Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 2:6

"But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?" — James 2:6 (ASV)

In sharp contrast to God’s choice of the poor (v.5) is the way James’s readers had treated them. God had chosen them, but they had “insulted” them! The incongruity of such treatment is dramatized by three pointed questions.

(1) The rich are the ones “who are exploiting you” (GK 2872), are they not? “Exploiting” is a strong term describing the brutal and tyrannical deprivation of one’s rights (cf. its use in the LXX of Eze 22:29; Zechariah 7:10).

(2) Is it not the rich “who are dragging you into court?” The picture presented here is the act of forcibly dragging a person before a court of law (cf. Acts 16:19; 21:30)—perhaps being literally done by the rich themselves.

(3) The rich “are slandering [lit., blaspheming; GK 1059] the noble name” of Christ, aren’t they? They are speaking irreverently and disrespectfully of Deity. Christ’s name is described as “noble,” “excellent,” or “honorable” (GK 2819), a word that refers to what is kind or morally good. This “noble name” is the name of “him to whom you belong” (lit., “the noble name that was called upon you”). This expression clearly reveals its OT background (2 Chronicles 7:14; Amos 9:12). A person was dedicated to God by calling God’s name over him or her. That act indicated that the individual belonged to God. So Christians bear the worthy name of Christ as indication that they are his people. To show favoritism to those who blaspheme that wonderful name is the greatest incongruity of all.