James 5:17

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "James.5.17", "source": "Ἠλίας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν, καὶ προσευχῇ προσηύξατο τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι: καὶ οὐκ ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ.", "text": "*Ēlias anthrōpos ēn homoiopathēs* us, and *proseuchē prosēuxato tou mē brexai*: and *ouk ebrexen epi tēs gēs eniautous treis kai mēnas hex*.", "grammar": { "*Ēlias*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Elijah", "*anthrōpos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - man/human", "*ēn*": "imperfect active, 3rd singular - was", "*homoiopathēs*": "nominative, masculine, singular - of like passions/nature", "us": "dative, 1st plural - to us", "*proseuchē*": "dative, feminine, singular - with prayer", "*prosēuxato*": "aorist middle, 3rd singular - he prayed", "*tou mē brexai*": "articular infinitive with negative - not to rain", "*ouk*": "negative particle - not", "*ebrexen*": "aorist active, 3rd singular - it rained", "*epi*": "preposition + genitive - upon", "*tēs gēs*": "genitive, feminine, singular - the earth/land", "*eniautous*": "accusative, masculine, plural - years", "*treis*": "accusative, masculine, plural - three", "*kai*": "conjunction - and", "*mēnas*": "accusative, masculine, plural - months", "*hex*": "accusative - six" }, "variants": { "*Ēlias*": "Elijah (Hebrew prophet)", "*anthrōpos*": "man/human/person", "*homoiopathēs*": "of like passions/nature/having same feelings (emphasizing common humanity)", "*proseuchē prosēuxato*": "he prayed with prayer (Hebraic emphasis construction)", "*tou mē brexai*": "for it not to rain/that it might not rain", "*ebrexen*": "it rained (impersonal usage)", "*eniautous treis kai mēnas hex*": "three years and six months" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἠλίας ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν, καὶ προσευχῇ προσηύξατο τοῦ μὴ βρέξαι: καὶ οὐκ ἔβρεξεν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἐνιαυτοὺς τρεῖς καὶ μῆνας ἕξ.

Transliteration

Ēlias anthrōpos ēn homoiopathēs us, and proseuchē prosēuxato tou mē brexai: and ouk ebrexen epi tēs gēs eniautous treis kai mēnas hex.

Grammar Details

• *Ēlias*: nominative, masculine, singular - Elijah
• *anthrōpos*: nominative, masculine, singular - man/human
• *ēn*: imperfect active, 3rd singular - was
• *homoiopathēs*: nominative, masculine, singular - of like passions/nature
• us: dative, 1st plural - to us
• *proseuchē*: dative, feminine, singular - with prayer
• *prosēuxato*: aorist middle, 3rd singular - he prayed
• *tou mē brexai*: articular infinitive with negative - not to rain
• *ouk*: negative particle - not
• *ebrexen*: aorist active, 3rd singular - it rained
• *epi*: preposition + genitive - upon
• *tēs gēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - the earth/land
• *eniautous*: accusative, masculine, plural - years
• *treis*: accusative, masculine, plural - three
• *kai*: conjunction - and
• *mēnas*: accusative, masculine, plural - months
• *hex*: accusative - six

Word Meanings

• *Ēlias*: Elijah (Hebrew prophet)
• *anthrōpos*: man/human/person
• *homoiopathēs*: of like passions/nature/having same feelings (emphasizing common humanity)
• *proseuchē prosēuxato*: he prayed with prayer (Hebraic emphasis construction)
• *tou mē brexai*: for it not to rain/that it might not rain
• *ebrexen*: it rained (impersonal usage)
• *eniautous treis kai mēnas hex*: three years and six months

