James 5:17
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 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. | Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. | Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedJames 5:13-20The prayer of faith
About James 5James warns the rich who kept back the hire of their labourers by fraud that their riches are corrupted and "the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth." He tells the brethren, "Be patient therefore... unto the coming of the Lord," like the husbandman waiting for rain, and points to the prophets and "the patience of Job." He closes with prayer: let the afflicted pray and the sick call the elders, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," as Elias showed, and whoever turns a sinner back "shall save a soul from death." James 5:1James 5:2James 5:4James 5:7James 5:10James 5:11James 5:13James 5:14James 5:16James 5:17James 5:20James overview
Why this verse matters here"Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain." 1 Kings 17:1 tells of Elijah saying "there shall not be dew nor rain these years." James 5:17James 5:181 Kings 17:1
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elijah | Ἠλίας | Ēlias | G2243 | ElijahἩλίας (Hēlias) Ἡλείας (Rec. Ἡλίας; L Tr., Ἡίας; T, Ἡλείας; cf. WH, App., 155, Intr., § 408), -ου (-α, Luk.1:17, WH), ὁ (Heb. אֵלִיָּה,), Elijah (3Ki.17:1-24, al.): Mat.11:14 16:14 17:3-4, 10-12 27:47, 49, Mrk.6:15 8:28 9:4-5, 11-13 15:35-36 Luk.1:17 4:25-26 9:8, 19 9:30, 33 9:54, Jhn.1:21, 25, Jas.5:17; ἐν Ἠ., in the portion concerning E., Rom.11:2.† (AS) |
| a man | ἄνθρωπος | anthrōpos | G0444 | a humanἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) ἄνθρωπος, -ου, ὁ, [in LXX chiefly for אִישׁ ,אָדָם, also for אֱנוֹשׁ, etc. ;] man: 1. generically, a human being, male or female (Lat. homo): Jhn.16:21; with art., Mat.4:4 12:35, Mrk.2:27, Jhn.2:25, Rom.7:1, al; disting. from God, Mat.19:6, Jhn.10:33, Col.3:23, al.; from animals, etc., Mat.4:19, Luk.5:10, Rev.9:4, al.; implying human frailty and imperfection, 1Co.3:4; σοφία ἀνθρώπων, 1Co.2:5; ἀνθρώπων ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.4:2; κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖν, 1Co.3:3; κατὰ ἄ. λέγειν (λαλεῖν), Rom.3:5, 1Co.9:8; κατὰ ἄ- λέγειν, Gal.3:15 (cf. 1Co.15:32, Gal.1:11); by meton., of man's nature or condition, ὁ … |
| was | ἦν | ēn | G1510 | you areεἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. … |
| of like nature | ὁμοιοπαθὴς | homoiopathēs | G3663 | likeὁμοιοπαθής (homoiopathēs) ὁμοιοπαθής, -ές (ὅμοιος, πάσχω), [in LXX: Wis.7:3, 4Ma.12:13 * ;] of like feelings or affections: with dative, Act.14:15, Jas.5:17.† (AS) |
| to us | ἡμῖν | hēmin | G3165 | meμέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| with fervent prayer | προσευχῇ | proseuchēa | G4335 | prayerπροσευχή (proseuchē) προσ-ευχή, -ῆς, ἡ (προσεύχομαι), [in LXX chiefly for תְּפִלָּה ;] 1. prayer to God: Mat.17:21 (WH, R, txt., om.) Mat.21:22, Mrk.9:29, Luk.22:45, Act.3:1 6:4 10:31, Rom.12:12, 1Co.7:5, Col.4:2; pl., Act.2:42 10:4, Rom.1:10, Eph.1:16 Col.4:12, 1Th.1:2, Phm 4 22, 1Pe.3:7 4:7, Rev.5:8 8:3-4; οἶκος προσευχῆς, Mat.21:13, Mrk.11:17, Luk.19:46" (LXX) ; π. καὶ δέησις, Eph.6:18, Php.4:6; pl., 1Ti.2:1 5:5; ἡ π. τοῦ θεοῦ, prayer to God (ef. Wis.16:28), Luk.6:12; πρὸς τ. θεόν, before ὑπέρ, Act.12:5; pl., Rom.15:30; Hebraistically (B1., § 38, 3), προσευχῇ προσεύχεσθαι, Jas.5:17 (EV, prayed fervently). … |
