Bible Commentaries
James 5

Verse 1

Go to . See James 4:13 .

howl . Greek. ololuzo. Only here. An onomatopoeic word.

miseries . Greek. talaiporia. See Romans 3:16 . Compare James 4:9 .

shall come = are coming.

Verse 2

riches = wealth. The Greek word ploutos conveys the idea of abundance. Compare Luke 12:19 .

corrupted . Greek. sepo . Only here.

are = have become.

motheaten . Greek. setobrotos. Only here.

Verse 3

cankered = rusted. Greek. katioo. Only here.

rust . Greek. i o s . See James 3:8 .

a = for ( App-104 .) a.

have, &c . = treasured up. See Rom 2:5 . 1 Corinthians 16:2 .

last days . See 2 Timothy 3:1 .

Verse 4

Behold . App-133 .

hire = pay. Greek. misthos, Genitive translation "reward".

have . Omit.

reaped down . Greek. amao. Only here in N.T. occurs five times in Septuagint. Compare Micah 6:15 .

of = on the part of.

arising from . App-104 .

kept back by fraud . Greek. apostereo. See 1 Corinthians 6:7 .

cries . Greek. boe. Only here.

reaped . Greek. therizo. Of frequently occurs in NT.

LORD of Sabaoth . This O.T. expression (= LORD of hosts) is used only here by a N.T. writer. In Romans 9:29 it is quoted from Isaiah.

LORD . App-98 .

Verse 5

have . Omit.

lived in pleasure . Greek. truphao. Only here. Compare 2 Peter 2:13 (riot).

earth . App-129 .

been wanton . See 1 Timothy 5:6 .

slaughter . See Acts 8:32 . Compare Isaiah 30:25 ; Isaiah 34:6 . Jeremiah 12:3 .

Verse 6

just . App-191 . Compare Matthew 12:7 ; Matthew 27:19 . Acts 3:14 .

not . App-105 . This is the Figure of speech Asyndeton. App-6 . The two ands should be omitted.

Verse 7

unto, until Same Greek. word, heos.

coming . Greek. parousia. First occurance: Matthew 24:3 .

hath long patience = being patient.

early . Greek. proim o s . Only here.

latter . Greek. opsimos. Only here. Compare Joel 2:23 .

Verse 8

stablish . See Romans 1:11 .

draweth nigh = hath drawn near. See Matthew 3:2 .

Verse 9

Grudge = Groan, or Murmur. See Hebrews 13:17 .

one against another = against ( App-104 .) one another.

lest = in order that (Greek. hina) not (Greek. me) .

condemned . The texts read "judged". App-122 .

before . App-104 .

Verse 10

the prophets . i.e. the O.T. prophets. App-189 .

have spoken = spoke. App-121 .

for = as.

example . See John 13:15 .

suffering affliction . Greek. kakopatheia. Only here. Compare James 5:13 .

patience . As in Hebrews 6:12 .

Verse 11

count . . . happy . Greek. makarizo. Only here and Luke 1:48 (call blessed).

have . Omit.

patience . As in Titus 2:2 .

seen = saw. App-133 .

end . Compare Job 42:6 .

very pitiful . Gr polusplanchnos. Only here.

of tender mercy . Greek. oiktirmon.

Verse 12

above = before. App-104 .

neither . Greek. mete .

heaven = the heaven. See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

any . App-123 .

other . App-124 .

nay . App-105 .

into . The texts read "under". App-104 .

condemnation . App-177 .

Verse 13

afflicted . Greek. kakopatheo. See 2 Timothy 2:3 and Compare James 5:10 , above.

pray . App-134 .

merry . See Acts 27:22 .

sing psalms . Greek. psallo. See Romans 15:9 .

Verse 14

elders . App-189 .

church . App-186 . Here the church must mean the assembly which worshipped in the synagogue of James 2:2 .

over . App-104 .

anointing = having anointed. Greek. aleipho. Occurs here and eight times in the Gospels. Compare Mark 6:13 .

Verse 15

prayer . App-134 .

faith . App-150 .

sick . Greek. kamno. See Hebrews 12:3 . Not the same word as James 5:14 .

raise . . . up . App-178 .

and if . Greek. kan ( kai, with App-118 . b).

sins . App-128 .

Verse 16

faults . App-128 . but the texts read "sins", as above.

pray . App-134 .

for . App-104 .

healed . Greek. iaomai. See Luke 6:17 . This makes it clear that the circumstances in view are those of 1 Corinthians 11:30 . The offenders were those who had wronged their brethren, or had shown an unbrotherly spirit, and so had brought chastisement upon themselves.

effectual fervent = inwrought, or energized. Greek. energeo.

prayer . App-134 .

righteous = just, James 5:6 . App-191 . Read, "a prayer of a just man inwrought"; i.e. by the Spirit.

availeth much . Literally is strong (Greek. ischuo. Compare App-172 .) for much.

Verse 17

man . App-123 .

subject, &c . = of like feelings. Greek. homoiopathes. Only here and Acts 14:15 .

earnestly = with prayer. App-134 . This is a Hebraism. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 .

rain . App-136 .

by the space of. Omit.

Verse 18

brought forth . Greek. blastano. See Hebrews 9:4 . Compare 1 Kings 17:1 ; 1Ki 18:1 , 1 Kings 18:41-45 . Elijah's praying for drought is first revealed in this passage.

Verse 19

if . App-118 .

of = among. App-104 .

from . App-104 .

one = any one, as James 5:12 .

Verse 20

know . App-132 .

the = a.

from . Greek. ek App-104 .

soul . App-110 .

hide = cover. Compare 1 Peter 4:8 . This refers to Proverbs 10:12 .