Greek Word Reference — James 5:13
To endure or undergo hardship, like the apostle Paul did, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:9 and 4:5. This word is about suffering evil or affliction, and it's used to describe the troubles that people face in life. The Bible encourages believers to endure these hardships.
Definition: κακοπαθέω, -ῶ [in LXX: Jon.4.10 (עָמָל)* ;] to suffer evil, endure Affliction: 2Ti.2:9 4:5, Jas.5:13.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 4 NT verses. KJV: be afflicted, endure afflictions (hardness), suffer trouble See also: 2 Timothy 2:3; 2 Timothy 4:5; James 5:13.
This pronoun refers to a person or thing in a general sense, as seen in Luke 9:49 and John 11:1. It can mean someone, anyone, or anything. This term is often used to describe an unspecified individual or object.
Definition: τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. __I. As subst., __1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. __2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. __II. II. As adj., __1. a certain: Mat.18:12, Luk.1:5 8:27, Act.3:2, al.; with proper names, Mrk.15:21, Luk.23:26, al.; with genitive partit., Luk.7:19, al. __2. some: Mrk.16:[8], Jhn.5:14, Act.17:21 24:24, Heb.11:40, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 490 NT verses. KJV: a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 12:17; 1 Peter 2:19.
This word is a preposition that means in, on, or among something. It's used in many places, like Matthew 7:3 and Luke 7:37, to describe a location or relationship. It can also mean by, with, or during.
Definition: ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). __I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; after verbs of motion, instead of εἰς (constructio praegnans, a usage extended in late Gk. beyond the limits observed in cl.; cf. Bl., §41, 1; M, Th., 12), ἀποστέλλω . . . ἐν, Mat.10:16. δέδωκεν ἐν τ. χειρί (cf. τιθέναι ἐν χερσί, Hom., Il., i, 441, al.), Jhn.3:35; id. after verbs of coming and going (not in cl.), εἰσῆλθε, Luk.9:46; ἐξῆλθεν, Luk.7:17. __II. Of state, condition, form, occupation, etc.: ἐν ζωῇ, Rom.5:10; ἐν τ. θανάτῳ, 1Jn.3:14; ἐν πειρασμοῖς, 1Pe.1:6; ἐν εἰρήνῃ, Mrk.5:25; ἐν δόξῃ, Php.4:19; ἐν πραΰτητι, Jas.3:13; ἐν μυστηρίῳ, 1Co.2:7; ἐν τ. διδαχῇ, Mrk.4:2; of a part as contained in a whole, ἐν τ. ἀμπέλῳ, Jhn.15:4; ἐν ἑνὶ σώματι, Rom.12:4; of accompanying objects or persons (simple dative in cl.), with, ἐν αἵματι, Heb.9:25; ἐν δέκα χιλιάσιν, Luk.14:31 (cf. Ju 14, Act.7:14); similarly (cl.), of clothing, armour, arms, ἐν στολαῖς, Mrk.12:38; ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ, Jas.2:2; ἐν μαξαίρῃ, Luk.22:49; ἐν ῥάβδῳ, 1Co.4:21 (cf. ἐν τόξοις, Xen., Mem., 3, 9, 2); of manner (cl.), ἐν τάχει (= ταχέως), Luk.18:8 (cf. Bl., §41, 1); of spiritual influence, ἐν πνεύματι, Rom.8:9; ἐν π. ἀκαθάρτῳ, Mrk.1:23; of the mystical relation of the Christian life and the believer himself, to God and Christ (cf. ICC, Ro., 160f.; Mayor on Ju 1; M, Pr., 103): ἐν Χριστῷ, Rom.3:24, 6:11, 1Co.3:1, 4:10, 2Co.12:2, Gal.2:17, Eph.6:21, Col.4:7, 1Th.4:16, al. __III. Of the agent, instrument or means (an extension of cl. ἐν of instr.