James 5:7

James 5:7-9 . Be patient therefore, brethren — He now addresses the pious, oppressed, and persecuted disciples of Christ: as if he had said, Since the Lord will soon come to punish them, and relieve you, patiently bear the injuries which rich men offer you, and quietly wait till he come. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit — Which will recompense his labour and patience; till he receive the early, or the former rain — Immediately after sowing; and the latter — Before harvest. In Judea the rains usually come in a regular manner; the early rain about the beginning of November, after the seed is sown, and the latter in the middle or toward the end of April, while the ears are filling. These rains were promised to the Israelites, Deuteronomy 11:14 , where see the note, and on Hosea 6:3 . Be ye also patient — Like the husbandman; stablish — Στηριξατε , strengthen, or confirm; your hearts — In faith and patience, considering that your sufferings will not be long; the coming of the Lord — To destroy your persecutors; draweth nigh — And so does his coming to rescue his people from the troubles of this life by death, and to judge the world in righteousness at the last day.

Grudge, or, groan, not — As στεναζετε signifies; one against another — Groaning is caused by oppression; and when it is merely the natural expression of affliction, it is perfectly consistent with genuine piety, and moves God to pity the afflicted person, Jdg 2:18 : but when it is the effect of impatience, or when it implies a desire of revenge, it becomes criminal, and is the kind of groaning which the apostle forbids. Some read the clause, Murmur not one against another: that is, have patience also with each other; lest ye be condemned — Lest you all suffer for it, and perish in the common calamity; behold the Judge — Christ; standeth before the door — Hearing every word, marking every thought, and ready to execute those judgments.

Be patient (μακροθυμήσατε) From μακρός, long, and θυμός, soul or spirit, but with the sense of strong passion, stronger even than ὀργή, anger, as is maintained by Schmidt ("Synonymik"), who describes θυμός as a tumultuous welling up of the whole spirit; a mighty emotion which seizes and moves the whole inner man. Hence the restraint implied in μακροθυμία is most correctly expressed by long-suffering, which is its usual rendering in the New Testament. It is a patient holding out under trial; a long-protracted restraint of the soul from yielding to passion, especially the passion of anger. In the New Testament the word and its cognates are sometimes rendered by patient or patience, which conceals the distinction from ὑπομονή, uniformly rendered patience, and signifying persistent endurance, whether in action or suffering. As Trench observes, "ὑπομονή is perseverantia and patientia both in one." Thus Bishop Ellicott: "The brave patience with which the Christian contends against the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him in his conflict with the inward and outward world." Ὑπομονή. contains an element of manliness. Thus Plato joins it with the adverb ἀνδρικῶς, in a manly way, and contrasts it with ἀνάνδρως, unmanly, cowardly. Μακροθυμία is exercised toward persons; ὑπομονή, toward things.

The former is ascribed to God as an attribute (Luke 18:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Peter 3:15), the latter never; for the God of patience (Romans 15:5) is the God who imparts patience to his children. "There can be no resistance to God nor burden upon him, the Almighty, from things. Therefore ὑπομονή cannot find place in him" (Trench). Rev. retains A. V., be patient. The thought links itself naturally with that in the preceding verse: the righteous doth not resist. Therefore Since things are so. Referring to the condition of things described in the previous passage. Brethren In contrast with the rich just addressed. Waiteth (ἐκδέχεται) With expectation. Compare Matthew 13:30; Mark 4:27. The early and latter rain (ὑετὸν πρώιμον καὶ ὄψιμον) Both adjectives only here in New Testament. Ὑετὸν, rain, is rejected by all the best texts. The early rain fell in October, November, and December, and extended into January and February. These rains do not come suddenly, but by degrees, so that the farmer can sow his wheat or barley. The rains are mostly from the west or southwest (Luke 12:54), continuing two or three days at a time, and falling mostly in the night. Then the wind shifts to the north or east, and fine weather ensues (Proverbs 25:23). The latter rains, which are much lighter, fall in March and April. Rain in harvest was regarded as a miracle (1 Samuel 12:16-18). See Introduction, on James' local allusions.

