And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the prayer of faith can bring about healing, not because of the oil or the elders themselves, but because God, the Lord, is the one who ultimately raises the sick. Furthermore, it implies a connection between physical sickness and sin, suggesting that forgiveness of sins is intertwined with the restoration of health.
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James is addressing believers who are facing sickness and hardship, urging them to call for the elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the Lord's name. This follows his instructions on oaths and the importance of letting one's word be trustworthy. The elders' prayer, fueled by faith, is presented as a means through which God can bring healing and forgiveness to the afflicted believer.
Does God automatically heal and forgive when we pray? James gives us a powerful picture, but it’s not about a magical formula.
James 5:15 highlights that it's the 'prayer of faith' that saves the sick. This isn't about reciting words or performing a ritual; it's about a deep, confident trust in God's ability and willingness to act.
Unwavering Confidence:
When we pray in faith, we are not demanding a specific outcome, like guaranteed recovery. Instead, we are placing our complete trust in God, believing He will do what is best, whether that's healing, peace, or something else entirely. It's about committing the situation to Him, knowing He is sovereign.
The Role of Means:
This prayer of faith often accompanies the use of 'means' – the practical steps we take, like seeking medical care. These are not ineffectual; rather, they are the pathways God often uses. Without His blessing, these means alone would be insufficient.
Why does God sometimes link sickness and sin? This verse offers a profound connection that speaks to His desire for our wholeness.
James addresses a significant reality: sickness can be a consequence of sin. When the elders pray for a sick person who has committed sins, the promise is twofold: healing and forgiveness.
Removing the Cause:
When sickness is a result of sin, forgiving the sin addresses the root cause. As Clarke notes, 'if the effect be to cease, the cause must be removed.' God's desire is for our complete well-being, encompassing both physical and spiritual restoration.
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A Path to Repentance:
Even when sickness isn't a direct punishment for a specific sin, it can serve as a powerful catalyst for introspection and repentance. It calls us to remember our unfaithfulness, to turn back to God, and to seek His pardon, leading to a restored relationship and renewed life.
The promise of healing is powerful, but James adds a crucial qualifier that reminds us of who is ultimately in charge.
While the prayer of faith is powerful and God often heals in response, James doesn't present it as an automatic guarantee. The elders pray, and 'the Lord shall raise him up.' This emphasizes that the ultimate power to heal belongs to God alone.
God's Will Prevails:
As commentators point out, these promises are always understood with the restriction, 'if it shall be the will of God.' God's wisdom surpasses ours, and sometimes healing may not be His plan for a particular person at a particular time. This doesn't negate the power of prayer, but it places it within the framework of God's perfect will.
Praying for God's Glory:
In cases where healing might not be God's immediate plan, our prayers should align with His ultimate purposes. Clarke suggests praying 'If it be most for thy glory, and the eternal good of this man's soul, let him be restored; if otherwise, Lord, pardon, purify him, and take him to thy glory.' This is the heart of surrendered prayer.
Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
A conviction or trust in God’s power and character. It is not a human effort but a reliance on the promises and will of God to accomplish His purpose.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To be made whole, rescued, or delivered from death or destruction. In a spiritual sense, it refers to salvation from sin, but it also carries the nuance of physical restoration.
hamartia · Greek Noun
A transgression against God's law or a failure to reach His standard of holiness. It creates a breach in the relationship between man and God.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
The removal of guilt and the restoration of a relationship after an offense. It is a divine act based on the sacrifice of Christ, granting the believer freedom from the penalty of sin.
This passage shows King Hezekiah directly praying for healing from a deadly illness, and God responding by adding fifteen years to his life, illustrating a historical precedent for prayer leading to physical restoration.
Matthew 9:2-5Here, Jesus directly links the forgiveness of sins to the healing of a paralytic, demonstrating the profound connection between spiritual and physical well-being that James echoes.
1 John 5:14-15This passage assures believers that if we ask anything according to God's will, He hears us, providing a foundational promise of God's responsiveness to prayer, which underpins the confidence spoken of in James.
Mark 6:13This verse describes the disciples anointing the sick with oil and healing them, offering a parallel New Testament account of the practice described by James, where spiritual ministry leads to physical restoration.
barnesJames 5:15: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
And the prayer of faith - The prayer offered in faith, or in the exercise of confidence in God. It is not said that the particular form of the faith exercised shall be that the sick man will certainly recover; but there is to be unwavering confidence in God, a belief that he will do what is best, and a cheerful committing of the cause into his ha…
clarkeJames 5:15: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
And the prayer of faith; shall save the sick - That is, God will often make these the means of a sick man's recovery; but there often are cases where faith and prayer are both ineffectual, because God sees it will be prejudicial to the patient's salvation to be restored; and therefore all faith and prayer on such occasions should be exerted on th…
The verse highlights that the prayer of faith can bring about healing, not because of the oil or the elders themselves, but because God, the Lord, is the one who ultimately raises the sick. Furthermore, it implies a connection between physical sickness and sin, suggesting that forgiveness of sins is intertwined with the restoration of health.
James is addressing believers who are facing sickness and hardship, urging them to call for the elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the Lord's name. This follows his instructions on oaths and the importance of letting one's word be trustworthy. The elders' prayer, fueled by faith, is presented as a means through which God can bring healing and forgiveness to the afflicted believer.
James is addressing believers who are facing sickness and hardship, urging them to call for the elders to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the Lord's name. This follows his instructions on oaths and the importance of letting one's word be trustworthy. The elders' prayer, fueled by faith, is presented as a means through which God can bring healing and forgiveness to the afflicted believer.
"And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." — The verse highlights that the prayer of faith can bring about healing, not because of the oil or the elders themselves, but because God, the Lord, is the one who ultimately raises the sick. Furthermo…
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Last reviewed October 2026