James 5:7–11
James points to the farmer waiting for rain and to Job's endurance
Study it word by word7Be patient, then, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Look, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain.
8You also be patient; make firm your hearts, because the coming of the Lord has drawn near.
9Do not complain, brothers, against one another, so that you may not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the doors.
10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11Look, we count happy those who endured. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you have seen the outcome given by the Lord, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful.
In its context
5You have lived in luxury on the earth and in self-indulgence; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
6You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous one; he does not oppose you.
…
12But above all, my brothers, do not swear, neither by heaven nor by earth nor with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
13Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Its words in the original
- ΜακροθυμήσατεMakrothymēsate· be patient
Be patient, put up with something without getting angry, wait patiently.
- ἀδελφοίadelphoi· brother
Brother. Also a close relative, a fellow countryman and, among believers, a brother in the faith.
- παρουσίαςparousias· coming, presence
Coming, arrival and presence; it was said of a king's visit.
- κυρίουkyriou· Lord, lord
Lord, master, owner. Said of God, the Lord; in Old Testament quotations it stands for the name YHWH.
- γεωργὸςgeōrgos· farmer, vinedresser
Farmer, one who works the land.
- ἐκδέχεταιekdechetai· wait for
Wait for, expect someone.
- τίμιονtimion· precious, honored
Precious, valuable, costly; honored, respected.
- καρπὸνkarpon· fruit
Fruit; also the result of what someone does.
- γῆςgēs· earth, land
Earth: the ground, a country, or the whole world.
- λάβῃlabēi· take, receive
Take, receive.
- πρόϊμονproimon· early
Early; the early rain, of autumn.
- ὄψιμονopsimon· late
Late; the late rain, of spring.
- στηρίξατεstērixate· strengthen, establish
Strengthen, establish, make firm; also set one's face firmly.
- καρδίαςkardias· heart
Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
- ἤγγικενēngiken· come near
Come near, draw near; be at hand.
- στενάζετεstenazete· groan, sigh
Groan, sigh; complain.
- ἀλλήλωνallēlōn· one another
One another, each other.
- κριθῆτεkrithēte· judge
Judge; in the passive, be judged, go to court.
- κριτὴςkritēs· judge
Judge: one who decides a case; also one who rules.
- θυρῶνthyrōn· door
Door, gate.
- ἕστηκενhestēken· stand, set
Stand, stand still, stop; also set, establish.
- ὑπόδειγμαhypodeigma· example
Example, a model to be imitated.
- κακοπαθίαςkakopathias· suffering
Suffering, enduring hardship.
- μακροθυμίαςmakrothymias· patience
Patience: bearing with others for a long time without anger.
- προφήταςprophētas· prophet
Prophet: someone who speaks on God's behalf.
- ἐλάλησανelalēsan· speak
Speak, talk.
- ὀνόματιonomati· name
Name. In the Bible, a name stands for the person himself.
- μακαρίζομενmakarizomen· call blessed
Call blessed, call fortunate.
- ὑπομείνανταςhypomeinantas· endure, remain
Endure, hold out; also stay behind.
- ὑπομονὴνhypomonēn· endurance, perseverance
Endurance, perseverance: holding out patiently under trial.
- ἸὼβIōb· Job
Job, the righteous man who suffered and endured.
- ἠκούσατεēkousate· hear, listen
Hear, listen; also heed.
- τέλοςtelos· end
End, completion; "to the end", fully. Also tax.
- εἴδετεeidete· see
See, look; notice.
- πολύσπλαγχνόςpolysplanchnos· very compassionate
Very compassionate, full of tender mercy.
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- οἰκτίρμωνoiktirmōn· compassionate
Compassionate, merciful.