James 5:15

Authorized King James Version

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And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Original Language Analysis

καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 1 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἡ G3588
ἡ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 2 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
εὐχὴ the prayer G2171
εὐχὴ the prayer
Strong's: G2171
Word #: 3 of 19
properly, a wish, expressed as a petition to god, or in votive obligation
τῆς G3588
τῆς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 4 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστεως of faith G4102
πίστεως of faith
Strong's: G4102
Word #: 5 of 19
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
σώσει shall save G4982
σώσει shall save
Strong's: G4982
Word #: 6 of 19
to save, i.e., deliver or protect (literally or figuratively)
τὸν G3588
τὸν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κάμνοντα the sick G2577
κάμνοντα the sick
Strong's: G2577
Word #: 8 of 19
properly, to toil, i.e., (by implication) to tire (figuratively, faint, sicken)
καὶ And G2532
καὶ And
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 9 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐγερεῖ shall raise G1453
ἐγερεῖ shall raise
Strong's: G1453
Word #: 10 of 19
to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from
αὐτῷ him G846
αὐτῷ him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 11 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ G3588
ὁ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 12 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κύριος· the Lord G2962
κύριος· the Lord
Strong's: G2962
Word #: 13 of 19
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
κἂν and if G2579
κἂν and if
Strong's: G2579
Word #: 14 of 19
and (or even) if
ἁμαρτίας sins G266
ἁμαρτίας sins
Strong's: G266
Word #: 15 of 19
a sin (properly abstract)
ᾖ he have G5600
ᾖ he have
Strong's: G5600
Word #: 16 of 19
(may, might, can, could, would, should, must, etc.; also with g1487 and its comparative, as well as with other particles) be
πεποιηκώς committed G4160
πεποιηκώς committed
Strong's: G4160
Word #: 17 of 19
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
ἀφεθήσεται they shall be forgiven G863
ἀφεθήσεται they shall be forgiven
Strong's: G863
Word #: 18 of 19
to send forth, in various applications (as follow)
αὐτῷ him G846
αὐτῷ him
Strong's: G846
Word #: 19 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Analysis & Commentary

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. The prayer of faith (hē euchē tēs pisteōs, ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως) will save the sick, the Lord will raise him up, and if sins were committed, they will be forgiven. James connects healing, forgiveness, and God's sovereign action.

Reformed theology acknowledges God as healer who may grant physical recovery while always granting spiritual forgiveness through Christ.

Historical Context

Illness was often linked to sin in Jewish thought; James neither confirms nor denies but offers forgiveness if needed. The early church saw miraculous healings alongside ultimate hope in resurrection.

Questions for Reflection

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