| he prayed [for it] | προσηύξατο | prosēuxato | G4336 | to prayπροσεύχομαι (proseuchomai) προσ-εύχομαι [in LXX chiefly for פָּלַל hith. ;] to pray (always of prayer to God, or in cl., to gods): absol., Mat.6:5-7, 9 14:23 19:13 26:36, 39 26:41, 44, Mrk.1:35 6:46 11:24-25 13:33 (WH, E, txt., om.) Mrk.14:32, 38-39 Luk.1:10 3:21 5:16 6:12 9:18, 28-29 11:1-2 18:1, 10 22:44 (WH, E, mg., om.), Act.1:24 6:6 9:11 10:9, 30 11:5 12:12 13:3 14:23 16:25 20:36 21:5 22:17 28:8, 1Co.11:4-5 14:14, 1Th.5:17, 1Ti.2:8, Jas.5:13, 18; before λέγων, Mat.26:39, 42, Luk.22:41; with dative instr., 1Co.11:5 14:14-15; μακρά, Mat.23:14 (WH, R, txt., om.), Mrk.12:40, Luk.20:47; ἐν πνεύματι (ἁγίῳ), Eph.6:18, J … |
| not | μὴ | mē | G3361 | notμή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. … |
| to rain; | βρέξαι· | brexai | G1026 | to rain downβρέχω (brechō) βρέχω, [in LXX chiefly for מטר ;] 1. to wet: Luk.7:38, 44. 2. In late Gk. writers and vernac. = ὕειν, to send rain, to rain (Kennedy, Sources, 39, 155): Mat.5:45; trop., β. πῦρ κ. θεῖον, Luk.17:29; impers., βρέχει, it rains: Jas.5:17; with ὐετός as subj., Rev.11:6. † (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| not | οὐκ | ouk | G3756 | noοὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. … |
| it did rain | ἔβρεξεν | ebrexen | G1026 | to rain downβρέχω (brechō) βρέχω, [in LXX chiefly for מטר ;] 1. to wet: Luk.7:38, 44. 2. In late Gk. writers and vernac. = ὕειν, to send rain, to rain (Kennedy, Sources, 39, 155): Mat.5:45; trop., β. πῦρ κ. θεῖον, Luk.17:29; impers., βρέχει, it rains: Jas.5:17; with ὐετός as subj., Rev.11:6. † (AS) |
| upon | ἐπὶ | epi | G1909 | upon/to/againstἐπί (epi) ἐπί (before a smooth breathing ἐπ᾽, before a rough breathing ἐφ᾽), prep. with genitive, dative, accusative (accusative most frequently in NT), with primary sense of superposition, on, upon. I. C. genitive, 1. of place, answering the question, where? … |
| earth | γῆς | gēs | G1093G | earth: planetγῆ (gē) γῆ, γῆς, ἡ, [in LXX for אֲדָמָה ,אֶרֶץ, etc. ;] 1. the earth, world: Luk.21:35, Act.1:8, Heb.11:13, Rev.3:10, al.; opposite to οὐρανός, Mat.5:18 11:25, Mrk.13:27, al. 2. land; (a) opposite to sea or water: Mrk.4:1, Luk.5:3, Jhn.6:21, al.; (b) as subject to cultivation: Mat.13:5, Mrk.4:8, Luk.13:7, Heb.6:7, al.; (with) the ground: Mat.10:29, Mrk.8:6, Luk.24:5, Jhn.8:6, al.; (d) a region, country: Luk.4:25, Rom.9:28, Jas.5:17; γῆ Ἰσραήλ, Mat.2:20, 21; Χαλδαίων, Act.7:4; ἡ Ἰουδαία γῆ, Jhn.3:22; with genitive of person(s), Act.7:3. (AS) |
| years | ἐνιαυτοὺς | eniautous | G1763 | yearἐνιαυτός (eniautos) ἐνιαυτός, -oῦ, ὁ [in LXX for שָׁנֶה ;] 1. prop., a cycle of time. 2. = ἔτος, a year: Jhn.11:49, 51 18:13, Act.11:26 18:11, Jas.5:17, Rev.9:15; pl., of sabbatical years, Gal.4:10; ποιεῖν ἐ., to spend a year, Jas.4:13;ἅπαξ τοῦ ἐ., Heb.9:7; κατ᾽ ἐ., Heb.9:25 10:1, 3; ἐ. δεκτόν, Luk.4:19 (LXX).† (AS) |
| three | τρεῖς | treis | G5140 | TavernsΤαβέρναι (Tabernai) ταβέρνη (Lat. taberna), see: Τρεῖς Ταβέρναι. Τρεῖς Ταβέρναι (see: ταβέρνη), Three Taverns (Lit. Tres Tabernae) a halting place on the Appian Way: Act.28:15 (see DB, iv, 690).† (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| months | μῆνας | mēnas | G3376 | monthμήν (mēn) μήν genitive, μηνός, ὁ, [in LXX very frequently for חֹדֶשׁ, Gen.7:11, al.; a few times for יֶרַח ;] a month: Luk.1:24, 26 1:36, 56 4:25, Act.7:20 18:11 19:8 20:3 28:11, Jas.5:17, Rev.9:5, 10 9:15 11:2 13:5 22:2; pl., of the festival of the new moon (cf. Isa.66:23), Gal.4:10.† (AS) |
| six; | ἕξ· | hex | G1803 | sixἕξ (hex) ἕξ, οἱ, αἱ, τά indecl., six: Mat.17:1, Luk.13:14, al. (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.