James 5:16
in James 5Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.
KJV
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
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This verse in James 5
Commentary
23 notes on this verseConfess your faults one to another - This is a good general direction to Christians who endeavor to maintain among themselves the communion of saints. This social confession tends much to humble the soul, and to make it watchful.
This site's exposition
Confess your faults one to another
on James 5:16-18
The healing provision widens into congregational life: confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed, mutual confession among brethren, not a tribunal, and the healing bound to the praying community. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much translates one working word, energoumene, prayer that is at work. The exhibit is Elias, a man subject to like passions as we are, whose praying shut and opened heaven for three years and six months, the Lord's own Luke 4:25 reckoning; the encouragement is exactly his likeness to us, the same nature praying to the same God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is very effective. "The effective prayer." The prayer of a righteous person is effective when he who prays helps the one …
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
Cassian said, 'Moses the Hermit told us, "It is good not to hide our thoughts; we ought to disclose them to discreet and devout elders; but not to those who are old merely in years, for many have found final despair instead of comfort by …
With regard also to the very dress and food, it commands (the penitent) to lie in sackcloth and ashes, to cover his body in mourning, to lay his spirit low in sorrows, to exchange for severe treatment the sins which he has committed; moreover, to know no food and drink but such as is plain,-not for the stomach's sake, to wit, but the soul's; for the most part, however, to feed prayers on fastings, to groan, to weep and make outcries unto the Lord your God; to bow before the feet of the presbyters, and kneel to God's dear ones; to enjoin on all the brethren to be ambassadors to bear his deprecatory supplication (before God).
Everyone claims this consideration from others whenever possible, for what each of us would punish if it occurred in our house, we want to leave unpunished in someone else's house. For if we are called to a friend's house and find him about to punish someone over whom he has power, it is considered most inhumane for us not to intervene.
Let us listen to the Apostle James, who states this precept with the greatest clearness when he says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another." For of this also the Lord gave us the example. For if He who neither has, nor had, nor will have any sin, prays for our sins, how much more ought we to pray for one another's in turn! And if He forgives us, whom we have nothing to forgive; how much more ought we, who are unable to live here without sin, to forgive one another!
16 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church7 voices
Since it would be a long and unpleasant task to reveal my sinful ways to you and to tell you everything in detail, it must suffice for me to reveal to your most holy mind that I am not what you believe, though I beg …
Sometimes in sacred speech preachers are understood by dogs. For the tongue of a dog, when it licks a wound, heals it, because holy teachers too, when they instruct us in the confession of our sin, touch as it were the wound of the mind through their tongue; and because by speaking they rescue us from sins, by touching wounds as it were they restore us to health. Against this it is said of certain reprobates: "Dumb dogs, not able to bark." Because therefore holy preachers condemn sins, but approve the confession of sins, saying: "Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be saved," dogs lick the sores of Lazarus. For holy teachers, when they receive the confessions of the Gentiles, restore the wounds of minds to health. Hence also Lazarus is well interpreted as "one who is helped," because they help him toward deliverance, because they heal his wounds through the correction of their tongue.
God loves to be asked, so that he can give.
Confess therefore your sins to one another, etc. In this matter, there should be this discretion, that we confess our daily and trivial sins to one another, to our equals, and believe that we are saved by their daily prayer. Moreover, we should disclose the …
For the prayer of a righteous person has great power, etc. He adds a fitting example of how much the continual prayer of the righteous avails, when Elijah with one prayer by praying for such a long time withheld the heavens, turned away rain from …
There are two ways in which the prayer of a righteous man is effective. The first is when the person praying does so by offering to God his works done according to his commands. Then the prayer is not just a matter of words, blurted …
The prayer of the righteous man has great power when the one for whom he prays also assists his prayer with spiritual sorrow, for if when others pray for us we ourselves spend our time in luxury, indulgence, and intemperance, then by this we weaken …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Confess your faults - Whether ye are sick or in health. To one another - He does not say, to the elders: this may, or may not, be done; for it is nowhere commanded. We may confess them to any who can pray in faith: he will then know how to pray for us, and be more stirred up so to do.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. The apostle is here addressing first sinners and then saints. Let us consider the address to sinners; and here we find James seconding what his great Master had said: Woe unto you that are rich; for you have received your consolation, Luke vi.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:26w-of-69
Confess your faults one to another,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
A righteous man's prayer is always heard generally, but his particular request for the healing of another was then likely to be granted when he was one possessing a special charism of the Spirit. ALFORD translates, "Availeth much in its working." The "righteous" is one himself careful to avoid "faults," and showing his faith by works (Jas 2:24).
