Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word for "miseries" isn't just general hardship, but a more intense suffering that implies a life of hardship and distress. James uses a present participle for "coming," suggesting these devastating troubles aren't just future possibilities, but a present reality already unfolding for the rich.
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James has just finished warning believers against faulty reasoning and urging them to patient endurance. Now, he directly addresses the wealthy who have been exploiting others, foretelling severe judgment and intense suffering that is imminently coming upon them. This harsh prophetic denunciation sets the stage for the subsequent exhortation for believers to patiently await the Lord's return.
James doesn't just warn the rich; he commands them to 'weep and howl.' What makes this call so urgent?
The Greek word for 'coming' (eperchomenais) is a present participle, suggesting that the miseries are not just a future possibility but an ongoing, imminent reality. James isn't speaking of a distant event, but of a judgment that is already on its way, like a storm gathering on the horizon. This is why the tone is so intense – the time for complacency is over, and the time for a reckoning has begun.
James uses two powerful words for grief: 'weep' and 'howl.' What's the difference, and why does it matter?
While 'weep' (klausate) denotes sorrow, 'howl' (ololuzontes) is a more intense, guttural cry of anguish. It’s a sound of deep, uncontrollable despair, often associated with mourning in the Old Testament. James isn't asking for polite sadness; he's calling for a visceral reaction to the impending miseries. This isn't the sorrow that leads to repentance (as seen in 2 Corinthians 7:10), but a wailing born of sheer terror and the recognition of inevitable loss.
James targets 'the rich,' but is it about wealth itself, or something else entirely?
The context from James 2 and the surrounding verses in chapter 5 makes it clear: James isn't condemning wealth itself. He's condemning the rich who oppress the poor, who hoard wealth unjustly, and who live in luxury while others suffer. The 'miseries' they face are the direct result of their exploitative actions. This judgment is a consequence of their sin, not simply their economic status. The historical context points to the rich who persecuted believers and exploited the poor, facing a coming divine reckoning.
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Understand the original words
plousioi · Greek Adjective/Noun
Refers to those possessing material abundance, often used in scripture to describe those whose trust is placed in wealth rather than God, leading to spiritual pride and indifference toward the poor.
talaipōriais · Greek Noun
An act of divine or natural punishment or suffering that results from human rebellion, injustice, or the unavoidable consequences of living in a fallen world.
James' warning to the rich was not just a theological abstract but a prophetic pronouncement directly tied to the impending, brutal destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation by the Romans, a judgment stemming from their rejection of Jesus and their oppressive treatment of the poor.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus, the 'Just One' whom the wealthy Jewish leaders and populace rejected, is crucified. This event would become a central point of condemnation against the Jewish leadership and nation.
c. AD 40s-60s
Growing Unrest in Judea
Tensions rise between Jewish nationalists, Roman authorities, and wealthy elites within Judea. Oppression of the poor by the rich is rampant, creating social and economic instability.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Writing of the Epistle of James
James, the brother of Jesus, writes his epistle. In this context, he issues a stark warning to the wealthy oppressors, foretelling imminent judgment.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
The Jewish revolt against Roman rule escalates into a full-scale war. This period saw immense suffering, famine, and destruction, particularly impacting the wealthy who were often targets of Zealot seizure.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Roman forces, led by Titus, besiege and utterly destroy Jerusalem and its Temple. This cataclysmic event fulfills Jesus' prophecies and represents a devastating judgment on the nation.
This passage provides a direct contrast to the rich James addresses, highlighting the woes that await those who are currently rich and satisfied, emphasizing the reversal that will occur.
Matthew 25:41-46This parable of the sheep and goats illustrates divine judgment based on how people treated others, especially the vulnerable, providing a thematic parallel to James' condemnation of the rich for their oppression.
Amos 5:11-12The prophet Amos strongly condemns the rich for extorting from the poor and perverting justice, echoing James' prophetic tone and message of impending judgment for the wealthy oppressors.
1 Timothy 6:9-10Paul warns about the dangers of loving money and the greed that can lead to ruin, complementing James' stern warning by explaining the spiritual root of the rich's impending misery.
Revelation 18:11-19This passage describes the future judgment and fall of a wealthy, oppressive system, offering a powerful apocalyptic vision that parallels James' prophecy of coming destruction for the unrighteous rich.
vincentJames 5:1: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you."
Go toSee on James 4:13.Weep and howl (κλαύσατε ὀλολύζοντες)Lit., weep, howling. The latter is a descriptive word, ol-ol-uz-o. Only here in New Testament, and denoting a more demonstrative and passionate expression of grief than weeping.Miseries (ταλαιπωρίαις)Only here and Romans 3:16. See on be afflicted, James 4:9.That shall come upon (ἐπερχομέναις)Present participle. More correctly, as Rev., t…
clarkeJames 5:1: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you."
Go to now - See on James 4:13 . Weep and howl for your miseries - St. James seems to refer here, in the spirit of prophecy, to the destruction that was coming upon the Jews, not only in Judea, but in all the provinces where they sojourned. He seems here to assume the very air and character of a prophet; and in the most dignified language and peculiarly expressive and energetic images, foretells the de…
The word for "miseries" isn't just general hardship, but a more intense suffering that implies a life of hardship and distress. James uses a present participle for "coming," suggesting these devastating troubles aren't just future possibilities, but a present reality already unfolding for the rich.
James has just finished warning believers against faulty reasoning and urging them to patient endurance. Now, he directly addresses the wealthy who have been exploiting others, foretelling severe judgment and intense suffering that is imminently coming upon them. This harsh prophetic denunciation sets the stage for the subsequent exhortation for believers to patiently await the Lord's return.
James has just finished warning believers against faulty reasoning and urging them to patient endurance. Now, he directly addresses the wealthy who have been exploiting others, foretelling severe judgment and intense suffering that is imminently coming upon them. This harsh prophetic denunciation sets the stage for the subsequent exhortation for believers to patiently await the Lord's return.
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you." — The word for "miseries" isn't just general hardship, but a more intense suffering that implies a life of hardship and distress. James uses a present participle for "coming," suggesting these devastat…
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Last reviewed October 2026