—see LS, see word Ill—corresponding to similar use of Heb. בְּ), by, with: ἐν ὑμῖν κρίνεται ὁ κόσμος (= cl. παρά, C. dative), 1Co.6:2; ἐν τ. ἄρχοντι τ. δαιμονίων, Mat.9:34; ἐν αἵματι, Heb.9:22; ἐν ὕδατι, Mat.3:11, al.; ἐν μαχαίρᾳ ἀποκτενεῖ (cf. the absol. ἐν μ., ἐν ῥάβδῳ, supr., II, which some would classify here), Rev.13:10 (cf. 6:8). Allied to this usage and distinctly Semitic are the following: ἠγόρασας . . . ἐν τ. αἵματι σου (cf. BDB, see word בְּ, III, 3), Rev.5:9; ὁμολογεῖν ἐν (= Aram. אודי בּ; cf. McNeile on Mt, I.with; M, Pr., 104), Mat.10:32, Luk.12:8; ὀμνύναι ἐν (= cl. accusative, so Jas.5:12), Mat.5:34, al.; also at the rate of, amounting to, Mrk.4:8 (WH; vv. ll., εἰς, ἒν), Act.7:14 (LXX). __IV. Of time, __(a) in or during a period: ἐν τ. ἡμέρᾳ (νυκτί), Jhn.11:9, al.; ἐν σαββάτῳ, Mat.12:2, al.; ἐν τῷ μεταξύ, meanwhile, Jhn.4:31; __(b) at the time of an event: ἐν τ. παρουσίᾳ, 1Co.15:23; ἐν τ. ἀναστάσει, Mat.22:28; __(with) with art. inf., __(α) present (so sometimes in cl., but not as in NT = ἕως; V. M, Pr., 215), while: Mat.13:4, Mrk.6:48, Gal.4:18, al.; __(β) aor., when, after: Luk.9:36, al.; __(d) within (cl.): Mat.27:40, __V. In composition: (1) meaning: (a) with adjectives, it signifies usually the possession of a quality, as ἐνάλιος, ἐν́δοξος; (b) with verbs, continuance in (before ἐν) or motion into (before εἰς), as ἐμμένω, ἐμβαίνω. (ii) Assimilation: ἐν becomes ἐμ- before β, μ, π, φ, ψ; ἐγ- before γ, κ, ξ, χ; ἐλ- before λ. But in the older MSS of NT, followed by modern editions, assimilation is sometimes neglected, as in ἐνγράφω, ἐγκαινίζω, etc. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2120 NT verses. KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Corinthians 15:17; 1 Peter 1:2.
This Greek word means 'you' and is used to address someone directly, like in John 1:30 and Matthew 26:64. It's a way to emphasize or contrast the person being spoken to. The KJV Bible translates it as 'thou'.
Definition: σύ, pron. of 2nd of person(s), thou, you, genitive, σοῦ, dative, σοί, accusative, σέ, pl., ὑμεῖς, -ῶν, -ῖν, -ᾶς (enclitic in oblique cases sing., except after prep. (BL, §48, 3), though πρὸς σέ occurs in Mat.25:39). Nom. for emphasis or contrast: Jhn.1:30, 4:10, 5:33, 39, 44, Act.4:7, Eph.5:32; so also perhaps σὺ εἶπας, Mat.26:64, al. (M, Pr., 86); before voc., Mat.2:6, Luk.1:76, Jhn.17:5, al.; sometimes without emphasis (M, Pr., 85f.), as also in cl., but esp. as rendering of Heb. phrase, e.g. υἱός μου εἶ σύ (בְּנִי־אַתָּה, Psa.2:7), Act.13:33. The genitive (σοῦ, ὑμῶν) is sometimes placed bef. the noun: Luk.7:48, 12:30, al.; so also the enclitic σοῦ, Mat.9:6; on τί ἐμοὶ κ. σοί, see: ἐγώ. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 2041 NT verses. KJV: thou See also: 1 Corinthians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Peter 1:2.
To pray to God, as Jesus did in Matthew 6:5-7 and Luke 1:10, or to worship Him
Definition: 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, Ju 20; προσευχῇ π. (a Hebraism, see: προσευχή), Jas.5:17; with accusative of thing(s), Luk.18:11, Rom.8:26; before ἐπί, with accusative of person(s), Jas.5:14; with dative of person(s), Mat.6:6, 1Co.11:13; before περί, with genitive, Act.8:15, Col.1:3 4:3, 1Th.5:25, 2Th.1:11 3:1, Heb.13:18; ὑπέρ, Mat.5:44 Luk.6:28, Col.1:9, Jas.5:16; before ἵνα, Mat.24:20, Mrk.13:18 14:35, Luk.22:46, 1Co.14:13; τοῦτο ἵνα, Php.1:9; with inf., Luk.22:46; before τοῦ, with inf. (Bl., § 71, 3), Jas.5:17.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 82 NT verses. KJV: pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer See also: 1 Corinthians 11:4; Luke 6:28; Hebrews 13:18.