{2} Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. {3} Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (2) He applies that to the poor, which he spoke against the rich, warning them to wait for the Lord's coming patiently, who will avenge the injuries which the rich men do to them. (3) The taking away of an objection: Although his coming seems to linger, yet at the least we must follow the farmer, we who do patiently wait for the times that are fitting for the fruits of the earth. And again, God will not postpone the least bit of the time that he has appointed.

Jam 5:7 . Οὖν , therefore ) Whatever the wicked may do in the meantime.— παρουσίας , the coming ) Jam 5:8-9 ; Jam 5:12 .— τοῦ Κυρίου , of the Lord ) Jesus Christ.— ἐκδέχεται , waiteth for ) obtains by waiting, at the harvest. יקצר , shall reap, Septuagint, ἐκδέξεται , Hosea 8:7 .— τίμιον , precious) the reward of labour and patience.— ἕως , until) To be taken with—and hath long patience. He does not cease before (he receives it).— ἂν ) See App. Crit.[69]— λάβῃ ) he receive , from heaven.— πρώϊμον ) the early rain, after sowing.— ὄψιμον ) the latter rain, when harvest is now near. [69] B supports ἂν (judging from the silence of collators). A, Theb. and later Syr omit ἄν .—E.

7. Be patient therefore—as judgment is so near (Jas 5:1, 3), ye may well afford to be "patient" after the example of the unresisting Just one (Jas 5:6). brethren—contrasted with the "rich" oppressors, Jas 5:1-6. unto the coming of the Lord—Christ, when the trial of your patience shall cease. husbandman waiteth for—that is, patiently bears toils and delays through hope of the harvest at last. Its "preciousness" (compare Ps 126:6, "precious seed") will more than compensate for all the past. Compare the same image, Ga 6:3, 9. hath long patience for it—"over it," in respect to it. until he receive—"until it receive" [Alford]. Even if English Version be retained, the receiving of the early and latter rains is not to be understood as the object of his hope, but the harvest for which those rains are the necessary preliminary. The early rain fell at sowing time, about November or December; the latter rain, about March or April, to mature the grain for harvest. The latter rain that shall precede the coming spiritual harvest, will probably be another Pentecost-like effusion of the Holy Ghost.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord; viz. to judgment, and that either particular, to avenge the quarrels of innocent sufferers upon their tyrannical persecutors; or rather, to the general judgment, in which a full retribution is to be made both to the just and unjust, Romans 2:5,6 , &c. To which judgment the Scripture calls all to look, especially those that are under oppression and persecution, 2 Thessalonians 1:6,7 , &c. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth; which cost him hard labour, and by which he receives great benefit, the sustentation of his life. Until he receive the early and latter rain; the rain soon after the sowing, which caused the corn to spring up; and that before the harvest, which plumped it, and made it fit for reaping, Deu 11:14 Jeremiah 5:24 Hosea 6:3 Joel 2:23 .

Verses 7-20. - CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS (1) TO PATIENCE (vers. 7-11); (2) AGAINST SWEARING (ver. 12); (3) TO PRACTICAL CONDUCT IN HEALTH AND IN SICKNESS (ver. 13, etc.). Verses 7-11. - Exhortation to patience. Verse 7. - Be patient therefore . In his concluding remarks St. James reverts to the point from which he started (comp. James 1:3, 4 ). Μακροθυμεῖν is here given a wider meaning than that which generally attaches to it. As was pointed out in the notes on James 1:3, it ordinarily refers to patience in respect of persons. Here, however, it certainly includes endurance in respect of things, so that the husbandman is said μακροθυμεῖν where we should rather have expected ὑπομενεῖν (cf. Lightfoot on Colossians 1:11 ). Unto the coming of the Lord ( ἕως τῆς παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου ); Vulgate, usque ad adventure Domiai. The word παρουσία ηαδ been used by our Lord himself of his return to judge, in Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39 . It is also found in St. Paul's writings, only, however (in this sense), in Thessalonians ( 1 Thessalonians 2:19 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 8 ) and 1 Corinthians 15:23 . St. Peter uses it in his Second Epistle (2 Peter 1:16; 3:4, 12), as does St. John ( 1 John 2:28 ). Behold, the husbandman , etc. Consideration , exciting to patience , drawn from an example before the eyes of all. Until he receive ; better, taking γή as the subject of the verb, until it receive.

