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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

James 5:13-18

JAMES—NOTE ON James 5:13 The Prayer of Faith. Speaking mainly of prayer, James restates some of the letter’s key themes. These include trials and misuse of the tongue. The ultimate way to “tame” one’s tongue (James 3:8) is to “pray for one another” (James 5:16).

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See also James 5:13-18 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 13. _IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? LET HIM PRAY_] The Jews taught that the meaning of the ordinance, Leviticus 13:45, which required the leper to cry, _Unclean! unclean_! was, "that thus _making...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? - By sickness, bereavement, disappointment, persecutions, loss of health or property. The word used here refers to suffering evil of any kind, (κακοπαθεῖ kakopathei.) LET...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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)_ 2. Be patient unto the coming of the Lord (James 5:7) 3. The prayers of...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The key to this hard passage seems to lie in the climax, the example of Elijah, who in 1 Kings 17:1; 1 Kings 18:41 ff., is not said to have prayed for drought or for rain. His prayer is in the phrase...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Is any among you in trouble? Let him pray. Is any in good spirits? Let him sing a hymn. Is any among you sick? Let him call in the elders of the Church; and let them anoint him with oil in the name of...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE WORTHLESSNESS OF RICHES (James 5:1-3)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    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...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Affliction Sickness Confession 13. _Is any among you afflicted, let him pray_ The precepts point to the principle that worship is the truest and best expression of both sorrow and joy. In affliction m...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΚΑΚΟΠΑΘΕΙ͂. See above, James 5:10. ψαλλέτω. The word implies the accompaniment of a musical instrument. For psalmody among the Jews see Bp Lightfoot’s note on Colossians 3:16. He shews by quotation fr...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Deeply important practical rules relating to (_a_) Prayer as a force in life, (_b_) Intercessory prayer, (_c_) Confession, (_d_) Conversion....

