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James 5:4

“Look, the wages of the workers who mowed your fields, withheld by you, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Tsevaot.”

James 5:4 · direct translation from the Greek
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James: the wages withheld from the workers cry out and reach the ears of the LordGenerosity and MoneyJames warns the rich: the wages held back from workers cry outJustice and mercy

With the Greek beneath

4

Theme · Deuteronomy 24:14-15

Go to Deuteronomy 24:14-15

James says that the wages withheld from the workers cry out to the Lord; Deuteronomy 24:14-15 commands paying the hired worker his wages the same day, so that he does not cry out against you to YHWH.

The same term appears in both passages.

  • μισθὸςmisthosG3408שְׂכָרsejarH7939“wages, reward”

James 5:4, word by word

the wagesμισθὸςmisthos

wages

What is earned for work.

Where else “misthos” appears
of the workersἐργατῶνergatōn

worker, laborer

Worker, laborer, especially a hired worker in the fields; also one who does something.

Where else “ergatōn” appears
who mowedἀμησάντωνamēsantōn

mow, reap

Mow, reap a field.

Where else “amēsantōn” appears
your fieldsχώραςchōras

field

Farmland.

Where else “chōras” appears
cry outκράζειkrazei

cry out

Shout, cry out.

Where else “krazei” appears
the criesβοαὶboai

cry

Cry, outcry.

Where else “boai” appears
of the harvestersθερισάντωνtherisantōn

reap

To gather in the ripe grain.

Where else “therisantōn” appears
have reachedεἰσεληλύθασινeiselēlythasin

enter

To go into a house, a town or a place.

Where else “eiselēlythasin” appears
the earsὦταōta

ear

The organ of hearing, on the sides of the head.

Where else “ōta” appears
of the LordΚυρίουKyriou

Lord

The Lord: God, whose name is YHWH; also Jesus.

Where else “Kyriou” appears
TsevaotΣαβαὼθSabaōth

Tsevaot

Tsevaot: a Hebrew word, "of armies", in the title of God, "the Lord Tsevaot"; Greek writes it "Sabaoth".

Where else “Sabaōth” appears

Translation note

“Tsevaot”: “of armies,” a Hebrew name of God kept in the Greek. Recalls Deuteronomy 24:14-15.

The context

3Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days.

4 · This verse (above)

5You have lived in luxury on the earth and in self-indulgence; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Read all of James 5

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?

How to use it