James 5:10
in James 5Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.
KJV
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
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This verse in James 5
Commentary
6 notes on this verseTake - the prophets - The prophets who had spoken to their forefathers by the authority of God, were persecuted by the very people to whom they delivered the Divine message; but they suffered affliction and persecution with patience, commending their cause to him who judgeth righteously; therefore, imitate their example.
This site's exposition
take the prophets who spoke
on James 5:10-11
Two examples carry the call: the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord, and Job’s perseverance, endurance that held while it argued. The outcome from the Lord, telos, is God's work in Job 42. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, polusplagchnos.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until he receives the early and latter rain. Be patient therefore, you also, and establish your hearts, for the coming …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Observe further, Those who were the greatest examples of suffering affliction were also the best and greatest examples of patience: tribulation worketh patience. Hereupon James gives it to us as the common sense of the faithful (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Take, my brethren, the prophets - That is, in your trials and persecutions. To encourage them to the exercise of patience, he points them to the example of those who had trod the same thorny path before them. The prophets were in general a much persecuted race of men; and the argument on which the apostle relies from their example is this: (1) That if the prophets were persecuted and tried, it may be expected that other good men will be; (2) That they showed such patience in their trials as to be a model for us. An example of suffering affliction - That is, they showed us how evils are to be borne.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὑπόδειγμα | hupodeigma | [As] an example | G5262 → | |
| λάβετε, | labete | do take | G2983 → | 257 times |
| ἀδελφοί | adelphoi | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κακοπαθείας | kakopatheias | of suffering evils | G2552 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μακροθυμίας | makrothumias | of patience | G3115 → | |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προφήτας | prophetas | prophets | G4396 → | |
| οἳ | hoi | who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἐλάλησαν | elalesan | spoke | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀνόματι | onomati | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| κυρίου. | kuriou | of [the] Lord. | G2962 → | 711 times |
ὑπόδειγμα[As] an example
hupodeigmaG5262 →
λάβετε,do take
labeteG2983 →257 times
ἀδελφοίbrothers
adelphoiG80 →343 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
κακοπαθείαςof suffering evils
kakopatheiasG2552 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
μακροθυμίαςof patience
makrothumiasG3115 →
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
προφήταςprophets
prophetasG4396 →
οἳwho
hoiG3739 →1405 times
ἐλάλησανspoke
elalesanG2980 →294 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὀνόματιname
onomatiG3686 →227 times
κυρίου.of [the] Lord.
kuriouG2962 →711 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
- Philippians 3:17
Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
- Hebrews 6:12
Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Through
Acts 7:52Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—
it leads to
- Matthew 5:12
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
- 1 Kings 19:10
“I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,” he replied, “but the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am…
- 2 Chronicles 36:16
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.
- Matthew 5:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About James
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Oecumenius, Commentary on James.