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 confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. 17Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months! Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest. 19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, 20he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of 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 disaster on Israel. But you and your father’s dynasty have, by abandoning the Lord’s commandments and following the Baals.
• Jeremiah 14:22Do any of the worthless idols of the nations cause rain to fall? Do the skies themselves send showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God, who does this? So we put our hopes in you because you alone do all this.”
• Acts 14:17yet he did not leave himself without a witness by doing good, by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and your hearts with joy.”

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