Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the farmer's patience isn't passive; it's tied to specific, necessary events – the early and late rains that promise the harvest. Similarly, our patience as believers is grounded not just in enduring hardship, but in the faithful promise of God's timing and provision, which will culminate in His promised return.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The letter has been addressing the injustices faced by the poor at the hands of the rich, urging them to endure their suffering. James now calls for patience, encouraging believers to look forward to the Lord's return as the ultimate day of vindication and deliverance. He uses the relatable example of a farmer patiently waiting for their crops to mature, highlighting the necessary waiting period for the "early and late rains" that bring forth fruit.
Feeling wronged and oppressed? James calls believers to a specific kind of patience, one that endures hardship until God’s justice is fully realized.
James exhorts believers to be "long-suffering" (μακροθυμήσατε), a patience that is not easily exhausted and is exercised especially towards people who wrong us. This enduring spirit is crucial because the trials and injustices faced are real and painful. The "therefore" in the verse connects this patience directly to the preceding discussion about the suffering righteous and the coming judgment of the wicked. The goal isn't just passive waiting, but a resilient, enduring spirit that holds firm through difficulties, knowing that a final deliverance and justice are assured.
What can a farmer teach us about waiting? James uses the image of agriculture to illustrate a profound truth about trusting in God's timing.
The farmer’s patient waiting for the "precious fruit of the earth" provides a powerful analogy for Christian endurance. This waiting isn't passive resignation but an active, hopeful expectation tied to the natural cycles God ordained. The "early and the latter rains" were essential for a successful harvest in ancient Palestine, signifying that the farmer trusts in God's provision and timing for growth. Just as the farmer cannot force the harvest, believers are called to trust God's perfect timing for His justice and deliverance, understanding that His provision (like the rains) is certain.
Ask a follow-up
Why does James point us to the 'coming of the Lord' as the goal of our patience? It’s the ultimate anchor for hope in a suffering world.
The ultimate "therefore" for the believer's patience is the certainty of the Lord's return. This event is not just a future date but a present reality that shapes how we endure hardship. The "coming of the Lord" signifies the final culmination of God's plan—a time when justice will be fully established, wrongs will be righted, and His people will be delivered from suffering. This anticipation encourages believers to persevere, knowing that their present trials are temporary and that their ultimate reward and vindication are guaranteed when Christ returns.
Understand the original words
makrothymēsate · Greek Verb
The virtue of self-restraint and endurance under trial or provocation, reflecting God’s own character in delaying judgment and showing grace.
parousias · Greek Noun
A technical term in the New Testament referring to the future, visible, and glorious return of Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead and to consummate His kingdom.
The 'early and latter rains' were vital for agriculture in ancient Palestine, symbolizing God's provision and the timing of His blessings. James uses this familiar imagery to encourage his readers to patiently await the Lord's return, trusting that His timing, like the seasons, is perfect and will bring ultimate justice and reward.
c. 1400 BC
Torah Given at Sinai
The Law is given to Israel, including commands about seasons and agriculture, like the 'early and latter rains' in Deuteronomy 11:14.
c. 8th Century BC
Prophets Speak of Drought
Prophets like Joel and Jeremiah warn Israel of drought and famine as a consequence of disobedience, often referencing the importance of the rains.
c. 605-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
Many Jewish people are exiled to Babylon, a land with different rainfall patterns, highlighting their longing for the rains of their homeland.
c. 516 BC
Return from Exile
Some Jews return to Jerusalem, facing hardships and rebuilding their lives, requiring patience and hope for restoration.
c. 400 BC - AD 1
Intertestamental Period
A period of relative quiet from major prophetic pronouncements, but marked by Roman occupation and growing Messianic expectation.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Ascension
Jesus teaches about the 'coming of the Son of Man' and the signs of the times, including references to agricultural parables and future judgment.
c. AD 40-50— this verse
James Writes His Letter
James addresses Jewish Christians facing severe economic hardship, social injustice, and persecution, urging them to patient endurance until the Lord's return.
This passage directly references the 'early and the latter rain' in the context of God's blessings for obedience, highlighting the crucial importance of these rains for the land and its harvest, mirroring James' agricultural analogy.
Jeremiah 5:24Jeremiah laments that the wicked 'do not consider in their hearts that I their God the LORD … regardeth it not,' connecting the withholding of the 'early and latter rain' to a lack of God's presence and the people's spiritual disregard.
Matthew 24:3This verse discusses the disciples asking Jesus about 'the sign of your coming and the end of the age,' which aligns with James' exhortation to patience 'until the coming of the Lord,' emphasizing the expectation of a future divine intervention.
1 Corinthians 7:29Paul urges believers that 'the appointed time has grown very short' and to live as though they 'have no dealings with the world,' resonating with James' call for patience in light of the imminent coming of the Lord.
Job 5:10This verse speaks of God sending 'rain upon the earth and sends water on the fields,' showing God as the ultimate provider of the essential rains that sustain life and yield a harvest, reinforcing the idea of God's sovereign control over the timing of blessings.
barnesJames 5:7: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."
Be patient therefore, brethren - That is, under such wrongs as the apostle had described in the previous verses. Those whom he addressed were doubtless suffering under those oppressions, and his object was to induce them to bear their wrongs without murmuring and without resistance…
vincentJames 5:7: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."
Be patient (μακροθυμήσατε)From μακρός, long, and θυμός, soul or spirit, but with the sense of strong passion, stronger even than ὀργή, anger, as is maintained by Schmidt ("Synonymik"), who describes θυμός as a tumultuous welling up of the whole spirit; a mighty emotion which…
The verse highlights that the farmer's patience isn't passive; it's tied to specific, necessary events – the early and late rains that promise the harvest. Similarly, our patience as believers is grounded not just in enduring hardship, but in the faithful promise of God's timing and provision, which will culminate in His promised return.
The letter has been addressing the injustices faced by the poor at the hands of the rich, urging them to endure their suffering. James now calls for patience, encouraging believers to look forward to the Lord's return as the ultimate day of vindication and deliverance. He uses the relatable example of a farmer patiently waiting for their crops to mature, highlighting the necessary waiting period for the "early and late rains" that bring forth fruit.
The letter has been addressing the injustices faced by the poor at the hands of the rich, urging them to endure their suffering. James now calls for patience, encouraging believers to look forward to the Lord's return as the ultimate day of vindication and deliverance. He uses the relatable example of a farmer patiently waiting for their crops to mature, highlighting the necessary waiting period for the "early and late rains" that bring forth fruit.
"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains." — The verse highlights that the farmer's patience isn't passive; it's tied to specific, necessary events – the early and late rains that promise the harvest. Similarly, our patience as believers is g…
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Last reviewed October 2026