James 5:19

James 5:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
• New International Version (NIV)My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,
• English Standard Version (ESV)My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,

Context of James 5:19

17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God], 20let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored].

James 5:19 word by word

Ἀδελφοί μου, ἐάν τις ἐν ὑμῖν πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ ἐπιστρέψῃ τις αὐτόν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• ofἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• do errπλανάωplanaō · to lead astrayG4105
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the truthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• convertἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for James 5:19

• Psalms 119:21You rebuke the presumptuous and arrogant, the cursed ones, Who wander from Your commandments.
• Proverbs 19:27Cease listening, my son, to instruction and discipline And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
• Isaiah 3:12O My people! Children are their oppressors, And women rule over them. O My people! Your leaders lead you astray And confuse (destroy, swallow up) the direction of your paths.
• 1 Timothy 6:10For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.
• 2 Timothy 2:18who have deviated from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they undermine the faith of some.
• 2 Peter 3:17Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith],
• Jude 1:11Woe to them! For they have gone the [defiant] way of Cain, and for profit they have run headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of [mutinous] Korah.
• James 5:20let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored].
• Ezekiel 34:4You have not strengthened those who are weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bandaged the crippled, you have not brought back those gone astray, you have not looked for the lost; but you have ruled them with force and violence.
• Matthew 18:15“If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.
• Luke 22:32but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].”
• Galatians 6:1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.
• Hebrews 12:12So then, strengthen hands that are weak and knees that tremble.
• Jude 1:22And have mercy on some, who are doubting;

Commentaries on James 5:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Err from the truth - Stray away from the Gospel of Christ; and one convert him - reclaim him from his error, and bring him back to the fold of Christ.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth - Either doctrinally and speculatively, by embracing error; or practically, by falling into sinful practices. Either of these may be called “erring from the truth,” because they are contrary to what the truth teaches and requires. What is here said does not appear to have any connection with what precedes, but the apostle seems to have supposed that such a case might occur; and, in the conclusion of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-20Verses 19-20 It is no mark of a wise or holy man, to boast of being free from error, or to refuse to acknowledge an error. And there is some doctrinal mistake at the bottom of every practical mistake. There is no one habitually bad, but upon some bad principle. This is conversion; to turn a sinner from the error of his ways, not merely from one party to another, or from one notion and way of thinking to another. There is no way effectually and finally to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20These verses conclude the letter as an inclusio. This means they balance with and relate to the beginning of the letter. The final section connects back to James's opening words about endurance in 1:2–4.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. The blessing of reclaiming an erring sinner by the mutual consent and intercessory prayer just recommended. do err--more literally, "be led astray." the truth--the Gospel doctrine and precepts. one--literally, "any"; as "any" before. Everyone ought to seek the salvation of everyone [Bengel].Read the comment

Topics related to James 5:19

• Intercession
• Regeneration
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Convert
• Grudge
• Howl
• Nourish
• Pitiful
• Tender
• Wanton
• Conversion
• Err; Error

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