James highlights that the farmer's patience isn't just passive waiting, but an active, hopeful expectation tied to specific, vital conditions—the early and late rains. This shows that true patience isn't simply enduring hardship, but trusting that God, like the farmer, will provide the necessary "showers" at the right time to bring about the promised harvest.
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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
James has just warned the rich oppressors, painting a grim picture of their coming judgment. Now, he turns to the believers, likely facing hardship and injustice, urging them to endure with patience until Christ returns. He uses the analogy of a farmer waiting for his crops, highlighting the necessity of patience through the seasons, dependent on both the early and late rains, to yield a valuable harvest.
When life throws unfairness your way, how do you respond? James urges a specific kind of patience – not just gritting your teeth, but a deep, enduring spirit.
James uses the Greek word 'makrothymeo' here, which is more than just waiting. It's about 'long-suffering' – a patient, enduring spirit that isn't easily provoked, especially towards people. While another Greek word, 'hypomono,' focuses on enduring difficult circumstances, 'makrothymeo' emphasizes holding back your strong emotions, particularly anger, when faced with wrongs.
Think of it as a deep reservoir of patience. It's not about having a short burst of endurance, but a sustained, resilient spirit that lasts. This is the kind of patience God himself displays towards us, and it's the quality James calls us to cultivate, especially when we feel wronged or oppressed.
What can the simple act of farming teach us about waiting for God's promises to be fulfilled?
The farmer is presented as the ultimate example of patient expectation. He doesn't see a seed planted and demand a harvest the next day. Instead, he waits through the necessary seasons, trusting the process.
This waiting involves the 'early and the latter rains.' These weren't just any rains; they were crucial for the crop's growth and maturity in the ancient Near East. The early rains softened the ground for sowing, and the latter rains in the spring helped the grain ripen. The farmer’s patient waiting until both these essential rains arrived mirrors our need to wait for God's timing.
His patience isn't passive; it's expectant. He's not just enduring the wait; he's actively looking forward to the 'precious fruit of the earth' – the reward for his labor and hope.
Ask a follow-up
James anchors this call for patience in a future event. What does 'the coming of the Lord' mean for those facing hardship today?
The 'coming of the Lord' here is the anchor for the believer’s patience. This refers to the ultimate return of Jesus Christ, an event that was eagerly anticipated by the early church and still is by believers today.
This 'coming' signifies several things: the final judgment for oppressors, the complete vindication of the righteous, and the end of all suffering and injustice. It’s the ultimate resolution where wrongs are righted and God's people are delivered.
James doesn’t give a specific date, but he emphasizes that this event draws near. This nearness serves as a powerful motivation. Knowing that Christ's return is the guaranteed end to present struggles gives us the strength and perspective to endure patiently, trusting that our present afflictions are temporary and that a glorious reunion and reward await.
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.
stērixate · Greek Verb
The act of strengthening, fixing, or setting someone firmly in their resolve or faith, often in preparation for a spiritual challenge.
James urges his readers to patient endurance, using the analogy of a farmer waiting for the rains. This encouragement was particularly relevant in the face of severe social injustice and the prevailing expectation of Christ's imminent return, which fueled hope for deliverance and divine judgment.
c. 4 BCE - 30/33 CE
Life and Ministry of Jesus
Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God, the return of the Son of Man, and the need for His followers to be watchful and endure trials.
c. 30-33 CE
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus' death and resurrection formed the core of the early Christian message, with His promised return being a central theme of hope and expectation.
c. 40s - 60s CE
The Apostle James' Ministry
James, the brother of Jesus, became a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church, known for his emphasis on practical faith and good works.
c. 40s - 60s CE— this verse
James' Letter to the Diaspora
James writes his letter to Jewish Christians scattered outside of Jerusalem, addressing their trials, temptations, and the need for perseverance.
c. 62 CE
Martyrdom of James
According to historical accounts, James was martyred in Jerusalem, a tragic event that underscores the real dangers faced by early believers.
70 CE
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event that marked the end of an era for Judaism and had profound implications for Jewish Christians.
This verse highlights how the lack of rain, due to unfaithfulness, affects the harvest, connecting to the farmer's dependence on the 'early and latter rains' for his crops and the broader theme of God's provision tied to obedience.
Hosea 6:3This passage speaks of pursuing knowledge of the Lord, with the assurance that His coming is like the dawn, and He will come to us like the early and latter rain upon the earth, mirroring James's theme of waiting for the Lord's coming as a source of renewal.
Matthew 13:30Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds, where both are allowed to grow together until the harvest, illustrates the wisdom of waiting for God's appointed time to separate and judge, much like the farmer waits for the harvest.
Romans 8:25Paul speaks of if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience, which directly parallels James's exhortation to patient waiting, using the farmer as an analogy for enduring present suffering with an eye on future hope.
1 Corinthians 15:23This passage speaks of Christ's resurrection and then 'those who belong to Christ at his coming,' emphasizing the future event of the Lord's return as the culmination of God's redemptive plan, which is the focus of the patient waiting James describes.
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…
James highlights that the farmer's patience isn't just passive waiting, but an active, hopeful expectation tied to specific, vital conditions—the early and late rains. This shows that true patience isn't simply enduring hardship, but trusting that God, like the farmer, will provide the necessary "showers" at the right time to bring about the promised harvest.
James has just warned the rich oppressors, painting a grim picture of their coming judgment. Now, he turns to the believers, likely facing hardship and injustice, urging them to endure with patience until Christ returns. He uses the analogy of a farmer waiting for his crops, highlighting the necessity of patience through the seasons, dependent on both the early and late rains, to yield a valuable harvest.
James has just warned the rich oppressors, painting a grim picture of their coming judgment. Now, he turns to the believers, likely facing hardship and injustice, urging them to endure with patience until Christ returns. He uses the analogy of a farmer waiting for his crops, highlighting the necessity of patience through the seasons, dependent on both the early and late rains, to yield a valuable harvest.
"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. You also, be patient. Establish your heart…" — James highlights that the farmer's patience isn't just passive waiting, but an active, hopeful expectation tied to specific, vital conditions—the early and late rains. This shows that true patience i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
