James 5:20

With the Greek beneath

James 5:20, word by word

let him knowγινωσκέτωginōsketō

find out

To find out something, to realize.

Where else “ginōsketō” appears

whoever turns backἐπιστρέψαςepistrepsas

turn to God

To come back to God, or bring others back to him.

Where else “epistrepsas” appears

a sinnerἁμαρτωλὸνhamartōlon

sinner

Sinner; in the Pharisees' mouth, someone who did not keep the law.

Where else “hamartōlon” appears

the wanderingπλάνηςplanēs

error, deception

Deception, error.

Where else “planēs” appears

of his wayὁδοῦhodou

road

The route by which one goes from one place to another, or the trip itself.

Where else “hodou” appears

will saveσώσειsōsei

save

To rescue from sin and ruin.

Where else “sōsei” appears

his soulψυχὴνpsychēn

soul

A person's innermost self: what they feel and desire.

Where else “psychēn” appears

deathθανάτουthanatou

death

The end of the body's life.

Where else “thanatou” appears

will coverκαλύψειkalypsei

cover, hide

Cover, hide, conceal.

Where else “kalypsei” appears

a multitudeπλῆθοςplēthos

great number

So many things together that they cannot easily be counted.

Where else “plēthos” appears

of sinsἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōn

sin

Doing what God does not want, and the guilt it leaves.

Where else “hamartiōn” appears

Translation note

“His soul”: probably that of the sinner who turns back. “Will cover a multitude of sins” recalls Proverbs 10:12.

The context

To study James 5 in a group

1. 1. What it says

   What warning does James give to the rich who have stored up wealth (v. 1-6)?

2. 2. What it means

   James gives the farmer and the prophets as examples (v. 7-11). What does he want to teach about patience through them?

3. 3. How I live it

   James encourages praying for one another (v. 13-16). Who needs your prayer or your company this week?