James 5:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Elijah, a man like us, prayed and the rain ceased for three and a half years.
What Does James 5:17 Mean?
James proves the power of prayer by example. Elijah was a man with the same nature as ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and no rain fell for three and a half years. The point rests on Elijah's ordinary humanity: he was not of a different make than we are.
If such a man's prayer could hold back the rain, then the prayers of ordinary believers are not powerless either. James deliberately strips Elijah of any super-human status to bring his example within reach. The same God who heard the prophet hears His people now. The reader, perhaps thinking great prayer belongs only to great saints, is shown a man of like passions whose earnest prayer moved heaven, and is invited to pray with the same boldness.
James 5:17 in the Original Language
homoiopathes (ὁμοιοπαθής), 'like passions' -- of like nature and feelings, sharing the same human frailty.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 5:17
What does James 5:17 mean?
Elijah, a man like us, prayed and the rain ceased for three and a half years.