This Greek word means to be cheerful, as when Paul told the ship's crew to be of good cheer during a storm in Acts 27:22. It's about having a positive attitude. Jesus used it to comfort his disciples.
Definition: εὐθυμέω, -ῶ (ὔθυμος), [in Sm.: Psa.32:11, Pro.15:15 * ;] __1. trans., to make cheerful (Æsch.). __2. Intrans. (Eur., Plut.; so mid. in Xen., Plat.), to be of good cheer: Act.27:22, 25, Jas.5:13.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 3 NT verses. KJV: be of good cheer (merry) See also: Acts 27:22; Acts 27:25; James 5:13.
This pronoun refers to a person or thing in a general sense, as seen in Luke 9:49 and John 11:1. It can mean someone, anyone, or anything. This term is often used to describe an unspecified individual or object.
Definition: τις, neut., τι, genitive, τινός, enclitic indefinite pron., related to interrog. τίς as πού, πως, ποτέ to ποῦ, πῶς, πότε. __I. As subst., __1. one, a certain one: Luk.9:49, Jhn.11:1, Act.5:25, al.; pl., τίνες, certain, some: Luk.13:1, Act.15:1, Rom.3:8, al. __2. someone, anyone, something, anything: Mat.12:29, Mrk.9:30, Luk.8:46, Jhn.2:25, Act.17:25, Rom.5:7, al.; = indef., one (French on), Mrk.8:4, Jhn.2:25, Rom.8:24, al.; pl., τινες, some, Mrk.14:4, al. __II. II. As adj., __1. a certain: Mat.18:12, Luk.1:5 8:27, Act.3:2, al.; with proper names, Mrk.15:21, Luk.23:26, al.; with genitive partit., Luk.7:19, al. __2. some: Mrk.16:[8], Jhn.5:14, Act.17:21 24:24, Heb.11:40, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 490 NT verses. KJV: a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever) See also: 1 Corinthians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 12:17; 1 Peter 2:19.
To sing praise or play a stringed instrument, as in James 5:13 where it says to sing praise when you are cheerful. It is about making music to celebrate God.
Definition: ψάλλω [in LXX chiefly for זָמַר pi. (Jdg.5:3, Psa.7:17, al.), also for נָגַן pi. (1Ki.16:16 ff, al.) ;] __1. to pull, twitch, twang (as a bowstring, etc.; Æsch., Eur., al.), hence, __2. absol., __(a) to play a stringed instrument with the fingers (Hdt., Plat., al.); __(b) later, to sing to a harp, sing psalms (LXX); in NT, to sing a hymn, sing praise: Jas.5:13; with dative of person(s), Rom.15:9 (LXX), Eph.5:19; dative instr., 1Co.14:15.† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 4 NT verses. KJV: make melody, sing (psalms) See also: 1 Corinthians 14:15; James 5:13; Romans 15:9.
Context — The Prayer of Faith
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
Psalms 50:15 |
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” |
| 2 |
Jonah 2:2 |
saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. |
| 3 |
Acts 16:24–25 |
On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. |
| 4 |
Ephesians 5:19 |
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, |
| 5 |
Revelation 19:1–6 |
After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God! For His judgments are true and just. He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the blood of His servants that was poured out by her hand.” And a second time they called out: “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you who serve Him, and those who fear Him, small and great alike!” And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. |
| 6 |
Hebrews 5:7 |
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. |
| 7 |
Revelation 5:9–14 |
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. |
| 8 |
Jonah 2:7 |
As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple. |
| 9 |
Hosea 6:1 |
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds. |
| 10 |
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 |
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. |
James 5:13 Summary
When we're going through tough times, James 5:13 tells us to pray, trusting that God will hear and help us, just as He did for Job. On the other hand, when we're feeling happy and cheerful, we should sing praises to God, thanking Him for the good things in our lives, as we're encouraged to do in Psalms 100:1-2. This helps us stay focused on God and remember that He is always with us, no matter what we're going through, as promised in Hebrews 13:5. By praying and singing praises, we can deepen our relationship with God and find peace in every situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do when I'm suffering or going through a difficult time?
