James 5:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Turning a sinner from his wandering saves a soul from death and covers many sins.
What Does James 5:20 Mean?
James ends with the worth of this work. Let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. The labor of restoration has eternal stakes and eternal reward.
To bring a wanderer back is to rescue a soul from the death toward which sin runs, and to see a host of sins covered by the forgiveness that repentance brings. There is no higher service to a fellow believer. The letter that has called so insistently for faith to show itself in action closes on the most loving action of all, the saving of a straying soul. The reader is sent out not with mere instruction but with a mission: to seek the wanderer, and in love to bring him home.
James 5:20 in the Original Language
plethos (πλῆθος), 'multitude' -- a great number, a multitude or abundance.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 5:20
What does James 5:20 mean?
Turning a sinner from his wandering saves a soul from death and covers many sins.