King James Bible
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
James addresses those who might pride themselves on selective obedience, keeping most of God's commands. The phrase sets up a hypothetical of near-perfect law-keeping, reflecting the Jewish understanding that righteousness required comprehensive adherence to the Torah. Even a single transgression breaks the law's unity. The Greek word for 'offend' (ptaio) means to stumble or fall, suggesting that violation can happen through weakness rather than deliberate rebellion. Breaking one command makes a person a lawbreaker before God, as the law represents His unified will. This principle undermines any attempt to earn righteousness through partial obedience, pointing instead to the need for mercy and grace.