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Selected Verse: James 5:1 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Jas 5:1 |
Strong Concordance |
Go to [33] now [3568], ye rich men [4145], weep [2799] and howl [3649] for [1909] your [5216] miseries [5004] that shall come upon [1904] you. |
| |
King James |
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
WOES COMING ON THE WICKED RICH: BELIEVERS SHOULD BE PATIENT UNTO THE LORD'S COMING: VARIOUS EXHORTATIONS. (Jam. 5:1-20)
Go to now--Come now. A phrase to call solemn attention.
ye rich--who have neglected the true enjoyment of riches, which consists in doing good. James intends this address to rich Jewish unbelievers, not so much for themselves, as for the saints, that they may bear with patience the violence of the rich (Jam 5:7), knowing that God will speedily avenge them on their oppressors [BENGEL].
miseries that shall come--literally, "that are coming upon you" unexpectedly and swiftly, namely, at the coming of the Lord (Jam 5:7); primarily, at the destruction of Jerusalem; finally, at His visible coming to judge the world. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Go to now - Notes, Jam 4:13.
Ye rich men - Not all rich men, but only that class of them who are specified as unjust and oppressive. There is no sin in merely being rich; where sin exists peculiarly among the rich, it arises from the manner in which wealth is acquired, the spirit which it tends to engender in the heart, and the way in which it is used. Compare the Luk 6:24 note; Ti1 6:9 note.
Weep and howl - Greek: "Weep howling." This would be expressive of very deep distress. The language is intensive in a high degree, showing that the calamities which were coming upon them were not only such as would produce tears, but tears accompanied with loud lamentations. In the East, it is customary to give expression to deep sorrow by loud outcries. Compare Isa 13:6; Isa 14:31; Isa 15:2; Isa 16:7; Jer 4:8; Jer 47:2; Joe 1:5.
For your miseries that shall come upon you - Many expositors, as Benson, Whitby, Macknight, and others, suppose that this refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and to the miseries which would be brought in the siege upon the Jewish people, in which the rich would be the peculiar objects of cupidity and vengeance. They refer to passages in Josephus, which describe particularly the sufferings to which the rich were exposed; the searching of their houses by the zealots, and the heavy calamities which came upon them and their families. But there is no reason to suppose that the apostle referred particularly to those events. The poor as well as the rich suffered in that siege, and there were no such special judgments then brought upon the rich as to show that they were the marked objects of the divine displeasure. It is much more natural to suppose that the apostle means to say that such men as he here refers to exposed themselves always to the wrath of God, and that they had great reason to weep in the anticipation of his vengeance. The sentiments here expressed by the apostle are not applicable merely to the Jews of his time. If there is any class of men which has special reason to dread the wrath of God at all times, it is just the class of men here referred to. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Go to
See on Jam 4:13.
Weep and howl (κλαύσατε ὀλολύζοντες)
Lit., weep, howling. The latter is a descriptive word, ol-ol-uz-o. Only here in New Testament, and denoting a more demonstrative and passionate expression of grief than weeping.
Miseries (ταλαιπωρίαις)
Only here and Rom 3:16. See on be afflicted, Jam 4:9.
That shall come upon (ἐπερχομέναις)
Present participle. More correctly, as Rev., that are coming. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Come now, ye rich - The apostle does not speak this so much for the sake of the rich themselves, as of the poor children of God, who were then groaning under their cruel oppression. Weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you - Quickly and unexpectedly. This was written not long before the siege of Jerusalem; during which, as well as after it, huge calamities came on the Jewish nation, not only in Judea, but through distant countries. And as these were an awful prelude of that wrath which was to fall upon them in the world to come, so this may likewise refer to the final vengeance which will then be executed on the impenitent. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Go to now - See on Jam 4:13.
Weep and howl for your miseries - St. James seems to refer here, in the spirit of prophecy, to the destruction that was coming upon the Jews, not only in Judea, but in all the provinces where they sojourned. He seems here to assume the very air and character of a prophet; and in the most dignified language and peculiarly expressive and energetic images, foretells the desolations that were coming upon this bad people. |
7 Be patient [3114] therefore [3767], brethren [80], unto [2193] the coming [3952] of the Lord [2962]. Behold [2400], the husbandman [1092] waiteth [1551] for the precious [5093] fruit [2590] of the earth [1093], and hath long patience [3114] for [1909] it [846], until [2193] [302] he receive [2983] the early [4406] and [2532] latter [3797] rain [5205].
