James 5:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's coming is near.
What Does James 5:8 Mean?
James repeats and deepens the charge. You also be patient; establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. To establish the heart is to make it firm and settled, braced for the wait so that hardship cannot shake it loose from hope.
The nearness of the Lord's coming is the steadying truth. However long the trial feels, the return of Christ is the fixed point on the horizon, and it draws closer. James does not promise an end to suffering tomorrow but anchors the suffering soul to a certain future. The reader is urged to fortify the inner self with this hope, letting the assurance of the Lord's coming hold the heart steady. Patience grows strong when the heart is fixed on what is sure to come.
James 5:8 in the Original Language
sterizo (στηρίζω), 'stablish' -- to make firm, to strengthen and fix in place.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 5:8
What does James 5:8 mean?
Be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's coming is near.