Bible Strands
James 5:13
Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author James addresses Jewish Christian believers, transitioning from instructions on oath-taking to directives for personal spiritual conduct amid community life. He frames the command within a sequence addressing hardship, joy, and physical illness. The words — Κακοπαθεῖ (Kakopathei) = suffers hardships; ψαλλέτω (psalletō) = he should sing praises. These verbs establish the parallel actions required for opposite emotional states. The thread — The pattern of crying out to God in distress and singing to Him appears in Psalms 50:15, Jonah 2:2, and Ephesians 5:19. These references anchor the verse in the broader biblical practice of turning emotional extremes toward divine address. Why it lands — The text commands readers to immediately channel hardship into prayer and cheerfulness into sung worship. It demands that personal circumstances dictate specific, outward spiritual responses rather than private reflection.
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
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Cross-references
- Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
- Acts 16:24 On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
- 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.
- Revelation 5:9 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.
- Revelation 19:1 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!
- 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.
- Jonah 2:7 As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple.
- Psalms 118:5 In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free.