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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Context of James 5:20

18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

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 one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,
• Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
• Romans 11:14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
• 1 Corinthians 9:22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
• 1 Timothy 4:16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
• Philemon 1:19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
• James 1:15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
• Proverbs 10:2Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
• Proverbs 11:4Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
• John 5:24“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
• Revelation 20:6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
• Psalms 32:1Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
• Proverbs 10:12Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

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