James 5 · Verse 19

James 5:19

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
James 5:19, King James Version

James 5:19 in other translations

BSBMy brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
WEBBrothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,
ASVMy brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him;
YLTBrethren, if any among you may go astray from the truth, and any one may turn him back,
DARBYMy brethren, if any one among you err from the truth, and one bring him back,
BBEMy brothers, if one of you has gone out of the way of the true faith and another has made him see his error,
WebsterBrethren, if any one of you should err from the truth, and one should convert him;

What does James 5:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. The blessing of reclaiming an erring sinner by the mutual consent and intercessory prayer just recommended. do err--more literally, "be led astray." the truth--the Gospel doctrine and precepts. one--literally, "any"; as "any" before. Everyone ought to seek the salvation of everyone [Bengel].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth. Either doctrinally and speculatively, by embracing error; or practically, by falling into sinful practices. Either of these may be called "erring from the truth," because they are contrary to what the truth teaches and requires. What is here said does not appear to have any connexion with what precedes, but the apostle seems to have supposed that such a case might occur; and, in the conclusion of the epistle, he called their attention to the importance of endeavouring to save an erring brother, if such an instance should happen. The exhortation would be proper in addressing a letter to any church, or in publicly addressing any congregation.

And one convert him. This does not mean convert him as a sinner, or regenerate him, but turn him from the error of his way; bring him back from his wanderings; re-establish him in the truth, and in the practice of virtue and religion. So far as the word used here is concerned, (επιστρεψη,) he who had erred from the truth, and who was to be converted, may have been a true Christian before. The word means simply to turn, sc., from his way of error. Lk 22:32.

(a) "one convert him" Mt 18:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 Err from the truth - Stray away from the Gospel of Christ; and one convert him - reclaim him from his error, and bring him back to the fold of Christ.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 5:19-20
It is no mark of a wise or holy man, to boast of being free from error, or to refuse to acknowledge an error. And there is some doctrinal mistake at the bottom of every practical mistake. There is no one habitually bad, but upon some bad principle. This is conversion; to turn a sinner from the error of his ways, not merely from one party to another, or from one notion and way of thinking to another. There is no way effectually and finally to hide sin, but forsaking it. Many sins are hindered in the party converted; many also may be so in others whom he may influence. The salvation of one soul is of infinitely greater importance than preserving the lives of multitudes, or promoting the welfare of a whole people. Let us in our several stations keep these things in mind, sparing no pains in God's service, and the event will prove that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. For six thousand years He has been multiplying pardons, and yet his free grace is not tired nor grown weary. Certainly Divine mercy is an ocean that is ever full and ever flowing. May the Lord give us a part in this abundant mercy, through the blood of Christ, and the sanctification of the Spirit.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

James 5:19 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.

ἈδελφοίAdelphoiBrothersG80
μου,mouof Mine,G3165
ἐάνeanifG1437
τιςtisanyoneG5100
ἐνenamongG1722
ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771
πλανηθῇplanēthēashall wanderG4105
ἀπὸapofromG575
τῆςtēstheG3588
ἀληθείαςalētheiastruthG225
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐπιστρέψῃepistrepsēshall bring backG1994
τιςtissomeoneG5100
αὐτόν,autonhim,G846

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

Cross references for James 5:19

  • Galatians 6:1

    Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

  • Matthew 18:15

    Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

  • James 5:20

    Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

  • Jude 1:22-23

    And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

  • Luke 22:32

    But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

  • Ezekiel 34:16

    I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

  • 2 Peter 3:17

    Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

  • 1 Timothy 6:10

    For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • Ezekiel 34:4

    The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

  • Isaiah 3:12

    As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

  • 1 Timothy 6:21

    Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.

  • Proverbs 19:27

    Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
err.
Ps 119:21,118; Pr 19:27; Isa 3:12; 1Ti 6:10,21; 2Ti 2:18; 2Pe 3:17
Jude 1:11
and one.
20; Eze 34:4,16; Mt 18:15; Lu 22:32; Ga 6:1; Heb 12:12,13
Jude 1:22,23

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

Context

  • James 5:18

    And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

  • James 5:19

    Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

  • James 5:20

    Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Read all of James 5

James 5:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Hermanos, si alguno de entre vosotros ha errado de la verdad, y alguno le convirtiere,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mes frères, si quelqu’un parmi vous s’égare de la vérité, et que quelqu’un le ramène,
German
Elberfelder 1871
Meine Brüder, wenn jemand unter euch von der Wahrheit abirrt, und es führt ihn jemand zurück,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Fratres mei, si quis ex vobis erraverit a veritate, et converterit quis eum: