God’s Word Translation
James 5:17
17Elijah was human like us. Yet, when he prayed that it wouldn’t rain, no rain fell on the ground for three-and-a-half years.
James 5:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
- New International Version (NIV)Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
Context of James 5:17
15(Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. 16So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective. Elijah was human like us. Yet, when he prayed that it wouldn’t rain, no rain fell on the ground for three-and-a-half years. 18Then he prayed again. It rained, and the ground produced crops. 19My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders from the truth, someone can bring that person back.
Read all of James 5James 5:17 word by word
Ἠλίας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν καὶ προσευχῇ προσηύξατο τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι· καὶ οὐκ ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- EliasἩλίαςHēlias · ElijahG2243
- wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- subject to like passionsὁμοιοπαθήςhomoiopathēs · likeG3663
- as we areἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- he prayedπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
- earnestlyπροσευχήproseuchē · prayerG4335
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- that it mightβρέχωbrechō · to rain downG1026
- notμήmē · notG3361
- notοὐou · noG3756
- onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- by the space of threeτρεῖςtreis tria · ThreeG5140
- yearsἐνιαυτόςeniautos · yearG1763
- sixἕξhex · sixG1803
- monthsμήνmēn · monthG3376
Cross-references for James 5:17
- 1 Kings 17:1Elijah, who was from Tishbe but had settled in Gilead, said to Ahab, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord God of Israel whom I serve lives, there will be no dew or rain during the next few years unless I say so.”
- Acts 10:26But Peter made him get up. He told him, “Stand up! I’m only a man.”
- Acts 14:15and said, “Men, what are you doing? We’re human beings like you. We’re spreading the Good News to you to turn you away from these worthless gods to the living God. The living God made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them.
- Romans 11:2God has not rejected his people whom he knew long ago. Don’t you know what Elijah says in the Scripture passage when he complains to God about Israel? He says,
- Revelation 11:6These witnesses have authority to shut the sky in order to keep rain from falling during the time they speak what God has revealed. They have authority to turn water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague as often as they want.
- Luke 4:25“I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country.
Commentaries on James 5:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Elias was a man subject to like passions - This was Elijah, and a consistency between the names of the same persons as expressed in the Old and the New Testaments should be kept up. The word ̔ signifies of the same constitution, a human being just as ourselves are. See the same phrase and its explanation in Acts 14:15, and the note there. There was some reason to apprehend that because Elijah was translated, that therefore he was more than human, and if…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17Elias - The common way of writing the word “Elijah” in the New Testament, Matthew 11:14; Matthew 16:14; Matthew 17:3, etc. Was a man subject to like passions as we are - This does not mean that Elijah was passionate in the sense in which that word is now commonly used; that is, that he was excitable or irritable, or that he was the victim of the same corrupt passions and propensities to which other men are subject; but that he was like affected; that he…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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Elijah … prayed earnestly: See 1 Kings 17:1; 18:41–46. three and a half years (see 1 Kings 18:1; Luke 4:25) is an approximate time, representing half of seven, which symbolizes a period of judgment (compare Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Elias ... like passions as we--therefore it cannot be said that he was so raised above us as to afford no example applicable to common mortals like ourselves. prayed earnestly--literally, "prayed with prayer": Hebraism for prayed intensely. Compare Lu 22:15, "With desire I have desired," that is, earnestly desired. Alford is wrong in saying, Elias' prayer that it might not rain "is not even hinted at in the Old Testament history." In 1Ki 17:1 it is…Read the comment
Topics related to James 5:17
In the dictionaries
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
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