Bible Strands
James 5:10
Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — James addresses his fellow believers immediately after warning them against complaining because the Judge is near. He directs them to look to the prophets as a concrete model for enduring their own trials.
The words — The Greek ὑποδείγματι (hupodeigmati) means "example" or "pattern," while λαβέτε (labete) is the imperative "take" or "receive." Together they form a direct command to actively adopt the prophets' endurance as a standard.
The thread — The text points to the prophets who spoke for God, echoing the faithful listed in Hebrews 11:32 and the persecuted believers in Matthew 5:11. It aligns with Hebrews 13:7, which urges readers to imitate the faith of those who spoke God's word.
Why it lands — The verse commands readers to actively adopt the prophets' endurance as a practical standard for their own suffering. It requires a shift from self-complaint to observing how God sustained those who spoke His name.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
- Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
- Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,
- Acts 3:21 Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
- Luke 6:23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
- Isaiah 39:8 But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
- Jeremiah 2:30 “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”