7 Be patient [3114] therefore [3767], brethren [80], unto [2193] the coming [3952] of the Lord [2962]. Behold [2400], the husbandman [1092] waiteth [1551] for the precious [5093] fruit [2590] of the earth [1093], and hath long patience [3114] for [1909] it [846], until [2193] [302] he receive [2983] the early [4406] and [2532] latter [3797] rain [5205].
5 Awake [06974], ye drunkards [07910], and weep [01058]; and howl [03213], all ye drinkers [08354] of wine [03196], because of the new wine [06071]; for it is cut off [03772] from your mouth [06310].
2 Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; Behold, waters [04325] rise up [05927] out of the north [06828], and shall be an overflowing [07857] flood [05158], and shall overflow [07857] the land [0776], and all that is therein [04393]; the city [05892], and them that dwell [03427] therein: then the men [0120] shall cry [02199], and all the inhabitants [03427] of the land [0776] shall howl [03213].
8 For this gird [02296] you with sackcloth [08242], lament [05594] and howl [03213]: for the fierce [02740] anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] is not turned back [07725] from us.
7 Therefore shall Moab [04124] howl [03213] for Moab [04124], every one shall howl [03213]: for the foundations [0808] of Kirhareseth [07025] shall ye mourn [01897]; surely they are stricken [05218].
2 He is gone up [05927] to Bajith [01006], and to Dibon [01769], the high places [01116], to weep [01065]: Moab [04124] shall howl [03213] over Nebo [05015], and over Medeba [04311]: on all their heads [07218] shall be baldness [07144], and every beard [02206] cut off [01438].
31 Howl [03213], O gate [08179]; cry [02199], O city [05892]; thou, whole Palestina [06429], art dissolved [04127]: for there shall come [0935] from the north [06828] a smoke [06227], and none shall be alone [0909] in his appointed times [04151].
6 Howl [03213] ye; for the day [03117] of the LORD [03068] is at hand [07138]; it shall come [0935] as a destruction [07701] from the Almighty [07706].
9 But [1161] they that will [1014] be rich [4147] fall [1706] into [1519] temptation [3986] and [2532] a snare [3803], and [2532] into many [4183] foolish [453] and [2532] hurtful [983] lusts [1939], which [3748] drown [1036] men [444] in [1519] destruction [3639] and [2532] perdition [684].
24 But [4133] woe [3759] unto you [5213] that are rich [4145]! for [3754] ye have received [568] your [5216] consolation [3874].
13 Go to [33] now [3568], ye that say [3004], To day [4594] or [2532] to morrow [839] we will go [4198] into [1519] such [3592] a city [4172], and [2532] continue [4160] [4160] there [1563] a [1520] year [1763], and [2532] buy and sell [1710] [1710], and [2532] get gain [2770] [2770]:
9 Be afflicted [5003], and [2532] mourn [3996], and [2532] weep [2799]: let your [5216] laughter [1071] be turned [3344] to [1519] mourning [3997], and [2532] your joy [5479] to [1519] heaviness [2726].
16 Destruction [4938] and [2532] misery [5004] are in [1722] their [846] ways [3598]:
13 Go to [33] now [3568], ye that say [3004], To day [4594] or [2532] to morrow [839] we will go [4198] into [1519] such [3592] a city [4172], and [2532] continue [4160] [4160] there [1563] a [1520] year [1763], and [2532] buy and sell [1710] [1710], and [2532] get gain [2770] [2770]:
13 Go to [33] now [3568], ye that say [3004], To day [4594] or [2532] to morrow [839] we will go [4198] into [1519] such [3592] a city [4172], and [2532] continue [4160] [4160] there [1563] a [1520] year [1763], and [2532] buy and sell [1710] [1710], and [2532] get gain [2770] [2770]: