and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The surprising focus here isn't on the rich man suffering a loss, but on his internal state of "humiliation." James is urging the wealthy believer to find joy not in outward circumstances changing, but in a humble mindset that recognizes his true status is the same as the poor brother, especially in light of how fleeting all earthly possessions are.
and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James begins by instructing both the poor and the rich to find joy amidst trials, highlighting that true exaltation comes from God, not earthly status. He then shifts to address the wealthy brother specifically, urging him to rejoice not in his riches, but in his humiliation. This might seem counterintuitive, but James explains it's because worldly wealth is as fleeting and temporary as a flower that quickly withers.
We often think of 'humiliation' as something to avoid. But what if, for the rich, it's the very thing they should embrace?
James presents a surprising twist for the wealthy. Instead of exulting in their riches, they are called to find joy in their 'humiliation.' This isn't about being brought low by poverty, but about a profound inner shift.
A Heart of Lowliness
This 'humiliation' (the Greek word here speaks of lowliness or humility) is about recognizing their true state before God. Wealth can puff us up, making us feel superior. James urges the rich brother to see that his true worth isn't in his possessions, but in his lowliness of heart. It's about acknowledging his need for God, just like the poor brother.
Embracing True Value
This isn't about losing wealth, but about re-evaluating what truly matters. When the rich man embraces this inner humility, he finds a deeper joy that earthly riches can't provide. It’s a choice to glory in his spiritual reality over his material status.
What's the ultimate fate of all earthly glory and riches? James uses a powerful, natural image to remind us.
The reason the rich man finds joy in his humiliation is tied to the transient nature of his wealth and status. James vividly compares worldly prosperity to 'the flower of the grass.'
A Striking Simile
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This imagery isn't just poetic; it's a stark reminder of instability. The grass flower is beautiful but incredibly temporary. It blooms and then quickly withers away. This is exactly how earthly riches and worldly glory function.
The Impermanence of Wealth
James forces the rich reader to confront the fact that their wealth is not permanent. It can be lost, and even if it isn't, it cannot be taken into eternity. Recognizing this fleetingness helps detach the heart from material possessions and find security in something more lasting.
Understand the original words
tapeinōsis · Greek Noun
The state of being brought low or humbled. For the believer, this often refers to the recognition of one's own limitations, the fleeting nature of worldly wealth, or the voluntary humility practiced for the sake of the gospel.
James is writing into a context where the stark contrast between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses was a daily reality, mirroring the social dynamics Jesus himself addressed.
c. 400-300 BC
The Septuagint Translation
The Greek translation of the Old Testament (LXX) becomes widely influential, often using imagery like the 'flower of the grass' to describe fleeting human glory.
c. 20-4 BC
Herod the Great's Reign
A period of significant economic disparity in Judea, with a wealthy elite coexisting with a large population of the poor.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus frequently taught about the dangers of wealth and the value of humility, using parables and direct statements that resonated with themes found in James.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The foundational events of Christianity, emphasizing spiritual riches over material wealth and the ultimate vanity of earthly glory.
c. AD 40s-50s
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The nascent Christian communities faced internal challenges related to social status and external pressures, including persecution that tested the faith of both rich and poor.
c. AD 45-50— this verse
James Writes His Epistle
James addresses his letter to Jewish Christians scattered abroad, urging them to live out their faith authentically amidst trials, economic hardship, and social divisions.
c. AD 62
Martyrdom of James
The leader of the Jerusalem church, James, is martyred, highlighting the dangers faced by early Christian leaders and the ultimate transience of earthly power.
This passage strikingly echoes the imagery of James 1:10, comparing the fleeting glory of humanity to the wilting flower of grass, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly splendor.
Matthew 6:30Jesus uses a similar comparison to the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow cast into the oven, to teach about the temporary nature of worldly concerns and the importance of prioritizing God's kingdom.
1 Peter 1:24Peter directly quotes Isaiah, reinforcing the idea that 'all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the field,' highlighting the shared biblical theme of human life's impermanence compared to God's enduring word.
Luke 14:11Jesus' teaching, 'Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted,' provides the theological backdrop for James' instruction to the rich man to rejoice in his humiliation, suggesting that true exaltation comes from embracing humility.
ellicottJames 1:10: "But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away."
(10) But the rich, in that he is made low (or, better, in his humiliation ) . —And, on the other hand, let a change of state be a cause of joy to the rich man, hard though the effort thereto must confessedly be. There is an antithesis between his humiliation and the humility of “the brother of low degree:” “God putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:7). Such seems to be the pr…
clarkeJames 1:10: "But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away."
But the rich, in that he is made low - Εν τῃ ταπεινωσει· In his humiliation - in his being brought to the foot of the cross to receive, as a poor and miserable sinner, redemption through the blood of the cross: and especially let him rejoice in this, because all outward glory is only as the flower of the field, and, like that, will wither and perish.
The surprising focus here isn't on the rich man suffering a loss, but on his internal state of "humiliation." James is urging the wealthy believer to find joy not in outward circumstances changing, but in a humble mindset that recognizes his true status is the same as the poor brother, especially in light of how fleeting all earthly possessions are.
James begins by instructing both the poor and the rich to find joy amidst trials, highlighting that true exaltation comes from God, not earthly status. He then shifts to address the wealthy brother specifically, urging him to rejoice not in his riches, but in his humiliation. This might seem counterintuitive, but James explains it's because worldly wealth is as fleeting and temporary as a flower that quickly withers.
James begins by instructing both the poor and the rich to find joy amidst trials, highlighting that true exaltation comes from God, not earthly status. He then shifts to address the wealthy brother specifically, urging him to rejoice not in his riches, but in his humiliation. This might seem counterintuitive, but James explains it's because worldly wealth is as fleeting and temporary as a flower that quickly withers.
"and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away." — The surprising focus here isn't on the rich man suffering a loss, but on his internal state of "humiliation." James is urging the wealthy believer to find joy not in outward circumstances changing, b…
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Last reviewed October 2026