This chapter contrasts living for things of this world, which will not last, with living for things that will last for eternity. It is also important to live with the expectation that Jesus will return soon. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#eternity)
Scholars are divided over whether this passage teaches all oaths are wrong. Most scholars believe some oaths are permissible and James instead is teaching Christians to have integrity.
This story will be difficult to understand if the books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles have not yet been translated.
This probably teaches that the person who stops their sinful lifestyle will not be punished with physical death as a consequence of their sin. On the other hand, some scholars believe this passage teaches about eternal salvation. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#sin and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=other#death and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#save)
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James warns rich people about their focus on pleasure and riches.
Possible meanings are 1) James is giving a strong warning to wealthy believers or 2) James is talking about wealthy unbelievers. Alternate translation: "you who are rich and say you honor God" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
James states that these people will suffer terribly in the future and writes as if their sufferings were objects that were coming toward them. The abstract noun "miseries" can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "because you will suffer terribly in the future" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
Earthly riches do not last nor do they have any eternal value. James speaks of these events as if they had already happened. Alternate translation: "Your riches will rot, and your clothes will be eaten by moths." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-pastforfuture)
These things are mentioned as examples of things that are valuable to wealthy people.
Earthly riches do not last nor do they have any eternal value. James speaks of these events as if they had already happened. Alternate translation: "Your gold and silver will become tarnished" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-pastforfuture)
These things are mentioned as examples of things that are valuable to wealthy people.
Gold does not actually tarnish, and gold and silver do not actually rust. James wants to emphasize that these precious metals will be ruined. Alternate translation: "are ruined ... their ruined condition" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hyperbole)
James wrote of their valuable things being ruined as if they were a person in a courtroom accusing the wicked of their crimes. Alternate translation: "and when God judges you, your ruined treasures will be like someone who accuses you in court. Their corrosion" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit )
Here the corrosion is spoken of as if it were a fire that will burn up their owners. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-simile and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here "flesh" stands for the physical body. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
The idea of fire here is meant to lead people to remember that fire often stands for God's punishment that will come on all the wicked. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This refers to the time right before God comes to judge all people. The wicked think they are storing up riches for the future, but what they are doing is storing up judgment. Alternate translation: "for when God is about to judge you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
James continues to warn rich people about thier focus on pleasure and riches.
The money that should have been paid is spoken of as a person who is shouting because of the injustice done to him. Alternate translation: "God can see that you kept back the wages you should have given to those who mowed your fields" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
The shouts of the harvesters are spoken of as if they could be heard in heaven. Alternate translation: "The Lord of hosts has heard the cries of the harvesters" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
God is spoken of as if he had ears as humans have. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Here people are viewed as if they were cattle, luxuriously fed on grain so they would become fattened to be slaughtered for a feast. However, no one will feast at the time of judgment. Alternate translation: "Your greed has only prepared you for harsh eternal judgment" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
The "heart" was considered to be the center of human desire, and here stands for the entire person. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
This is probably not "condemned" in the legal sense of a judge passing a sentence of death on a criminal. Instead, it probably refers to the wicked and powerful people who decide to mistreat the poor until they die.
"the people who do what is right. They do not." Here "the righteous person" refers to righteous people in general and not to a specific person. Alternate translation: "righteous people. They do not" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-genericnoun)
In closing, James reminds the believers about the Lord's coming and gives several short lessons on how to live for the Lord.
James changes topics from a rebuke of the rich people to an exhortation to the believers.
"Because of this, wait and be calm"
This phrase refers to the return of Jesus, when he will begin his kingdom on the earth and judge all people. Alternate translation: "until Christ's return" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
James makes an analogy using farmers and believers to teach what it means to be patient. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
James is equating the believers' hearts to their will to remain committed. Alternate translation: "Stay committed" or "Keep your faith strong" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"the Lord will return soon"
James is writing to all the scattered Jewish believers.
"about each other"
This can be stated in the active. Alternate translation: "Christ will not condemn you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"Pay attention, because what I am about to say is both true and important: the judge"
James compares Jesus, the judge, to a person about to walk through a door to emphasize how soon Jesus will return to judge the world. Alternate translation: "the judge is coming soon" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"how the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord suffered persecution with patience"
"Name" here is a metonym for the person of the Lord. Alternate translation: "spoke by the authority of the Lord" or "spoke for the Lord to the people" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"Pay attention, because what I am about to say is both true and important: we regard"
"those who continued obeying God even through hardship"
"This is important, may brothers:" or "Especially, my brothers,"
This refers to all believers including women. Alternate translation: "my fellow believers" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-gendernotations)
To "swear" is to say that you will do something, or that something is true, and to be held accountable by a higher authority. Alternate translation: "do not make an oath" or "do not make a vow"
The words "heaven" and "earth" refer to the spiritual or human authorities that are in heaven and earth. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
James is telling people to speak the truth without making an oath. Alternate translation: "If you say "Yes" or "No," say it truthfully"
Being condemned is spoken of as if one had fallen, crushed by the weight of something heavy. Alternate translation: "so God will not punish you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
James uses this question to cause the readers to reflect on their need. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "If anyone is enduring troubles, he should pray" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
James uses this question to cause the readers to reflect on their blessings. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "If anyone is happy, he should sing songs of praise" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
James uses this question to cause the readers to reflect on their need. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "If anyone is sick, he should call" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
"Name" is a metonym for the person of Jesus Christ. Alternate translation: "by the authority of the Lord" or "with the authority that the Lord has given hthem" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
The writer speaks of God hearing believers pray for sick people and healing those people as if the prayers themselves healed the people. Alternate translation: "The Lord will hear the prayer of faith and will heal the sick person" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"The prayer made by believers" or "The prayer that people pray believing God will do as they ask"
"the Lord will make him well" or "the Lord will enable him to resume his normal life"
As these are Jewish believers, James reminds them to pray by recalling one of the prophets of old and that prophet's practical prayers.
Admit to other believers things you did wrong so that you can be forgiven.
"to each other"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so that God may heal you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
Prayer is presented as if it were an object that was strong or powerful. Alternate translation: "When the person who obeys God prays, God will do great things" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"prayed eagerly" or "prayed passionately"
There may have been rain in lands other than Israel, but it did not rain in Israel.
"3 ... 6" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"The heavens" probably refers to the sky, which is presented as the source of the rain. Alternate translation: "Rain fell from the sky"
Here the earth is presented as the source of the crops.
Here "fruit" stands for all the crops of the farmers. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
Here this word probably refers to both men and women. Alternate translation: "fellow believers" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-gendernotations)
A believer who stops trusting in God and obeying him is spoken of as if he were a sheep that wandered away from the flock. The person who persuades him to trust in God again is spoken of as if he were a shepherd who goes to search for the lost sheep. Alternate translation: "whenever anyone stops obeying God, and another person helps him start obeying again" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
James means that God will use the actions of this person to persuade the sinner to repent and be saved. But James speaks as if it were this other person who actually saved the sinner's soul from death. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
Here "death" refers to spiritual death, eternal separation from God. Alternate translation: "will save him from spiritual death, and God will forgive the sinner for all of his sins" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Possible meanings are 1) the person who brings back the disobedient brother will have his sins forgiven or 2) the disobedient brother, when he returns to the Lord, will have his sins forgiven. Sins are spoken of as if they were objects that God could cover so that he would not see them, so that he would forgive them. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)