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _RELY ON PRAYER -- JAMES 5:13-18:_ James closed with a series of admonitions to assist Christians in daily living. He said Christians should: (1) Pray when in trouble, (James 5:13) (2) Sing psalms whe...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΚΑΚΟΠΑΘΕΪ́ _praes. ind. act. от_ КАКОΠΑΘΈΩ (G2553) страдать от несчастий, страдать от проблем, ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΈΣΘΩ _praes. imper. med. (dep.) от_ ΠΡΟΣΕΎΧΟΜΑΙ G4336молиться. _Praes. imper._ призывает к привы...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? &C.— These two directions concerning prayer when they were afflicted, and praise when they were easy and cheerful, seem to refer to private devotion, and not to their publi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    WHEN THE SAINT SUFFERS _Text_ James 5:13 a. Is any among you suffering? let him pray. _Queries_ 429. Does not every Christian, even every person, suffer? Then why the question? 430. What does...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. AFFLICTED, [ kakopathei (G2553)] - 'evil treated:' "suffering affliction" (James 5:10). LET HIM PRAY - not "swear" in...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 13 IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? LET HIM PRAY. In the place of denying the faith under oath, let such a one pray pray for strength to bear the affliction and every persecution. God alone is the h...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    12 This prohibition is essentially the same as that given by our Lord (Mat_5:34). 15 "The prayer of faith will save the sick" is a very loose rendering of this passage. The word which they translate ...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The true means of sanctifying times of excitement, whether joyful or sorrowful. We must make the worship of God the outlet for our emotion. 14-16. In order to understand this passage, round which much...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    REBUKE AND ENCOURAGEMENT 2. Are corrupted, etc.] prophetic tense, in which the future is spoken of as though it were already come to pass....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    WHAT *FAITH SHOULD DO JAMES _IAN MACKERVOY_ The word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. CHAPTER 5 JUDGEMENT OF THE RICH 5:1-6 V1 Now, you rich people, weep and cry aloud. Th...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    We now pass on to advice of different kinds — to the heavy-laden or light-hearted, to the suffering and afflicted. Prayer is to be the refuge of one, praise the safeguard of another; the whole life is...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 26 WORSHIP THE BEST OUTLET AND REMEDY FOR EXCITEMENT-THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WORSHIP AND CONDUCT. James 5:13 THE subject of this verse was probably suggested by that of the preceding one. Oat...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    κακοπαθεῖ : See note on James 5:10; it refers perhaps rather to mental worry or distress, while ἀσθενεῖ refers to some specific bodily ailment. εὐθυμεῖ : only found elsewhere in Acts 27:22; Acts 27:25...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    EFFECTUAL PRAYER James 5:12 In view of the judgment-seat, at which we shall have to give an account of our words, we shall do well to employ the simplest, plainest speech, Matthew 5:34; Matthew 12:3...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Approaching the conclusion of his letter, the writer addressed a terrible indictment and solemn warning to the rich. He showed the failure of possessions, and how they may become the curse of life. S...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    RESPONSES TO VARIOUS SITUATIONS What should a Christian do when physical and mental problems bear down upon him and depression sets in? James says pray, not just once, but repeatedly. On the other han...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (8) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (8) He shows the best remedy against all afflictions, that is, prayers which have their place both in sorrow and joy....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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 an...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    To the reader who enters on the consideration of the epistle of James from the epistles of Paul, the change is great and sudden, and by no means least of all from the epistle to the Hebrews, which, in...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    13_Is any among you afflicted? _he means that there is no time in which God does not invite us to himself. For afflictions ought to stimulate us to pray; prosperity supplies us with an occasion to pra...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The two classes in Israel are distinctly marked here in contrast with one another, with the addition of the walk which the Christian ought to pursue when chastised by the Lord. The apostle gives the c...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED?.... As the people of God generally are; they are commonly a poor, and an afflicted people; at least there are many among them that are so, and many are their afflictions: t...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Ver. 13. _Is any among you afflicted?_] Any one may, for grace is no target against affliction. _ Let him pray_] Not only...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Is any among you afflicted? let him pray_ That he may be supported under his affliction, so as to be enabled to bear it with patience and resignation to the divine will, and find it to be sanctified...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? LET HIM PRAY, IS ANY MERRY? LET HIM SING PSALMS....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    The improper and the proper use of God's name:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Verses 1 Timothy 6 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,...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    Why do Christians suffer? Why is there suffering in our world? Discuss: If God is love, why does He allow such suffering? What should we do - if we are suffering? How will that help? What should we do...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises." "Let him pray" -"one should not frivolously swear in times of adversity, but he should rather pray…. It is not...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-18 The sin of swearing is condemned; but how many make light of common profane swearing! Such swearing expressly throws contempt upon God's name and authority. This sin brings neither gain, nor pl...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? either troubled or afflicted in mind, as appears by the opposite being MERRY, or more generally afflicted any way. Not that we need not pray at other times, but when under...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    James 5:13 Is G2553 anyone G5100 among G1722 you G5213 suffering G2553 (G5719) pray G4336 (G5737) Is...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Is any among you suffering? Let him pray.' The first injunction is concerning those who are ‘suffering, afflicted, going through hard times' (compare the use of the word in 2Ti 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:9; 2...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    FINAL EXHORTATION TO PRAYER AND FAITH (JAMES 5:12). Having faced up men and women to judgment in different ways James now ends as he began by putting great emphasis on the need for faith and prayer, a...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    James 5:7-20. St. James concludes his Epistle with a variety of admonitions. He first exhorts his readers to patience; they are to exercise forbearance toward their oppressors and trust toward God, be...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    James 5:13. IS ANY AFFLICTED? The word rendered ‘afflicted' is a general term, denoting all kinds of affliction sickness, pain, bereavement, disappointment, persecution. Here perhaps it specially refe...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    IS ANY SUFFERING? (κακοπαθε τισ;). See verse James 5:10 for κακοπαθια. The verb in N.T. occurs only here and in 2 Timothy 2:3; 2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Tim...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    James 5:13 The Visitation of the Sick. I. To understand the clause which refers to anointing with oil, it must be remembered that in those early and simple days, when little was known about the struc...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    James 5:13 Religious Worship a Remedy for Excitements. St. James seems to imply in these words that there is that in religious worship which supplies all our spiritual need, which suits every mood of...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Warning to the rich. Exhortations in view of Christ's second coming. CHARACTERS: Christ, Job, Elias, James. CONCLUSION: Great amassing of wealth will be a sign of the last days, but woe to...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    James 5:1. _Go to now,_ or go now, _ye rich men._ He had taught them humility, because their glory vanished away as the flower of the field: chap. James 1:10. He now calls upon them _to weep and howl_...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IN TROUBLE? "Are you suffering because you are a Christian? Then don't try to escape it by swearing an oath falsely." HE SHOULD PRAY. "When in trouble, ask God for strength! Ask him for _wisdom_ (Jame...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ James 5:13. MERRY.—Of good cheer, gladsome at heart. PSALM.—The word suggests a composition fitted to an accompaniment of music. _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— J...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JAMES 5:1 DENUNCIATION OF THE RICH FOR (1) GRINDING DOWN THE POOR AND KEEPING BACK THEIR WAGES;...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in chapter five he takes on the rich. So this doesn't apply to many of us. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, your garment...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 16:9; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 2 Chronicles 33:12; 2 Chronicles 33:13;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Is afflicted [κ α κ ο π α θ ε ι]. See on the kindred word kakopaqeia, suffering, ver. 10. Only here and 2 Timothy 2:3; 2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5. Let him sing psalms [ψ α λ λ ε τ ω]. The word means...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here observe, 1. That affliction is. praying season. Prayer is. duty never out of season, but never more in season than in and under affliction. Observe, 2. That though the time of affliction be. spec...

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