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Confess your faults one to another - This seems primarily to refer to those who were sick, since it is added, “that ye may be healed.” The fair interpretation is, that it might be supposed that such confession would contribute to a restoration to health. The case supposed all along here (see Jas 5:15) is, that the sickness referred to had been brought upon the patient for his sins, apparently as a punishment for some particular transgressions. Compare the notes at 1Co 11:30. In such a case, it is said that if those who were sick would make confession of their sins, it would, in connection with prayer, be an important means of restoration to health. The duty inculcated, and which is equally binding on all now, is, that if we are sick, and are conscious that we have injured any persons, to make confession to them. This indeed is a duty at all times, but in health it is often neglected, and there is a special propriety that such confession should be made when we are sick. The particular reason for doing it which is here specified is, that it would contribute to a restoration to health - “that ye may be healed.” In the case specified, this might be supposed to contribute to a restoration to health from one of two causes: (1) If the sickness had been brought upon them as a special act of divine visitation for sin, it might be hoped that when the confession was made the hand of God would be withdrawn; or (2) In any case, if the mind was troubled by the recollection of guilt, it might be hoped that the calmness and peace resulting from confession would be favorable to a restoration to health. The former case would of course be more applicable to the times of the apostles; the latter would pertain to all times. […]
Modern Voices4 voices
He hears the confession of our sins in Christ's stead, and he forgives our sins in Christ's name. He keeps the secret of our confessions as God keeps it. When I go to my brother to confess, I am going to God.
You can't pray very long in an unrighteous condition without God taking you to the real issue, your heart.
A commentator
Dutch SheetsGive Him 15 daily devotional, "Our Prayers Release God's Power" (April 22, 2025) (2025)
proposed
Notice the word “continued”; Wuest and the Amplified Bible capture the present-tense meaning of the verb - continuous action.
Just like you don't want to drink out of a dirty cup, God doesn't want to hear the prayers of a Christian whose life is fouled up with junk.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐξομολογεῖσθε | exomologeisthe | do confess | G1843 → | |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἀλλήλοις | allelois | to one another | G240 → | 100 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁμαρτίας | hamartias | sins | G266 → | 173 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εὔχεσθε | euchesthe | do pray | G2172 → | |
| ὑπὲρ | huper | for | G5228 → | |
| ἀλλήλων, | allelon | one another, | G240 → | 100 times |
| ὅπως | hopos | so that | G3704 → | |
| ἰαθῆτε· | iathete | you may be healed; | G2390 → | |
| πολὺ | polu | Much | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἰσχύει | ischuei | prevails | G2480 → | |
| δέησις | deesis | [the] prayer | G1162 → | |
| δικαίου | dikaiou | of a righteous [man] | G1342 → | |
| ἐνεργουμένη. | energoumene | being made effective. | G1754 → |
ἐξομολογεῖσθεdo confess
exomologeistheG1843 →
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
ἀλλήλοιςto one another
alleloisG240 →100 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
ἁμαρτίαςsins
hamartiasG266 →173 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εὔχεσθεdo pray
euchestheG2172 →
ὑπὲρfor
huperG5228 →
ἀλλήλων,one another,
allelonG240 →100 times
ὅπωςso that
hoposG3704 →
ἰαθῆτε·you may be healed;
iatheteG2390 →
πολὺMuch
poluG4183 →367 times
ἰσχύειprevails
ischueiG2480 →
δέησις[the] prayer
deesisG1162 →
δικαίουof a righteous [man]
dikaiouG1342 →
ἐνεργουμένη.being made effective.
energoumeneG1754 →
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
Psalms 34:15The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 3:12
Through
Matthew 21:22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
it leads to
- Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
- 1 John 5:14–15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
- 1 John 3:22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
- John 14:13
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Matthew 7:7
Through
John 9:31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- Isaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Proverbs 15:29
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Forgiveness35 verses
Prayer34 verses
On this page
Studies1
About James
This page draws on 20 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, LETTERS 153; Augustine of Hippo, TRACTATES 58.2; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 2.14; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Braulio of Zaragoza, LETTERS 44; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together; Dutch Sheets, Give Him 15 daily devotional, "Our Prayers Release God's Power" (April 22, 2025); Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 40; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Maximus the Confessor, CATENA; Oecumenius, Commentary on James; Tertullian, On Repentance; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on James and Tony Evans, "Effective Prayer" (blog post, TonyEvans.org).