James 5 · Verse 11

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. 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.

James 5:11, King James Version

James 5:11 in other translations

BSB	See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
WEB	Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
ASV	Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.
YLT	lo, we call happy those who are enduring; the endurance of Job ye heard of, and the end of the Lord ye have seen, that very compassionate is the Lord, and pitying.
DARBY	Behold, we call them blessed who have endured. Ye have heard of the endurance of Job, and seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is full of tender compassion and pitiful.
BBE	We say that those men who have gone through pain are happy: you have the story of Job and the troubles through which he went and have seen that the Lord was full of pity and mercy in the end.
Webster	Behold, we count them happy who endure. 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.

What does James 5:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. count them happy--(Mt 5:10). which endure--The oldest authorities read, "which have endured," which suits the sense better than English Version: "Those who in past days, like the prophets and Job, have endured trials." Such, not those who "have lived in pleasure and been wanton on the earth" (Jas 5:5), are "happy." patience--rather, "endurance," answering to "endure": the Greek words similarly corresponding. Distinct from the Greek word for "patience" Jas 5:10. The same word ought to be translated, "endurance," Jas 1:3. He here reverts to the subject which he began with. Job--This passage shows the history of him is concerning a real, not an imaginary person; otherwise his case could not be quoted as an example at all. Though he showed much of impatience, yet he always returned to this, that he committed himself wholly to God, and at last showed a perfect spirit of enduring submission. and have seen--(with the eyes of your mind). Alford translates from the old and genuine reading, "see also," &c. The old reading is, however, capable of being translated as English Version. the end of the Lord--the end which the Lord gave. If Job had much to "endure," remember also Job's happy "end." Hence, learn, though much tried, to "endure to the end." that--Alford and others translate, "inasmuch as," "for." pitiful ... of tender mercy--The former refers to the "feeling"; the latter, to the act. His pity is shown in not laying on the patient endurer more trials than he is able to bear; His mercy, in His giving a happy "end" to the trials [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 11. Behold, we count them happy which endure. The word rendered "we count them happy," (μακαριζομεν,) occurs only here and in Lk 1:48, where it is rendered "shall call me blessed." The word μακαριος, (blessed, or happy,) however, occurs often. See Mt 5:3-11; 11:6; Mt 13:6, et saepe. The sense here is, we speak of their patience with commendation. They have done what they ought to do, and their name is honoured and blessed.

Ye have heard of the patience of Job. As one of the most illustrious instances of patient sufferers. See Job 1:21. The book of Job was written, among other reasons, to show that true religion would bear any form of trial to which it could be subjected. See Job 1:9-11; Job 2:5-6.

And have seen the end of the Lord. That is, the end or design which the Lord had in the trials of Job, or the result to which he brought the case at last--to wit, that he showed himself to be very merciful to the poor sufferer; that he met him with the expressions of his approbation for the manner in which he bore his trials; and that he doubled his former possessions, and restored him to more than his former happiness and honour. See Job 42. Augustine, Luther, Wetstein, and others, understand this as referring to the death of the Lord Jesus, and as meaning that they had seen the manner in which he suffered death, as an example for us. But, though this might strike many as the true interpretation, yet the objections to it are insuperable.

(1.) It does not accord with the proper meaning of the word end, (τελος.) That word is in no instance applied to death, nor does it properly express death. It properly denotes an end, term, termination, completion: and is used in the following senses:

(a) to denote the end, the termination, or the last of anything, Mk 3:26; 1Cor 15:24; Lk 21:9; Heb 7:3;

(b) an event, issue, or result, Mt 26:58; Rom 6:21; 2Cor 11:18;

(c) the final purpose,, that to which all the parts tend, and in which they terminate, 1Timm 1:5;

(d) tax, custom, or tribute--what is paid for public ends or purposes, Mt 17:25; Rom 13:7.

(2.) This interpretation, referring it to the death of the Saviour, would not accord with the remark of the apostle in the close of the verse, "that the Lord is very merciful." That is, what he says was "seen," or this was what was particularly illustrated in the case referred to. Yet this was not particularly seen in the death of the Lord Jesus. He was indeed most patient and submissive in his death, and it is true that he showed mercy to the penitent malefactor; but this was not the particular and most prominent trait which he evinced in his death. Besides, if it had been, that would not have been the thing to which the apostle would have referred here. His object was to recommend patience under trials, not mercy shown to others; and this he does by showing

(a) that Job was an eminent instance of it, and

(b) that the result was such as to encourage us to be patient. The end or the result of the Divine dealings in his case was, that the Lord was "very pitiful and of tender mercy;" and we may hope that it will be so in our case, and should therefore be encouraged to be patient under our trials.

That the Lord is very pitiful. As he showed deep compassion in the case of Job, we have equal reason to suppose that he will in our own.