According to James 5:13, when we are suffering, we should pray, just as the Psalmist did in Psalms 55:22, trusting God to sustain us.
Is it really important to sing praises when I'm feeling cheerful?
Yes, singing praises is a way to express our gratitude to God, as seen in James 5:13, and it can also be a form of worship, as mentioned in Psalms 100:1-2.
How can I balance my emotions and respond to them in a godly way?
James 5:13 provides a simple yet powerful guideline: pray when suffering and sing praises when cheerful, demonstrating a reliance on God in every emotional state, much like the apostle Paul's attitude in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
What role does prayer play in my response to suffering?
Prayer is a primary response to suffering, as stated in James 5:13, and it allows us to cast our cares upon God, as 1 Peter 5:7 instructs, trusting in His compassion and mercy, as seen in the story of Job's perseverance in Job 1:1-3:26.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways can I cultivate a habit of prayer during difficult times, and how can this deepen my trust in God?
- How does singing praises when I'm feeling cheerful reflect my relationship with God, and what are some ways I can express my gratitude to Him?
- What are some specific challenges I'm facing right now, and how can I apply the principles from James 5:13 to my situation?
- In what ways can I use my emotions as opportunities to draw closer to God, whether through prayer or praise, and what biblical examples can I follow?
- How can I balance my emotional responses with a steadfast trust in God's sovereignty, as seen in Romans 8:28?
Gill's Exposition on James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted?.... As the people of God generally are; they are commonly a poor, and an afflicted people; at least there are many among them that are so, and many are their afflictions:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Afflicted , [ kakopathei (G2553)] - 'evil treated:' "suffering affliction" (James 5:10). Let him pray - not "swear" in rash impatience. Merry - in mind.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? either troubled or afflicted in mind, as appears by the opposite being merry, or more generally afflicted any way. Not that we need not pray at other times, but when under afflictions God calls us more especially to it, and our own necessities put us upon it. Let him pray; for support, patience, sanctification of afflictions, &c. Is any merry? let him sing psalms; express his mirth in a holy manner, by praising God with psalms or spiritual songs for mercies received from him, ; and so keep up his spiritual mirth by a spiritual exercise, lest his cheerfulness degenerate into vanity and frothiness.
Trapp's Commentary on James 5:13
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Ver. 13. Is any among you afflicted?] Any one may, for grace is no target against affliction. Let him pray] Not only because prayer is suitable to a sad disposition, but because it is the conduit of comfort, and hath virtutem pacativam, a settling efficacy. Besides there is no time for hearing of prayers like the time of affliction. Then the saints may have anything of God with reason, for then his heart is turned within him, his repentings are kindled together, Hosea 11:8. See Zechariah 13:9; Psalms 91:15. Then it was that Lot had Zoar given him; David, the lives of his enemies; Paul, all the souls in the ship, &c. See the promise, Psalms 50:15.
Is any man merry?] Gr. ευθυμει, is he right set, well hung on, as we say? All true mirth is from the rectitude of the mind, from a right frame of soul that sets and shows itself in a cheerful countenance. Let him sing psalms] So that in all estates we must be doing somewhat for God. Tam Dei meminisse opus est, quam respirare. A Christian’ s whole life is divided into praying and praising, as David’ s Psalms are. If he begin with petition, he commonly concludes with thanksgiving. Thus, by a holy craft, he insinuates into God’ s favour, driving a trade between earth and heaven, receiving and returning, importing one commodity and transporting another.