The early and the latter rain . Υετόν of the Received Text has the authority of A, K, L, and the Syriac Versions; א (with which agree the Coptic and Old Latin, if), καρπόν . B and the Vulgate omit the substantive altogether. In this they are followed by most critical editors (e.g. Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Westcott and Hort), but not by the Revisers; and as the expression, πρώιμον καὶ ὄψιμον , without the substantive, is never found in the LXX., it is safer to follow A and the Syriac in retaining ὑετόν here. (For " the early and the latter rain," comp. Deuteronomy 11:14 ; Jeremiah 5:24 ; Joel 2:23 ; Zechariah 10:1 .) "The first showers of autumn which revived the parched and thirsty soil and prepared it for the seed; and the later showers of spring which continued to refresh and forward both the ripening crops and the vernal products of the field" (Robinson, quoted in 'Dictionary of the Bible,' 2:994). James 5:7

(7) Be patient. —The third, and last, part of the Letter commences here with these exhortations towards endurance. Therefore—i.e., because of this your deep and abiding misery, be sure God’s help is nigh:— “The darkest hour is on the verge of day.” “Out of your stony griefs” build, like Jacob of old, a house of God (Genesis 28:19), whereunto you may run and find refuge. If there be wrath laid up in store for the oppressor, great is the coming peace of the oppressed. The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it . . . Be ye also patient.—It becomes you, the just, to bear with the unjust till God work the end of your trial, and prove them at the same time. Again and again, through several verses (James 5:7-11), St. James repeats his advice, emphasising it with various reasons: the nearness of deliverance; the Judge standing at the gate; the example of the prophets—persecuted by men, and therefore blessed of God; the hope of those who endure—Job for example: the very faithfulness and tender mercy of the Lord, bringing all things to a perfect end. Few ideas are more startling (is a reflection of Dr. Evans) than those produced by the strange combinations in Scripture. Matters are joined there which we mostly put asunder here, speaking of them, at least, as apart. And thus we read in the Revelation (James 1:9) of the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.

But all Christians are citizens of a patient kingdom; the King thereof is more patient, as He hath greater need of patience than His subjects, and He is patient, because He is strong. Impatience is a sign of weakness. God can afford to wait, for His time is eternity. And we can be strong in His strength, and wait also in patience. In so far as St. James’s hearers were earthly minded, they could not learn this lesson; so often with ourselves we would have our wrong righted instantly, and to the full. Only one view of life can alter this, viz., the lifting of our gaze from earth to heaven, remembering that “the time is short” (1Corinthians 7:29). The early and latter rain.—It is, perhaps, just as well to recollect there were only two seasons of rainfall in the Holy Land, and, if long delayed, famine was a certain result. With the change of the Israelites from pastoral life to agricultural, the malignity of these dearths was lessened; but they were and are still severe. The Bible mentions many such—e.g., in the days of Abraham (Genesis 12:10), Isaac (Genesis 26:1), Jacob (Genesis 42:2), Ruth (James 1:1), Samuel (2Samuel 21:1), Ahab (1Kings 18:2). The “early rain” fell during the autumn sowing—in October, November, and December; “the latter” in March and April. By many versions the word “rain” is omitted, but, of course, was always intended.