James 5:7

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — James addresses Jewish believers ("brothers") who are being oppressed and silenced by the wealthy, immediately after condemning them for condemning and murdering the righteous (5:6). The moment is one of sustained suffering with no visible relief.

The words — Makrothumēsate (G3114) is an aorist imperative built on makrothymia, literally "long-tempered," a patience that endures provocation or delay rather than merely waiting calmly. Parousias (G3952) is the technical noun for a dignified arrival, the same term used for Christ's return elsewhere in the New Testament.

The thread — James 5:8 repeats the patience command and adds "the Lord's coming is near," tightening the timeframe. Joel 2:23 supplies the rain imagery as a sign of vindication, and Hebrews 12:1 frames endurance as the posture of a community surrounded by witnesses.

Why it lands — The verse asks the reader to refuse retaliation and to hold steady in present injustice, grounding hope in a future arrival rather than in immediate retribution. The farmer image makes patience active: the work is already done, and the waiting is itself the discipline.

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

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. 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.

Cross-references

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
James 5:8 You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Joel 2:23 Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Deuteronomy 11:14 then I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil.
Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
Romans 2:7 To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.
Hebrews 6:15 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
Jeremiah 5:24 They have not said in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rains, both autumn and spring, in season, who keeps for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’