Ellicott's Commentary on James 5:13
(13) We now pass on to advice of different kinds—to the heavy-laden or light-hearted, to the suffering and afflicted. Prayer is to be the refuge of one, praise the safeguard of another; the whole life is to revolve, as it were, around the throne of God, whether in the night of grief or day of joy. Let him pray.—No worthier comment can be found than Montgomery’s hymn— “Prayer is the burden of a sigh, The falling of a tear, The upward glancing of an eye, When none but God is near.” Long petitions, or many, cannot be always made; mind and body may be too weak and ill; but ejaculations—“Arrows of the Lord’s deliverance,” as Augustine called them, “shot out with a sudden quickness”—these are ever in the power of the beleaguered Christian. And— “More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of.” Let him sing.—The word originally applied to instrumental music, the Eastern accompaniment of “psalms.” Praise, like prayer, ought to be individual as well as congregational. Hymns might be used by all in their devotions, and could not fail to be a blessing; while for those who have God’s great gift of music, it were surely better to sing—as the Apostle urges—than to say. There is a sadness latent in the most jubilant of earthly tunes, but not so with the heavenly; and quiring angels do not scorn to catch our humblest notes, and weave them in their endless song, if they be raised in thankfulness to Him Whom they and all creation praise.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 5:13
Verse 13. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray] The Jews taught that the meaning of the ordinance, Leviticus 13:45, which required the leper to cry, Unclean! unclean! was, "that thus making known his calamity, the people might be led to offer up prayers to God in his behalf," Sota, page 685, ed. Wagens. They taught also, that when any sickness or affliction entered a family, they should go to the wise men, and implore their prayers. Bava bathra, fol. 116, 1. In Nedarim, fol. 40, 1, we have this relation: "Rabba, as often as he fell sick, forbade his domestics to mention it for the first day; if he did not then begin to get well, he told his family to go and publish it in the highways, that they who hated him might rejoice, and they that loved him might intercede with God for him." Is any merry? let him sing psalms.] These are all general but very useful directions. It is natural for a man to sing when he is cheerful and happy. Now no subject can be more noble than that which is Divine: and as God alone is the author of all that good which makes a man happy, then his praise should be the subject of the song of him who is merry. But where persons rejoice in iniquity, and not in the truth, God and sacred things can never be the subject of their song.
Cambridge Bible on James 5:13
13–16. Affliction—Sickness—Confession13. Is any among you afflicted, let him pray …] The precepts point to the principle that worship is the truest and best expression of both sorrow and joy. In affliction men are not to groan or complain against others, or murmur against God, but to pray for help and strength and wisdom. When they are “merry” (better, of good cheer) they are not to indulge in riotous or boastful mirth, but to “sing psalms.” The verb is used by St Paul (Romans 15:9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:19). Primarily it was used of instrumental string music, but, as in the word “Psalm,” had been transferred to the words of which that music was the natural accompaniment. It is, perhaps, specially characteristic of St James that he contemplates what we may call the individual use of such music as well as the congregational, as a help to the spiritual life. We are reminded of two memorable instances of this employment in the lives of George Herbert and Milton. Compare also Hooker’s grand words on the power of Psalmody and Music (Eccl. Pol. v. 38).
Barnes' Notes on James 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? - By sickness, bereavement, disappointment, persecutions, loss of health or property.
Whedon's Commentary on James 5:13
—1. Consolations for the sad, the merry, the sick; the prayer of faith, James 5:13-18.13. Our apostle now shows better methods than swearing to give vent to our moods. Afflicted—Suffers one any evil? Let him not swear, but pray!
Sermons on James 5:13
| Sermon | Description |
|
Don't Lose Your Song
by David Wilkerson
|
In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not losing one's song, referring to the joy and praise that comes from having a strong faith in God. The speaker reads from |
|
A Life of Victory in the Midst of Troubles
by A.W. Tozer
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In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of staying true to one's faith and not compromising with the world. He warns against trying to win people over by conforming |
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Why Do the Righteous Suffer
by David Wilkerson
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In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a personal story about a doctor friend who gained sympathy for those in pain after experiencing kidney stones himself. The speaker the |
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James 5 Expositional
by Chuck Smith
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This sermon by James focuses on various important topics such as the warning to the rich about the dangers of setting their hearts on riches, the importance of patience in waiting |
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Bring Back the Glory
by Manley Beasley
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In this sermon, the preacher, Brian, discusses the importance of bringing back the glory of God. He shares that he recently preached a message on worship and got carried away with |
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The Position of Power
by Jim Cymbala
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In this sermon, Pastor Jim Simba emphasizes the importance of prayer in our lives. He acknowledges that Satan tries to distract and cut us off from our supply line, which is prayer |
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Let Him Sing Psalms
by Aaron Hurst
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In this sermon, Brother Denny emphasizes the importance of prayer in the lives of believers. He begins by highlighting the various situations in which prayer is necessary, such as |