James 5:18

18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

James 5:18 Meaning and Commentary

James 5:18

And he prayed again
( 1 Kings 18:42 1 Kings 18:43 ) . Here also is no express mention of his prayer, but it may be concluded from his gestures; and so the Jewish interpreters understand these words, "Elijah went up to the top of Carmel", (llpthl) , "to pray, and he cast himself down upon the earth", (Mymvgh le llpthl) , "to pray for rain; and he put his face between his knees", (llpthw) , "and prayed, and said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea"; and this he said while he was (wtlyptb) , "in his prayers" F9: and the effect of this his prayer was,

and the heaven gave rain;
see ( 1 Kings 18:45 ) .

And the earth brought forth her fruit:
which for the years past it had not; hence there was a sore famine in the land, ( 1 Kings 18:2 ) . Now the apostle chose to give this example, because it was a common thing for the Jews to ask for rain: we often read of such a doctor, that he prayed for rain, and it came; and of another, that he asked for the rains, and they descended F11: and his view is to observe, that the weakness and infirmities of the saints ought not to discourage them from prayer; and that they should be earnest and fervent in it, as was Elias, a man of like passions with themselves.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Jarchi, Kimchi, Ralbag, & Laniado in loc.
F11 T. Bab. Moed Katon, fol. 28. 1. & Taanith, fol. 19. 1. 23. 1. 24. 2. 25. 2. & Yoma, fol. 53. 2.

James 5:18 In-Context

16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another,
20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.