John Gill Commentary James 2:26

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." — James 2:26 (ASV)

For as the body without the spirit is dead
This simile is made use of to illustrate what the apostle had asserted in (James 2:17James 2:20) that as a body, when the spirit or soul is departed from it, or the breath is gone out of it, is dead, and without motion, and useless; which the Jews ^F4 express in like manner, (xwr alb Pwg rgp) , "the body without the spirit", or "breath, is a carcass".

So faith without works is dead also :
a vain thing, useless and unprofitable, can neither justify, nor save, nor prove that a man is justified, or will be saved.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F4: Ohel. Moed, fol. 15. 1.