James 5:11

James 5:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
• New International Version (NIV)As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

Context of James 5:11

9Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door. 10As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives]. You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. 12But above all, my fellow believers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be [a truthful] yes, and your no be [a truthful] no, so that you may not fall under judgment. 13Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God].

James 5:11 word by word

ἰδοὺ μακαρίζομεν τοὺς ὑπομείναντας· τὴν ὑπομονὴν Ἰὼβ ἠκούσατε καὶ τὸ τέλος κυρίου εἴδετε, ὅτι πολύσπλαγχνός ἐστιν ὁ κύριος καὶ οἰκτίρμων.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• we countμακαρίζωmakarizō · to blessG3106
• themὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• which endureὑπομένωhupomenō · to remain/endureG5278
• Ye have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• of the patienceὑπομονήhupomonē · perseveranceG5281
• of JobἸώβIōb · JobG2492
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• the endτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• very pitifulπολύσπλαγχνοςpolusplagchnos · very compassionateG4184
• of tender mercyοἰκτίρμωνoiktirmōn · compassionateG3629

Cross-references for James 5:11

• James 1:12Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
• Psalms 94:12Blessed [with wisdom and prosperity] is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, And whom You teach from Your law,
• Matthew 5:10“Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by everyone because of [your association with] My name, but it is the one who has patiently persevered and endured to the end who will be saved.
• Hebrews 3:6but Christ is faithful as a Son over His [Father’s] house. And we are His house if we hold fast our confidence and sense of triumph in our hope [in Christ].
• Hebrews 10:39But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.
• Job 1:21He said, “Naked (without possessions) I came [into this world] from my mother’s womb, And naked I will return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
• Job 2:10But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.
• Job 13:15Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my ways to His face.
• Job 23:10But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].
• Job 42:10The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
• Psalms 37:37Mark the blameless man [who is spiritually complete], and behold the upright [who walks in moral integrity]; There is a [good] future for the man of peace [because a life of honor blesses one’s descendants].
• Ecclesiastes 7:8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit (pride).
• 1 Peter 1:6In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
• 2 Peter 2:9then [in light of the fact that all this is true, be sure that] the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
• Exodus 34:6Then the Lord passed by in front of him, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (faithfulness);

Commentaries on James 5:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11We count them happy which endure - According to that saying of our blessed Lord, Blessed are ye when men shall persecute and revile you - for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11, Matthew 5:12, etc. Ye have heard of the patience of Job - Stripped of all his worldly possessions, deprived at a stroke of all his children, tortured in body with sore disease, tempted by the devil, harassed by his wife, and calumniated by his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Behold, we count them happy which endure - The word rendered “we count them happy” ( ́ makarizomenoccurs only here and in Luke 1:48, where it is rendered “shall call me blessed.” The word ́ makarios(blessed, or happy,) however, occurs often. See Matthew 5:3-11; Matthew 11:6; Matthew 13:6, et soepe. The sense here is, we speak of their patience with commendation. They have done what they ought to do, and their name is honored and blessed. Ye have heard of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-11Verses 7-11 Consider him that waits for a crop of corn; and will not you wait for a crown of glory? If you should be called to wait longer than the husbandman, is not there something more worth waiting for? In every sense the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and all his people's losses, hardships, and sufferings, would be repaid. Men count time long, because they measure it by their own lives; but all time is as nothing to God; it is as a moment. To…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11Job showed great endurance by staying faithful to God during his hardships (Job 1:20–21; 2:9–10). He was faithful even though he complained (Job 3:1–26; 12:1–3; 16:1–3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. count them happy--(Mt 5:10). which endure--The oldest authorities read, "which have endured," which suits the sense better than English Version: "Those who in past days, like the prophets and Job, have endured trials." Such, not those who "have lived in pleasure and been wanton on the earth" (Jas 5:5), are "happy." patience--rather, "endurance," answering to "endure": the Greek words similarly corresponding. Distinct from the Greek word for "patience"…Read the comment

Topics related to James 5:11

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Commandments
• Example
• God Continued...
• Job
• Meekness
• Patience
• Perseverance
• Pity
• Resignation

In the dictionaries

• Job
• Convert
• Grudge
• Howl
• Nourish
• Pitiful
• Tender
• Wanton
• Affliction
• Endure

Commentaries on James 5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings