The Meaning of James 5:13 Explained

James 5:13

KJV: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

YLT: Doth any one suffer evil among you? let him pray; is any of good cheer? let him sing psalms;

Darby: Does any one among you suffer evil? let him pray. Is any happy? let him sing psalms.

ASV: Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Is  any  among  you  afflicted?  let him pray.  Is  any  merry?  let him sing psalms. 

What does James 5:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Prayer to God, not profanity, is the proper outlet for feelings of sadness caused by suffering as we patiently endure.
"James"s emphasis on prayer in this section is especially noteworthy since few things undergird perseverance more effectively than prayer. In the final analysis, a persevering life is also a prayerful life." [1]
The right way to express joy is by praising God, not swearing.

Context Summary

James 5:12-20 - Effectual Prayer
In view of the judgment-seat, at which we shall have to give an account of our words, we shall do well to employ the simplest, plainest speech, Matthew 5:34; Matthew 12:36-37.
How shall we act in any given situation? The Apostle says in effect, be perfectly natural. The suffering should pray, the glad sing, the sick confess his sins and call for believing prayer. The oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The body is the Holy Spirit's temple, and He is asked to bring it to the level of that spiritual wholeness which is His ideal. Where He gives the prayer that can affirm and claim, there is no doubt that perfect health will result. But there is all the difference between human telepathy and divine healing, which is God's gift to faith.
Elijah became what he was by faith and prayer. Naturally he was subject to the same fears and failings as ourselves. There are two reasons why we should endeavor to convert men: (1) for their salvation, (2) for the arrest of their baleful influence [source]

Chapter Summary: James 5

1  Rich oppressors are to fear God's vengeance
7  We ought to be patient in afflictions, after the example of the prophets, and Job;
12  to forbear swearing;
13  to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity;
14  to acknowledge mutually our several faults, to pray one for another;
19  and to correct a straying brother

Greek Commentary for James 5:13

Is any suffering? [κακοπατει τισ]
See James 5:10 for κακοπατια — kakopathia The verb in N.T. occurs only here and in 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5. The lively interrogative is common in the diatribe and suits the style of James. [source]
Among you [εν υμιν]
As in James 3:13.Let him pray (προσευχεστω — proseuchesthō). Present middle imperative, “let him keep on praying” (instead of cursing as in James 5:12).Is any cheerful Present active indicative of ευτυμεω — euthumeō old verb from ευτυμος — euthumos (Acts 27:36), in N.T. only here and Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25.Let him sing praise (πσαλλετω — psalletō). Present active imperative of πσαλλω — psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
Let him pray [προσευχεστω]
Present middle imperative, “let him keep on praying” (instead of cursing as in James 5:12). [source]
Is any cheerful [ευτυμει]
Present active indicative of ευτυμεω — euthumeō old verb from ευτυμος — euthumos (Acts 27:36), in N.T. only here and Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25.Let him sing praise (πσαλλετω — psalletō). Present active imperative of πσαλλω — psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
Let him sing praise [πσαλλετω]
Present active imperative of πσαλλω — psallō originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.” [source]
Is afflicted [κακοπαθεῖ]
See on the kindred word κακοπάθεια ,suffering, James 5:10. Only here and 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:5. [source]
Let him sing psalms [ψαλλέτω]
The word means, primarily, to pluck or twitch. Hence of the sharp twang on a bowstring or harp-string, and so to play upon a stringed instrument. Our word psalm, derived from this, is, properly, a tune played upon a stringed instrument. The verb, however, is used in the New Testament of singing praise generally. See 1 Corinthians 14:15; Romans 15:9. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 5:13

Acts 27:25 Wherefore be of good cheer [διο ευτυμειτε]
God had spoken. That was enough. This old verb from ευτυμος — euthumos in the N.T. only here, Acts 27:25; James 5:13. See the adjective Acts 27:36. [source]
Romans 15:9 Sing [ψαλῶ]
See on James 5:13. [source]
1 Corinthians 14:15 I will sing [ψαλῶ]
See on James 5:13. The verb, ᾄδω is also used for sing, Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3; Revelation 15:3. In the last two passages it is combined with playing on harps. In Ephesians 5:19we have both verbs. The noun ψαλμός psalm(Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:26), which is etymologically akin to this verb, is used in the New Testament of a religious song in general, having the character of an Old Testament psalm; though in Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26, ὑμνέω , whence our hymn, is used of singing an Old Testament psalm. Here applied to such songs improvised under the spiritual ecstasy (1 Corinthians 14:26). Some think that the verb has here its original signification of singing with an instrument. This is its dominant sense in the Septuagint, and both Basil and Gregory of Nyssa define a psalm as implying instrumental accompaniment; and Clement of Alexandria, while forbidding the use of the flute in the agapae, permitted the harp. But neither Basil nor Ambrose nor Chrysostom, in their panegyrics upon music, mention instrumental music, and Basil expressly condemns it. Bingham dismisses the matter summarily, and sites Justin Martyr as saying expressly that instrumental music was not used in the Christian Church. The verb is used here in the general sense of singing praise. [source]
2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble [ἐν ᾧ κακοπαθῶ]
Wherein refers to the gospel. Κακοπαθεῖν only here, 2 Timothy 4:5, and James 5:13. lxx, Jonah 4:10. [source]
James 5:10 Of suffering [της κακοπατιας]
Old word from κακοπατης — kakopathēs (suffering evil, κακοπατεω — kakopatheō in James 5:13; 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:9), here only in N.T.Of patience (μακροτυμιας — makrothumias). Like μακροτυμεω — makrothumeō in James 5:7. See both μακροτυμια — makrothumia and υπομονη — hupomonē in 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 1:11 (the one restraint from retaliating, the other not easily succumbing).In the name of As in Jeremiah 20:9. With the authority of the Lord (Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 198). [source]

What do the individual words in James 5:13 mean?

Is suffering hardships anyone among you Let him pray Is cheerful Let him sing praises
Κακοπαθεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν προσευχέσθω εὐθυμεῖ ψαλλέτω

Κακοπαθεῖ  Is  suffering  hardships 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κακοπαθέω  
Sense: to suffer (endure) evils (hardships, troubles).
τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
προσευχέσθω  Let  him  pray 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: προσεύχομαι  
Sense: to offer prayers, to pray.
εὐθυμεῖ  Is  cheerful 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εὐθυμέω  
Sense: to put in good spirits, gladden, make cheerful.
ψαλλέτω  Let  him  sing  praises 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ψάλλω  
Sense: to pluck off, pull out.