", it is the law of Christ, who is King of saints; and because it is a principal law, the chief of laws; as love to God is the sum of the first and great commandment in the law, and may be called the king of laws; so love to the neighbour is the second and next unto it, and may very well bear the name of the queen of laws, and so has royalty in it; and indeed this last is said to be the fulfilling of the law,

Romans 13:8 and it is also submitted to, and obeyed by such who are made kings and priests to God; and that in a royal manner, with a princely spirit, willingly, and with all readiness: the same word, in the Hebrew language, נדיבים, signifies "princes", and to be willing. The Jews frequently ascribe royalty to the law, and often speak of כתר תורה, "the crown of the law" w; and they suppose the Israelites had crowns upon their heads, when the law was given them on Mount Sinai, in which were engraven the name of God, and which they were stripped of when they made the golden calf x: now this royal law is fulfilled, when it is regarded without respect of persons,

according to the Scripture, in Leviticus 19:18

thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself; and which is to be understood of every nation, without distinction of Jews and Gentiles, and of persons of every state and condition, rich and poor, without any difference: and when this law is so observed, it is commendable:

ye do well: that which is right, and which is a man's duty to do; this, when done from right principles, and to a right end, is a good work, and is doing a good work well.

w Pirke Abot, c. 4. sect. 13. & Abot R. Nathan, c. 41. T. Bab. Megilla, fol. 28. 2. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 4. fol. 183. 2. & sect. 14. fol. 215. 2. & Midrash Kohelet, fol. 73. 4. Targum Jon in Deut. xxxiv. 5. x Vid. Targum. Jon. & Jerus. in Exod. xxxii. 25. & xxxiii. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If ye fulfil the royal law - That is, the law which he immediately mentions requiring us to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is called a “royal law,” or kingly law, on account of its excellence or nobleness; not because it is ordained by God as a king, but because it has some such prominence and importance among other laws as a king has among other men; that is, it is majestic, noble, worthy of veneration. It is a law which ought to govern and direct us in all our intercourse with men - as a king rules his subjects.

According to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself - Leviticus 19:18. Compare Matthew 19:19. See it explained by the Saviour, in the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37. In regard to its meaning, see the notes at Matthew 19:19.

Ye do well - That is, “if you fairly comply with the spirit of this law, you do all that is required of you in regulating your intercourse with others. You are to regard all persons as your “neighbors,” and are to treat them according to their real worth; you are not to be influenced in judging of them, or in your treatment of them, by their apparel, or their complexion, or the circumstances of their birth, but by the fact that they are fellow-beings.” This is another reason why they should not show partiality in their treatment of others, for if, in the true sense, they regarded all others as “neighbors,” they would treat no one with neglect or contempt.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. The royal law — νομον βασιλικον. This epithet, of all the New Testament writers, is peculiar to James; but it is frequent among the Greek writers in the sense in which it appears St. James uses it. βασιλικος, royal, is used to signify any thing that is of general concern, is suitable to all, and necessary for all, as brotherly love is. This commandment; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, is a royal law, not only because it is ordained of God, and proceeds from his kingly authority over men, but because it is so useful, suitable, and necessary to the present state of man; and as it was given us particularly by Christ himself, John 13:34; John 15:12, who is our King, as well as Prophet and Priest, it should ever put us in mind of his authority over us, and our subjection to him. As the regal state is the most excellent for secular dignity and civil utility that exists among men, hence we give the epithet royal to whatever is excellent, noble, grand, or useful.