James 5 16

James 5:16 kjv

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16 nkjv

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:16 niv

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16 esv

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:16 nlt

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

James 5 verses

James 5 16 Meaning

James 5:16 teaches that mutual confession of faults within the believing community, combined with fervent prayer for one another, creates an environment for God's healing to occur, which can be spiritual, emotional, or physical. It further emphasizes the significant power and effectiveness of prayer offered by a righteous person in aligning with God's will.

James 5 16 Context

James chapter 5 addresses various exhortations to believers concerning patience in suffering, righteous living, and especially the practical outworking of faith in the community. Verses 13-15 discuss specific prayer for the sick by calling elders for anointing with oil and praying in faith. Verse 16 continues this theme, broadening it to general mutual confession and intercessory prayer among all believers. The passage then uses Elijah as a potent example (vv. 17-18) to illustrate the efficacy of prayer from a righteous person, further reinforcing the principles laid out in verse 16. The letter itself emphasizes the living fruit of genuine faith, which includes active care and spiritual discipline within the community, especially regarding sin, sickness, and restoration.

James 5 16 Word analysis

• Confess (exomologeo): From "out" (ek) and "to speak the same" (homologeo), implying speaking something out from the heart that matches reality, openly acknowledging sin or truth. It suggests voluntary, honest, and full admission, essential for true repentance and restoration. It is more than just admitting; it is acknowledging sincerely.

• your trespasses (paraptoma): Refers to specific failings, blunders, or deviations from the straight path; moral missteps. While related to "sin" (hamartia, missing the mark), paraptoma emphasizes the specific nature of the offense, especially in interpersonal relationships, as the verse speaks of "one another."

• to one another: Specifies the recipient of the confession – within the Christian community, emphasizing mutual accountability, vulnerability, and trust. This is a mutual admission, particularly when one's sin affects another or the community, fostering a space for forgiveness and restoration.

• and pray (proseuchomai): The general term for prayer to God. Here, it refers to communicating with God in supplication, petition, or thanksgiving, directly linked with the act of confession.

• for one another: Reinforces the communal and reciprocal nature of the instruction. Believers are called to intercede for each other, building spiritual solidarity and expressing Christ-like love, enabling mutual intercession to carry power.

• that you may be healed (iaomai): The purpose clause. Healing can encompass spiritual restoration (forgiveness of sins leading to spiritual well-being), emotional restoration (peace, relief from guilt), and physical restoration from illness. The comprehensive nature of "healing" in Scripture implies addressing the whole person, as a divine act in response to faith and obedience.

• The effective (energoumenē): Means "working," "active," or "operative." This word describes the quality of the prayer – it is not passive or inert but dynamic and potent because it is energized or empowered by God. It indicates a prayer that is infused with divine energy and brings about results.

• fervent: While not a direct single Greek word here, "fervent" implies earnestness, intensity, and deep sincerity from the heart. It points to a prayer not of routine or cold formality but one that pours forth with conviction and passion, coming from genuine faith.

• prayer (deēsis): A specific type of prayer, often connoting urgent supplication, expressing need, or seeking a specific favor. Coupled with energeō, it emphasizes a particular, potent appeal to God in earnestness.

• of a righteous man (dikaios): Refers to a person who is in right standing with God, justified by faith, and living in obedience to God's ways. It is not sinless perfection, but one whose life is habitually directed towards God, walking in integrity and dependence on Him. Such a person's prayers carry weight with God.

• avails much (ischyō poly): Means "has much strength," "is very strong," "has great power," or "accomplishes much." This phrase strongly emphasizes the significant impact and power that such a prayer possesses when offered by a righteous person. It is not merely heard but effectively works to achieve God's purposes.

• "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another": This phrase establishes the communal and reciprocal nature of spiritual care within the body of Christ. It promotes mutual accountability, vulnerability, and shared burdens, fostering a culture of honesty and intercession rather than secrecy or isolation. The confession is specifically for "trespasses" (paraptomata), suggesting wrongs against each other, the community, or specific missteps that hinder one's relationship with God or others.

• "that you may be healed": This highlights the divine objective and the benefit of engaging in the preceding acts of confession and prayer. "Healed" here is comprehensive, encompassing forgiveness and spiritual restoration (healing from the wound of sin), emotional restoration (peace from guilt or distress), and even physical recovery from sickness that might be linked to sin. It reveals God's desire for wholeness for His people.

• "The effective, fervent prayer": This defines the kind of prayer that produces significant results. "Effective" (energeō) implies divine energy working through the prayer, making it powerful and active. "Fervent" (derived from the active nature described) points to sincerity, intensity, and earnestness. This is not mechanical or half-hearted prayer but one engaged with genuine faith and conviction.

• "of a righteous man": This identifies the source or qualification of the prayer. "Righteous" is someone justified by faith and living in a way that aligns with God's will. This doesn't mean flawless perfection but one in right relationship with God, allowing God's Spirit to work through them. Such a life of devotion and obedience gives the prayer authenticity and aligns it with divine purpose, making it powerful.

• "avails much": This succinctly states the result or potency of such prayer. It signifies that it "achieves great things," "has great power," or "is highly efficacious." It underscores that God hears and responds to earnest prayers from those in right relationship with Him, bringing about significant spiritual and sometimes physical transformations.

James 5 16 Bonus section

• The "righteous man" here does not refer to someone perfect, but one who has been made righteous by faith in Christ (Rom 3:22, 5:1) and whose life evidences this justified standing through obedience and a walk pleasing to God. The subsequent example of Elijah (Jas 5:17) highlights that even figures from salvation history who are called "righteous" shared a common human nature, demonstrating that such powerful prayer is accessible to all believers who align themselves with God.
• The connection between sin and sickness, while not always direct or causal (as affirmed in Jn 9:3), is recognized in Scripture. James 5:14-16 suggests that in some cases, unresolved sin or disobedience can contribute to illness, making confession a crucial step towards holistic healing. However, the healing mentioned is also broader, encompassing spiritual and relational reconciliation.
• The power of "effectual" prayer indicates that God is not passively observing but actively engaging and working through the prayer. This aligns with the New Testament concept of God's Spirit empowering believers for His work.

James 5 16 Commentary

James 5:16 provides a robust framework for spiritual and holistic well-being within the Christian community. It mandates transparency through mutual confession of sins, especially relational trespasses, fostering a climate of humility and accountability. This confession, however, is incomplete without earnest intercessory prayer "for one another," underscoring the vital role of mutual support and spiritual solidarity. The promise of being "healed" signifies God's comprehensive desire for restoration—addressing not only physical ailments but profoundly, the spiritual and emotional wounds caused by sin. The verse culminates in a powerful declaration that "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much," meaning prayer offered from a heart aligned with God and actively pursuing His will possesses tremendous divine energy and power to accomplish great things. It is a call to a vibrant, interconnected faith, where honesty, intercession, and reliance on God's power unlock pathways to profound spiritual and physical restoration for individuals and the community.