Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that the oil was not primarily a medicinal remedy, but rather a tangible symbol used alongside prayer, intended to signify divine healing. The focus is on the prayer of faith invoking God's power, with the anointing acting as a visible sign of this spiritual intervention.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James is addressing practical matters of faith for believers facing hardship, following his exhortations on patience and prayer. He transitions from general suffering to the specific instance of physical sickness, instructing the person to involve the church leaders in seeking God's intervention. This passage is foundational for understanding early church leadership and practices related to healing.
When you're feeling unwell, who do you turn to? James gives specific instructions for who to call when sickness strikes.
James directs the sick person to 'call for the elders of the church.' This isn't just a suggestion; it highlights a specific office within the early church.
A Spiritual Connection
These elders were spiritual leaders, entrusted with guiding and caring for the congregation. They weren't just older members, but those recognized for their spiritual maturity and ability to lead in prayer and teaching. Calling them signifies a reliance on spiritual support, not just physical remedies.
Collective Faith
When the elders are called, they pray 'over him.' This implies a corporate prayer, where the elders, representing the community of faith, intercede on behalf of the sick individual. It underscores that faith is often a communal act, not solely an individual endeavor.
James mentions anointing with oil. What was its significance then, and what does it mean for us today?
The anointing with oil in this context was a symbolic act, deeply connected to prayer and faith. It wasn't a magical cure-all, but an outward expression of an inward reality.
More Than Medicine
While oil had medicinal properties in the ancient world, James doesn't present it as merely a physical remedy. The emphasis is on the prayer that accompanies it. The oil, used 'in the name of the Lord,' served as a tangible sign of God's power and presence being invoked for healing.
Ask a follow-up
A Sign of Faith
This anointing, coupled with prayer, was meant to be an act of faith. It demonstrated the sick person's trust in God's ability to heal, and the elders' reliance on God's power through Christ. The healing itself is attributed to the 'prayer of faith,' with the anointing being a visible component of that prayerful act.
James links forgiveness of sins to the healing of the sick. How does this relationship work?
James adds a crucial layer: 'if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.' This isn't to say every sickness is a direct punishment for sin, but it acknowledges a real connection.
Spiritual Root of Suffering
In Old Testament thinking, and often in the New Testament as well, sickness could be a consequence of sin, either personal or a result of living in a fallen world. By seeking God's healing, the sick person is also invited to confront any unconfessed sin that might be hindering their spiritual well-being or their relationship with God.
Holistic Restoration
God's desire is for holistic restoration—healing of both body and soul. When the elders pray, they pray for the sick person's overall well-being. Forgiveness of sins addresses the spiritual root, which can be a significant part of the healing process, allowing for true restoration and peace, whether physical healing follows or not.
Understand the original words
presbyteros · Greek Noun
Spiritual leaders or overseers within a local congregation who are tasked with pastoral care, teaching, and governing the church.
aleiphō · Greek Verb
The act of applying olive oil to a person, often symbolizing consecration, healing, or the invocation of the Holy Spirit's presence and power.
The instruction in James reflects the early church's practice, where oil was used as a tangible sign of God's healing power, often accompanying prayer for the sick, and was distinct from later developments like the sacrament of Extreme Unction.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Commissions His Apostles
During His earthly ministry, Jesus commissions the twelve apostles and later the seventy, empowering them to heal the sick and cast out demons, sometimes through anointing with oil.
c. AD 40s-50s
Apostolic Ministry and Early Church Organization
The apostles and early church leaders, including elders (presbyters), minister throughout the Roman Empire, establishing churches and developing organizational structures. The Epistle of James is generally dated to this period.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
A significant church council addresses issues of Gentile inclusion, demonstrating the developing leadership and decision-making processes within the early Christian community, involving apostles and elders.
c. AD 50-60— this verse
James Writes His Epistle
James, the brother of Jesus, writes his epistle, likely to Jewish Christians scattered throughout the Roman Empire, addressing practical matters of faith, including specific instructions for the sick.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Second Temple by the Romans marks a pivotal moment for Judaism and significantly impacts the early Christian movement, which was largely composed of Jewish believers.
c. AD 150-200
Early Church Fathers Discuss Anointing
Writings from figures like Tertullian mention the practice of anointing the sick with oil, often associating it with miraculous healing, though the exact connection to James's instruction begins to be debated.
c. AD 900-1200
Development of Extreme Unction
Over centuries, the practice of anointing the sick evolves. In the West, it becomes increasingly associated with the dying and formalised as the sacrament of 'Extreme Unction,' differing significantly from James's original context.
This passage describes the disciples anointing many sick people with oil and healing them, directly paralleling the practice mentioned by James and highlighting the healing aspect of this anointing.
Luke 10:34The parable of the Good Samaritan includes pouring oil and wine into wounds, showing a historical and cultural context where oil was associated with healing and care for the injured.
1 Corinthians 11:30This passage links sickness and even death to spiritual issues, specifically to a lack of discernment of the Lord's body, suggesting a potential connection between sin and physical suffering that James also touches upon in verse 15.
Acts 9:34Peter’s healing of Aeneas is described with the phrase 'Jesus Christ healeth thee,' emphasizing that healing comes through Christ's authority and power, a concept reinforced by James' instruction to anoint 'in the name of the Lord.'
1 Timothy 5:17This passage speaks of 'elders who rule well' and the honor due to them, providing context for the role of elders within the church structure, to whom the sick person is directed to call.
ellicottJames 5:14: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"
(14) The elders of the church — i.e., literally, the presbyters. The identity of “bishop” ( episcopus ) and “presbyter” in the language of the apostolic age seems conclusive. Such is the opinion of Lightfoot ( Epistle to the Philippians, 93-97; see also his Dissertation on the Christian Ministry, ibid., 180-267), and few may hope to gainsay…
expositorsJames 5:14: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"
Chapter 27 THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH-THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK AND EXTREME UNCTION. Jam 5:14-15 Two subjects stand out prominently in this interesting passage-the elders of the Church, and the anointing of the sick. The connection of the passage with what immediately precedes is close and obvious. After charging his readers in general terms t…
This verse highlights that the oil was not primarily a medicinal remedy, but rather a tangible symbol used alongside prayer, intended to signify divine healing. The focus is on the prayer of faith invoking God's power, with the anointing acting as a visible sign of this spiritual intervention.
James is addressing practical matters of faith for believers facing hardship, following his exhortations on patience and prayer. He transitions from general suffering to the specific instance of physical sickness, instructing the person to involve the church leaders in seeking God's intervention. This passage is foundational for understanding early church leadership and practices related to healing.
James is addressing practical matters of faith for believers facing hardship, following his exhortations on patience and prayer. He transitions from general suffering to the specific instance of physical sickness, instructing the person to involve the church leaders in seeking God's intervention. This passage is foundational for understanding early church leadership and practices related to healing.
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." — This verse highlights that the oil was not primarily a medicinal remedy, but rather a tangible symbol used alongside prayer, intended to signify divine healing. The focus is on the prayer of faith…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026