Robertson Word Pictures - James 5:7 - 5:7

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Robertson Word Pictures - James 5:7 - 5:7


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Be patient therefore (makrothumēsate oun). A direct corollary (oun, therefore) from the coming judgment on the wicked rich (Jam 5:1-6). First aorist (constative) active imperative of makrothumeō, late compound (Plutarch, lxx) from makrothumos (makros, thumos, of long spirit, not losing heart), as in Mat 18:26. The appeal is to the oppressed brethren. Catch your wind for a long race (long-tempered as opposed to short-tempered). On the exhortation to patience (hupomonē) see Jam 1:3., Jam 1:12 and repeated in Jam 5:11. They will need both submission (hupomenō Jam 5:11) and steadfastness (makrothumia Jam 5:10).

Until the coming of the Lord (heōs tēs parousias). The second coming of Christ he means, the regular phrase here and in Jam 5:8 for that idea (Mat 24:3, Mat 24:37, Mat 24:39; 1Th 2:19, etc.).

The husbandman (ho geōrgos). The worker in the ground (gē, ergō) as in Mat 21:33.

Waiteth for (ekdechetai). Present middle indicative of ekdechomai, old verb for eager expectation as in Act 17:16.

Precious (timion). Old adjective from timē (honor, price), dear to the farmer because of his toil for it. See 1Pe 1:19.

Being patient over it (makrothumōn ep' autōi). Present active participle of makrothumeō just used in the exhortation, picturing the farmer longing and hoping over his precious crop (cf. Luk 18:7 of God).

Until it receive (heōs labēi). Temporal clause of the future with heōs and the second aorist active subjunctive of lambanō, vividly describing the farmer’s hopes and patience.

The early and latter rain (pro‹mon kai opsimon). The word for rain (hueton Act 14:17) is absent from the best MSS. The adjective pro‹mos (from prō‹, early) occurs here only in N.T., though old in the form pro‹mos and prō‹s. See Deu 11:14; Jer 5:24, etc. for these terms for the early rain in October or November for the germination of the grain, and the latter rain (opsimon, from opse, late, here only in N.T.) in April and May for maturing the grain.