Section 5:7–12

Suffering believers should be patient and persevere in their faith

In this section, James explained how Christian people should respond when ungodly rich people oppress them. Christians should not resist but should be patient, waiting for the Lord to come and bring justice (5:7–8). The theme of patience in the midst of suffering is related to the opening theme of the letter (1:2–4). As well as being patient in suffering, Christians should be patient with one another (5:9). They should follow the example of the prophets of God (5:10–11). They should avoid swearing with oaths (5:12).

Commentators disagree over which section the paragraph 5:12 belongs to. Many (Huther, page 215, 217; Mitton, page 191; Davids (1982); Moo (1985), page 173.) of them say that it does not belong to this section (5:7–12) more than the next one (5:13–18), and prefer to set it off as separate from both. A few (Laws, page 219; Martin, page 199; see also Ropes, page 300, for a similar view.) of them put it with 5:13–18 because it shares the same topic of referring to God when speaking. A few others (Alford, page 325; Adamson (1976), page 194; Hiebert, page 308.) (see also the New International Version (2011 Revision)) put it with 5:7–11, because it is similar to 5:9. On the whole it seems best to put 5:12 with this section, but to make it a separate paragraph.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Believers should be patient when they suffer
-or-
Be patient; the Lord is coming (UBS Handbook)

Paragraph 5:7–9

In this paragraph, James recommended that Christians be patient even though they were suffering. He supported this by illustrating patience from ordinary life and then applying the illustration to spiritual life.

5:7a

Be patient: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Be patient means “be long-suffering.” James was encouraging believers to remain quiet, calm, and hopeful when they were persecuted. They could be certain that God would treat them correctly and fairly in the end.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Endure suffering without complaint
-or-
Wait for God to make things right

Many languages have an idiom for this word.

then: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as then introduces some strong advice to be patient. God is going to judge the rich for their unloving actions (5:1–6), and therefore, you should be patient until he does it (5:7–12).

Some other ways to translate this word are:

therefore (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
So (NET Bible)
-or-
For this reason

brothers: Notice that the Berean Standard Bible places the word brothers at the end of 5:7a. This follows the Greek word order. In some languages, it is more natural to place this word at a different place in the verse. For example:

Brothers, be patient
-or-
Therefore, brothers, be patient
-or-
Therefore be patient until the coming of the Lord, brothers.

5:7b

until the Lord’s coming: The phrase the Lord’s coming refers to the time when the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to the world in power and glory to judge human beings. (See, for example, Matthew 24:3, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 4:15, 2 Peter 1:16.)

In some languages it may be more natural to translate the word coming with a verb. For example:

until the Lord comes (Revised English Bible)
-or-
until the Lord returns (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
until the Lord comes again (New Century Version)
-or-
for the Lord Jesus to come back to earth

Lord’s: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord’s means someone who has authority over someone or something. Here it refers to Jesus, who is God and has supreme authority.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Master
-or-
Owner
-or-
our supreme Chief/Leader
-or-
Lord Jesus

5:7c

See: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as See here means “Consider” or “Think about.” It introduces an illustration that supports his appeal for them to be patient. It does not mean to do something with one’s eyes.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Think of how (NET Bible)
-or-
Consider

This same word occurs in 3:4a.

the farmer: The phrase the farmer refers to any ordinary farmer. It is someone who used land to grow food. In some languages it may be natural to translate this in the plural. For example:

farmers (Good News Translation)

5:7d

awaits the precious fruit of the soil: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as precious fruit refers to all the fruits, vegetables, or grain that grow in the land/field.

The harvest is precious to the farmer because at that time of year he has little or no food left from the previous year. He needs a good/bountiful harvest to have enough food to last during the coming year. It is also valuable when there is an extra portion of the harvest that the farmer can sell or trade for other things that his family needs.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

wait for their land to produce precious crops (Good News Translation)
-or-
They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
waits for a good/bountiful harvest

soil: The word soil refers to the field or plot of land in which the farmer has planted his crops. Some other ways to translate this are:

field
-or-
plot of ground
-or-
farm

In some languages, it is not necessary to translate this word. It is understood that the harvest comes from the land.

5:7e

how patient he is: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as patient is the same word as in 5:7a. In this context, the farmer waits quietly and does not get angry, even though he may be suffering from hunger and does not know if the rain will come at the right time.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

He patiently waits
-or-
He endures without complaint

5:7f

for the fall and spring rains: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for the fall and spring rains is literally “until it receives the early and the late rain” (as in the Revised Standard Version). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

until the early and late rains have fallen (Revised English Bible)
-or-
for the first and last rains to fall
-or-
for the rains to fall to make his crops grow

In Israel, there are two periods when rain is very important for getting a good harvest. The rains during these times are called the “early rain” and the “late rain.” The “early rain” is expected in October, but it is sometimes very delayed. This period of rain is necessary so that the ground may become soft enough for planting seed, and so that the seeds then sprout. The “late rain” refers to showers in April and early May that help to ripen the crops. If these rains do not come, the harvest will be small.

General Comment on 5:7c–f

In some languages, it may be more natural to first talk about rains before mentioning the crop. For example:

cThink of farmers who wait epatiently ffor the spring and summer rains dto make their valuable crops grow. (Contemporary English Version)

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