James 5:18

James 5:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
• New International Version (NIV)Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Context of James 5:18

16So you should tell each other about any wrong things that you have done. Then you will be able to pray for each other, so that God makes you well again. When a good person prays to God, God does powerful things. 17For example, God's prophet Elijah was an ordinary person, as we are. He prayed to God that it would not rain. He continued to pray and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. After that time, he prayed to God to send rain again. After that, rain came down from the sky. The seeds that were in the ground began to grow and give food for people to eat. 19My Christian friends, if anyone among you turns away from God's true message, you should help him. Try to bring him back to God. 20Understand this: if you turn a person back from their bad ways, you will save them from death. And God will forgive that person for his many sins.

James 5:18 word by word

καὶ πάλιν προσηύξατο καὶ ὁ οὐρανὸς ὑετὸν ἔδωκεν καὶ ἡ γῆ ἐβλάστησεν τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• he prayedπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• the heavenὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• rainὑετόςhuetos · rainG5205
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• brought forthβλαστάνωblastanō · to sproutG985
• herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• fruitκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590

Cross-references for James 5:18

• 1 Kings 18:18Elijah replied, ‘I have not brought trouble to Israel. But you and your father's family have done that. You have refused to obey the Lord's commands. Instead, you have worshipped the false gods of Baal.
• Jeremiah 14:22The idols of other nations are useless. None of them can cause rain to fall. And the sky itself does not make rain. No, it is you, Lord, our God, who sends rain. You alone do all these things, so we trust you to help us.’
• Acts 14:17But God has showed everybody very clearly what he is like. He has showed you that he is kind. He causes the rain to fall from the sky. He causes the plants to give you food at the right time each year. He gives you plenty of food to eat. In these ways he makes you very happy.’

Commentaries on James 5:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18And he prayed again - This second prayer is not mentioned in the history in express words, but as in 1 Kings 18:42, it is said, He cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees; that was probably the time of the second praying, namely, that rain might come, as this was the proper posture of prayer.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18And he prayed again - The allusion here seems to be to 1 Kings 18:42, 1 Kings 18:45, though it is not expressly said there that he prayed. Perhaps it might be fairly gathered from the narrative that he did pray, or at least that would be the presumption, for he put himself into a natural attitude of prayer. “He cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,” 1 Kings 18:42. In such circumstances, it is to be fairly presumed that such…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 The sin of swearing is condemned; but how many make light of common profane swearing! Such swearing expressly throws contempt upon God's name and authority. This sin brings neither gain, nor pleasure, nor reputation, but is showing enmity to God without occasion and without advantage It shows a man to be an enemy to God, however he pretends to call himself by his name, or sometimes joins in acts of worship. But the Lord will not hold him…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. prayed ... and--that is, "and so." Mark the connection between the prayer and its accomplishment. her fruit--her usual and due fruit, heretofore withheld on account of sin. Three and a half years is the time also that the two witnesses prophesy who "have power to shut and open heaven that it rain not."Read the comment

Topics related to James 5:18

• Blessing
• Elijah
• Intercession
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena
• Prayer
• Rain

In the dictionaries

• Convert
• Elijah
• Grudge
• Howl
• Nourish
• Pitiful
• Prayer
• Tender
• Wanton
• Intercession

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