James 5:9 Meaning and Explanation
“Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Do not grumble against one another, for the Judge stands at the door.
What Does James 5:9 Mean?
James warns against a danger that grows under shared hardship: do not grumble against one another, lest you be judged. Pressure and waiting can turn believers against each other in complaint and blame, and James guards the fellowship from this.
Then he gives a vivid reminder: behold, the Judge is standing at the door. The same Lord whose coming is their hope is also near as Judge, close enough to hear every grumbling word. The nearness that comforts also sobers. James calls the reader to bear with fellow believers in patience rather than turn on them, knowing the Judge is near. The hope of the Lord's coming should knit the suffering community together in forbearance, not splinter it in mutual complaint.
James 5:9 in the Original Language
stenazo (στενάζω), 'grudge' -- to groan or grumble, to sigh in complaint against another.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 5:9
What does James 5:9 mean?
Do not grumble against one another, for the Judge stands at the door.