(a) "count them happy which endure" Ps 94:12; Mt 5:10 (b) "patience of Job" Job 1:21 (c) "the end of the Lord" Job 42:10

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 We count them happy which endure - According to that saying of our blessed Lord, Blessed are ye when men shall persecute and revile you - for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Mat 5:11, Mat 5:12, etc. Ye have heard of the patience of Job - Stripped of all his worldly possessions, deprived at a stroke of all his children, tortured in body with sore disease, tempted by the devil, harassed by his wife, and calumniated by his friends, he nevertheless held fast his integrity, resigned himself to the Divine dispensations, and charged not God foolishly. And have seen the end of the Lord - The issue to which God brought all his afflictions and trials, giving him children, increasing his property, lengthening out his life, and multiplying to him every kind of spiritual and secular good. This was God's end with respect to him; but the devil's end was to drive him to despair, and to cause him to blaspheme his Maker. This mention of Job shows him to have been a real person; for a fictitious person would not have been produced as an example of any virtue so highly important as that of patience and perseverance. The end of the Lord is a Hebraism for the issue to which God brings any thing or business. The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy - Instead of πολυσπλαγχνος, which we translate very pitiful, and which might be rendered of much sympathy, from πολυς, much, and σπλαγχνον, a bowel, (because any thing that affects us with commiseration causes us to feel an indescribable emotion of the bowels), several MSS. have πολυευσπλαγχνος, from παλυς, much, ευ, easily, and σπλαγχνον, a bowel, a word not easy to be translated; but it signifies one whose commiseration is easily excited, and whose commiseration is great or abundant.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 5:7-11

Consider him that waits for a crop of corn; and will not you wait for a crown of glory? If you should be called to wait longer than the husbandman, is not there something more worth waiting for? In every sense the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and all his people's losses, hardships, and sufferings, would be repaid. Men count time long, because they measure it by their own lives; but all time is as nothing to God; it…

Read the full comment on James 5:7-11 →

James 5:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἰδοὺidouBeholdG2400

μακαρίζομενmakarizomenwe count blessedG3106

τοὺςtousthoseG3588

ὑπομείναντας·hupomeinantashaving persevered;G5278

τὴνtēnTheG3588

ὑπομονὴνhupomonēnperseveranceG5281

ἸὼβIōbof JobG2492

ἠκούσατεēkousateyou have heard ofG191

καὶkaiandG2532

τὸtotheG3588

τέλοςtelosoutcomeG5056

κυρίουkurioufrom [the] LordG2962

εἴδετε,eideteyou have seen,G1492

ὅτιhotithatG3754

πολύσπλαγχνόςpolusplagchnosfull of compassionG4184

ἐστινestinisG1510

ὁhotheG3588

κύριοςkuriosLordG2962

καὶkaiandG2532

οἰκτίρμων.¶oiktirmōn[is] merciful.G3629

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for James 5:11

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Exodus 34:6
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Job 1:21-22
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Matthew 5:10-11
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Job 2:10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Job 42:10-17
And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. …
Psalms 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Psalms 103:8
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Luke 6:36
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

we count.
1:12; Ps 94:12; Mt 5:10,11; 10:22; Heb 3:6,14; 10:39
Ye.
Job 1:21,22-2:9,10; 13:15,16; 23:10
and have.
Job 42:10-17; Ps 37:37; Ec 7:8; 1Pe 1:6,7,13; 2Pe 2:9
the Lord is.
Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; 1Ch 21:13; 2Ch 30:9; Ne 9:17,31; Ps 25:6,7
Ps 51:1; 78:38; 86:5,15; 103:8,13; 116:5; 119:132; 136:1-26
Ps 145:8; Isa 55:6,7; 63:7,9; La 3:22; Da 9:9,18,19; Joe 2:13
Jon 4:2; Mic 7:18; Lu 1:50; 6:36; Ro 2:4; Eph 1:6; 2:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

James 5:10
Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. 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.
James 5:12
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Read all of James 5

James 5:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	He aquí, tenemos por bienaventurados á los que sufren. Habéis oído la paciencia de Job, y habéis visto el fin del Señor, que el Señor es muy misericordioso y piadoso.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Voici, nous disons bienheureux ceux qui endurent l’épreuve avec patience. Vous avez entendu parler de la patience de Job, et vous avez vu la fin du ✶Seigneur, savoir que le ✶Seigneur est plein de compassion et miséricordieux.
German Elberfelder 1871	Siehe, wir preisen die glückselig, welche ausgeharrt haben. Von dem Ausharren Hiobs habt ihr gehört, und das Ende des Herrn habt ihr gesehen, daß der Herr voll innigen Mitgefühls und barmherzig ist.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ecce beatificamus eos qui sustinuerunt. Sufferentiam Job audistis, et finem Domini vidistis, quoniam misericors Dominus est, et miserator.