James 5 2

James 5:2 kjv

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

James 5:2 nkjv

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.

James 5:2 niv

Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.

James 5:2 esv

Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.

James 5:2 nlt

Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.

James 5 verses

James 5 2 Meaning

James 5:2 pronounces a dire judgment on those who have hoarded ill-gotten or unjustly withheld riches, declaring that their wealth has already decayed and become worthless. The imagery of corrupted riches and moth-eaten garments vividly portrays the perishable and ultimately valueless nature of material possessions when contrasted with eternal treasures, and highlights God's condemnation of accumulation through oppression.

James 5 2 Context

James 5:2 is part of a severe denunciation (Jas 5:1-6) by James against the rich who oppress the poor. This specific verse begins to articulate the transient and ultimately destructive nature of the wealth these rich individuals have accumulated. It follows a strong "Come now" (Ἄγε νῦν) addressed directly to them, setting a tone of imminent judgment. The surrounding verses elaborate on the means by which they gained their wealth (defrauding laborers, living luxuriously) and the ultimate end of such unrighteous accumulation—their wealth serves as a witness against them, consuming them like fire. The historical context indicates that many early Christians, particularly in Jewish Christian communities, experienced economic hardship and exploitation by wealthy landowners or merchants, often from their own community or society at large. James directly confronts this injustice, not primarily by advocating for social revolution but by reminding the oppressors of God's coming judgment and the worthlessness of their material security.

James 5 2 Word analysis

• Your (ὑμῶν - hymōn): Possessive plural pronoun. Addresses specifically the wealthy oppressors James has just invoked, personalizing the condemnation directly to their possessions.
• riches (ὁ πλοῦτος - ho ploutos): "Wealth," "abundance." In biblical context, πλοῦτος can be positive (God's riches, Eph 3:8, 16) or negative (riches acquired unjustly, Mt 13:22, Mk 4:19). Here, linked with oppression (Jas 5:4), it denotes ill-gotten or selfishly hoarded wealth, making it a "fatal plenty" for them.
• are corrupted (σέσηπεν - sesēpen): Perfect active indicative of σήπω (sēpō), "to rot," "decay," "become putrid." The perfect tense is crucial, indicating a completed action with ongoing results; the wealth is not going to rot, it already is in a state of decay and rottenness. It implies their material security is already undermined and ultimately valueless from a divine perspective.
• and (καί - kai): Connects the decay of liquid/food assets (riches) to that of textile assets (garments), indicating comprehensive, pervasive decay.
• your (ὑμῶν - hymōn): Again, directs the point to their personal belongings.
• garments (τὰ ἱμάτια - ta himatia): "Clothing," specifically outer cloaks or robes. In the ancient world, high-quality garments were valuable, served as a form of stored wealth, and were susceptible to moths. Hoarding them represented unproductive wealth accumulation.
• are moth-eaten (σητόβρωτα - sētobrōta): From σής (sēs - "moth") and βρωτός (brōtos - "eaten"). Signifies destruction by natural pests, demonstrating vulnerability and natural decay. The combination vividly portrays complete and irreversible destruction.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Your riches are corrupted: This phrase signifies that the very foundation of their supposed security and status—their accumulated wealth—is fundamentally tainted and already in a state of irreversible decay. It's not just a future event; the process is complete, and the spiritual "rot" has set in.
• and your garments are moth-eaten: This expands the metaphor to another common form of ancient wealth: fine clothing. The image highlights the natural and inevitable destruction of material possessions, contrasting sharply with their futile efforts to secure their future through accumulation. Both parts of the verse underscore the impermanence and futility of hoarding earthly treasures.

James 5 2 Bonus section

This verse carries a prophetic and forensic tone, not merely predicting but declaring a present state of decay. It highlights a common characteristic of prophetic literature: speaking of a future certainty as if it has already occurred due to its inevitability in God's eyes. The contrast is profound: while the rich meticulously protect and accumulate their material wealth, James declares that God sees it as already being destroyed. This truth calls believers to assess their own attitudes towards material possessions, understanding that their true value lies not in their accumulation or the temporary security they offer, but in their proper use, generosity, and ultimate transience in light of eternity. It underscores that trust misplaced in created things inevitably leads to disillusionment and spiritual bankruptcy.

James 5 2 Commentary

James 5:2 serves as a vivid indictment against those who place their trust in and hoard earthly possessions, particularly when such wealth is accumulated through exploitative means. The imagery chosen, "corrupted riches" (likely grain, oil, or food provisions that spoil) and "moth-eaten garments" (valuable clothes or textiles that degrade), directly challenges the notion that material wealth provides true security or lasting value. The use of the perfect tense ("are corrupted") emphasizes that this decay is not a future event but an ongoing reality, indicating the spiritual rottenness and valuelessness of their earthly trust. The divine perspective reveals that what humanity cherishes as wealth is already, from God's vantage point, undergoing destructive processes. This verse acts as a solemn warning against greed and injustice, pointing out the inherent futility of relying on anything that can decay or be destroyed, echoing Christ's teachings about laying up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:19-21).