James 5 7

James 5:7 kjv

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

James 5:7 nkjv

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

James 5:7 niv

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

James 5:7 esv

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

James 5:7 nlt

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen.

James 5 verses

James 5 7 Meaning

James 5:7 exhorts believers to exercise patient endurance, drawing a direct analogy from the steadfast waiting of a farmer for his harvest. It emphasizes that Christians, like farmers who depend on the reliable cycles of early and latter rains for their crops, must patiently persevere through present trials and tribulations with the confident expectation of the Lord's return, which will bring ultimate justice and vindication.

James 5 7 Context

James Chapter 5 begins with a stern condemnation of the rich oppressors who have defrauded and exploited their laborers, highlighting their coming judgment and swift destruction. This indictment serves as the backdrop for the subsequent exhortation to believers. Having just warned the rich of their impending doom (Jas 5:1-6), James turns his attention to the faithful believers who are enduring the very injustices and suffering meted out by these oppressors. Thus, James 5:7 serves as a pivot, shifting from divine judgment upon the unrighteous to encouragement for the righteous. It directly addresses their circumstances, urging them not to lose heart but to patiently wait for God's divine intervention and ultimate vindication, which will come with the Lord's "parousia," or eminent arrival. The agricultural analogy would have resonated deeply with the original audience, many of whom would have understood the seasonal rhythms and uncertainties of farming in ancient Palestine, where life revolved around the dependable yet sometimes delayed early and latter rains.

James 5 7 Word analysis

• Be patient (μακροθυμήσατε - makrothymēsate): An imperative verb, commanding an active, volitional choice to exercise macrocothymia (long-temperedness, enduring much without giving up or giving in). It's not passive resignation but enduring with hope and firmness in spirit. It denotes the capacity to bear up under provocation, opposition, or affliction, characterized by slowness to anger or giving up.
• therefore: Links this exhortation directly to the preceding warning against the rich and their impending judgment. It implies a logical consequence or transition based on what has been discussed.
• brethren (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi): A term of endearment and shared spiritual kinship, indicating the audience consists of fellow believers, providing comfort and solidarity amidst suffering.
• unto the coming (παρουσία - parousia): This Greek term means "presence," "arrival," or "advent." In the New Testament, it almost exclusively refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the culminating event of the end times, which brings ultimate justice and consummation.
• of the Lord: Specifically refers to Jesus Christ, emphasizing His divine authority and the certainty of His promised return.
• Behold (ἰδοῦ - idou): An interjection used to draw immediate attention, signaling an important illustration or revelation. It commands the reader to consider carefully what follows.
• the husbandman (γεωργός - geōrgos): A farmer or cultivator of the earth. This everyday example, common in an agrarian society, provides a relatable image of one who diligently works and then patiently waits for results beyond their immediate control.
• waiteth for (ἐκδέχεται - ekdechomai): An active verb implying an earnest expectation, a ready and waiting posture. It is a waiting with conviction and hope, not mere idleness.
• the precious fruit (τίμιον καρπόν - timion karpon): Refers to the valuable or highly esteemed produce of the earth. Spiritually, this can symbolize spiritual harvest—either the formation of Christ-like character in believers or the ingathering of souls. Its preciousness underscores the worth of what is being waited for.
• of the earth: Specifies that this fruit is derived from the natural world, linking the spiritual waiting to concrete, observable agricultural processes.
• and hath long patience (μακροθυμεῖ - makrothymeō): Repeats the root word for "patience" from the opening command, reinforcing the concept. The farmer not only "waits" but actively "practices long-suffering," enduring through extended periods of uncertainty or delay. This implies an emotional steadiness, not losing heart or giving in to frustration over time.
• for it: For the precious fruit.
• until he receive: Denotes the ultimate culmination of the farmer's waiting and labor, highlighting the specific event for which patience is exercised. It implies a set and certain timing, albeit one beyond immediate human control.
• the early (πρόϊμον - proimon): The first or autumnal rains (usually October-November), essential for softening the soil and allowing the seeds to germinate after the long, dry summer.
• and latter rain (ὄψιμον - opsimon): The spring rains (usually March-April), crucial for filling out the grains and enabling a full harvest. The absence of either rain meant crop failure, emphasizing absolute dependence on God's provision and the natural cycle. Together, they represent the complete, necessary provision for the full harvest.

James 5 7 Bonus section

The phrase "early and latter rain" in Old Testament contexts (like Deut 11:14) often carries a symbolic significance beyond mere meteorological phenomena. It can represent divine blessing, spiritual revival, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, or the fullness of God's provision for His people at different stages of salvation history leading up to the final harvest. Thus, the farmer's reliance on these rains implicitly points to the believer's absolute dependence on God's Spirit and providential acts for spiritual growth and eventual reward. The analogy reinforces the theme found elsewhere in scripture: there is a period of sowing and patient waiting before the joyous reaping. It also subtly critiques the desire for immediate gratification, promoting a long-term, faith-filled perspective.

James 5 7 Commentary

James 5:7 provides a profound illustration of Christian perseverance drawn from a familiar agricultural metaphor. Just as a farmer commits his seed to the ground and then must patiently wait through predictable but slow natural processes, relying on the essential "early and latter rains" provided by God, so too must believers endure present sufferings and injustices with hopeful anticipation. Their ultimate harvest is the Lord's promised "parousia"—His decisive second coming. This patience is not passive fatalism but an active, hopeful endurance rooted in the certainty of God's sovereign timing and His unfailing faithfulness. It recognizes that God works according to His own calendar, not ours, and that He will ultimately bring about justice and the full redemption of His people. The "precious fruit" represents the divine outcome of this patient waiting—either righteous character developed through trial, or the ingathering of souls into God's kingdom.