James 5:20

James 5:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
• New International Version (NIV)remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
• English Standard Version (ESV)let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
• New King James Version (NKJV)let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Context of James 5:20

18Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. 19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God], let 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 5:20 word by word

γινωσκέτω ὅτι ὁ ἐπιστρέψας ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐκ πλάνης ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ, σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου καὶ καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Let him knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he which convertethἐπιστρέφωepistrephō · to turnG1994
• the sinnerἁμαρτωλόςhamartōlos · sinfulG268
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the errorπλάνηplanē · errorG4106
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• saveσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• a soulψυχήpsuchē · soulG5590
• deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• shall hideκαλύπτωkaluptō · to coverG2572
• a multitudeπλῆθοςplēthos · multitudeG4128
• of sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266

Cross-references for James 5:20

• James 5:19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God],
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].
• Romans 11:14in the hope of somehow making my fellow countrymen jealous [by stirring them up so that they will seek the truth] and perhaps save some of them.
• 1 Corinthians 9:22To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].
• 1 Timothy 4:16Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
• Philemon 1:19I, Paul, write this with my own hand, I will repay it in full (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).
• James 1:15Then when the illicit desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death.
• Proverbs 10:2Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.
• Proverbs 11:4Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment, But righteousness rescues from death.
• John 5:24“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.
• Revelation 20:6Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) and holy is the person who takes part in the first resurrection; over these the second death [which is eternal separation from God, the lake of fire] has no power or authority, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with Him a thousand years.
• Psalms 32:1Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, favored by God] is he whose transgression is forgiven, And whose sin is covered.
• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

Commentaries on James 5:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Let him know - Let him duly consider, for his encouragement, that he who is the instrument of converting a sinner shall save a soul from eternal death, and a body from ruin, and shall hide a multitude of sins; for in being the means of his conversion we bring him back to God, who, in his infinite mercy, hides or blots out the numerous sins which he had committed during the time of his backsliding. It is not the man's sins who is the means of his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Let him know - Let him who converts the other know for his encouragement. That he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way - Any sinner; anyone who has done wrong. This is a general principle, applicable to this case and to all others of the same kind. It is a universal truth that he who turns a sinner from a wicked path does a work which is acceptable to God, and which will in some way receive tokens of his approbation. Compare Deuteronomy…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. 20When James talks about saving "a sinner from death," he means more than just physical death. He is referring to eternal death, which is the punishment for those who turn away from the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ (see 1:12, 15; compare Hebrews 6:4–8). James teaches that if someone has wandered from the truth, other believers should try to bring that person back to the right path. If the person who has sinned listens and turns back to God…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Let him--the converted. know--for his comfort, and the encouragement of others to do likewise. shall save--future. The salvation of the one so converted shall be manifested hereafter. shall hide a multitude of sins--not his own, but the sins of the converted. The Greek verb in the middle voice requires this. Pr 10:12 refers to charity "covering" the sins of others before men; James to one's effecting by the conversion of another that that other's sins…Read the comment

Topics related to James 5:20

• Agency
• Intercession
• Regeneration
• Sin
• Wicked (People)
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

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

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