James 5:17

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 5:17-18

3. The power of prayer 5:17-18To illustrate the power of prayer James referred to Elijah’s experience (1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:41-45). In view of the remarkable answers Elijah received, James reminded his audience that the prophet was an ordinary man."Here the point is not that Elijah put up a particularly fervent prayer but that praying was precisely what he did." [Note: Adamson, p. 201.] "Prayed earnestly" is literally "prayed with prayer." This verse is not a call for fervent... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Rebuke and Encouragement2. Are corrupted, etc.] prophetic tense, in which the future is spoken of as though it were already come to pass. 3. For the last days] RV ’in the last days.’ The warning was fulfilled during the siege of Jerusalem, when many rich Jews were slain by Zealots (Jos. ’Wars,’5. 10). 4. Lord of Sabaoth] an OT. phrase = ’Lord of Hosts.’ It is not found elsewhere in the NT., except once in a quotation (Romans 9:29). 5. As in a day of slaughter] omit ’as,’ and cp. Jeremiah 12:3;... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 5:17

(17) Elias.—James supplies a lacuna in the story of Elijah. In 1 Kings 17:1, the prophet simply and sternly tells Ahab “there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” Further on (1 Kings 18:41-46) “there is a sound of abundance of rain.” In our Epistle we read that Elias “prayed earnestly”—literally, prayed in his prayer, a Hebraistic form of emphasis (see margin). He asked for drought, and it lasted three years and a half, so that “there was a sore famine in Samaria.”... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 5:1-20

James 5:1 'I had an hour's baiting from Mrs. yesterday. She got upon political preaching abused it very heartily acknowledged that religion had to do with man's political life, but said a clergyman's duty is to preach obedience to the powers that be was rather puzzled when I asked her whether it were legitimate to preach from James 5:1 , "Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl," etc. asked whether it was possible for old women and orphans to understand such subjects; to which I replied, "No;... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - James 5:16-18

Chapter 28THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CONFESSION OF SINS-LAWFULNESS OF PRAYERS FOR RAIN.James 5:16-18THE connection Of this passage with the preceding one is very close. This is evident even in the Authorized Version; but it is made still more. manifest by the Revisers, who have restored the connecting "therefore" to the text upon overwhelming authority. St. James is passing from the particular case of the sick person to something more general, viz., mutual confession of sins. If we draw out his... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - James 5:1-20

V. THE COMING OF THE LORD AND THE LIFE OF FAITH CHAPTER 5 1. The oppression by the rich and their coming doom (James 5:1-6 ) 2. Be patient unto the coming of the Lord (James 5:7-12 ) 3. The prayers of faith and the life of faith (James 5:13-20 ) James 5:1-6 The two classes whom James addresses stand out very prominently in this final chapter of his Epistle. The rich oppressors certainly are not believers but the unbelieving rich; they are not addressed as “brethren”; but others are in... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - James 5:1-20

Verses 1 Timothy 6:0 are addressed to rich men, and no doubt specially to those who make some claim of having the knowledge of God. They are bidden to weep and howl for the miseries that will take them, in contrast to their present living in luxury. How transient and empty are earthly richest God sees them as corrupted, decaying, and quickly at an end; and the garments of wealth as moth-eaten, not won from use, but from hanging, disused, in a closet. The language here is sharp and scathing.... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - James 5:1-20

WORLDLY MINDEDNESS Like other divisions of this epistle this is so connected with the last, and grows out of it so naturally, that it is difficult to say where the division occurs. The writer had been speaking of envying and strife in expression through the tongue, and now puts in his plow deeper to show their source in the antecedent condition of the heart. “Lust” is not to be taken in the limited sense of sensuality, but in the broader sense of worldly pleasure or gratification of any kind.... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - James 5:1-20

Curious Identifications Jam 5:11 Let us notice how very curiously, and in some cases how very eccentrically and frivolously, some men are identified in Holy Scripture. The texts might be a hundred in number: one will do to start with "Ye have heard of the patience of Job." Thus we hear of men in little points, striking aspects, wise or silly anecdotes. Who knows anything about Job, except his patience? Who can quote any argument of the great sufferer? Who can recite his curse upon his... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - James 5:12-20

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him... read more

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