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Elijah{G2243} was{G2258} a man{G444} of like passions{G3663} with{G2254} us, and{G2532} he prayed{G4336} fervently{G4335} that it might{G1026} not{G3361} rain;{G1026} and{G2532} it rained{G1026} not{G3756} on{G1909} the earth{G1093} for three{G5140} years{G1763} and{G2532} six{G1803} months.{G3376}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Elias{G2243} was{G2258}{(G5713)} a man{G444} subject to like passions as{G3663} we are{G2254}, and{G2532} he prayed{G4336}{(G5662)} earnestly{G4335} that it might{G1026} not{G3361} rain{G1026}{(G5658)}: and{G2532} it rained{G1026}{(G5656)} not{G3756} on{G1909} the earth{G1093} by the space of three{G5140} years{G1763} and{G2532} six{G1803} months{G3376}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Helias was a man mortall even as we are and he prayed in his prayer that it myght not rayne: and it rayned not on the erth by the space of thre yeares and sixe monethes.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Helias was a ma mortall euen as we are, and he prayed in his prayer, that it might not rayne: & it rayned not on the earth by the space of thre yeares and sixe monethes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Helias was a man subiect to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rayne, and it rayned not on the earth for three yeeres and sixe moneths.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Elias was a man vnder infirmities euen as we are, and he prayed in his prayer that it myght not rayne: and it rayned not on the earth by the space of three yeres and sixe monethes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Elijah was a man like affected as we, and with prayer he did pray -- not to rain, and it did not rain upon the land three years and six months;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Elijah was a man of flesh and blood as we are, and he made a strong prayer that there might be no rain; and there was no rain on the earth for three years and six months.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!

Referenced Verses

• 1 Kgs 17:1 : 1 { "verseID": "1 Kings.17.1", "source": "וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֜י מִתֹּשָׁבֵ֣י גִלְעָד֮ אֶל־אַחְאָב֒ חַי־יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָמַ֣דְתִּי לְפָנָ֔יו אִם־יִהְיֶ֛ה הַשָּׁנִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה טַ֣ל וּמָטָ֑ר כִּ֖י אִם־לְפִ֥י דְבָרִֽי׃ ס", "text": "And *wayyōʾmer* *ʾēliyyāhû* the *tiššbî* from *tōšāḇê* *gilʿād* to *ʾaḥʾāḇ*, *ḥay-yhwh* *ʾĕlōhê* *yiśrāʾēl* whom *ʿāmaḏtî* before *lǝpānāyw*, if *yihyeh* the *ššānîm* the *hāʾēlleh* *ṭal* and *māṭār* except by *pî* *ḏǝḇārî*.", "grammar": { "*wayyōʾmer*": "waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said", "*ʾēliyyāhû*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Elijah", "*tiššbî*": "noun with definite article, masculine singular - the Tishbite", "*tōšāḇê*": "noun, masculine plural construct - inhabitants of", "*gilʿād*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Gilead", "*ʾaḥʾāḇ*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Ahab", "*ḥay-yhwh*": "adjective construct + divine name - living (is) YHWH", "*ʾĕlōhê*": "noun, masculine singular construct - God of", "*yiśrāʾēl*": "proper noun, masculine singular - Israel", "*ʿāmaḏtî*": "qal perfect, 1st singular - I have stood", "*lǝpānāyw*": "preposition + noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - before him", "*yihyeh*": "qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - there will be", "*ššānîm*": "noun with definite article, feminine plural - the years", "*hāʾēlleh*": "demonstrative adjective with definite article - these", "*ṭal*": "noun, masculine singular - dew", "*māṭār*": "noun, masculine singular - rain", "*pî*": "noun, masculine singular construct - mouth of", "*ḏǝḇārî*": "noun + 1st singular suffix - my word" }, "variants": { "*ʾēliyyāhû*": "Elijah/My God is YHWH", "*tiššbî*": "Tishbite/inhabitant of Tishbe", "*ḥay-yhwh*": "As YHWH lives/by the life of YHWH (oath formula)", "*ʿāmaḏtî*": "I have stood/I serve", "*lǝpānāyw*": "before him/in his presence", "*yihyeh*": "there will be/there shall be", "*ṭal*": "dew/moisture", "*pî*": "mouth/command", "*ḏǝḇārî*": "my word/my command" } }
• Luke 4:25 : 25 { "verseID": "Luke.4.25", "source": "Ἐπʼ ἀληθείας δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν, πολλαὶ χῆραι ἦσαν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἠλίου ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, ὅτε ἐκλείσθη ὁ οὐρανὸς ἐπὶ ἔτη τρία καὶ μῆνας ἕξ, ὡς ἐγένετο λιμὸς μέγας ἐπὶ πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν·", "text": "Upon *alētheias de legō* to you, many *chērai ēsan* in the days of *Ēliou* in *Israēl*, when *ekleisthē* the *ouranos* for *etē tria* and *mēnas hex*, when *egeneto limos megas* upon all the *gēn*;", "grammar": { "*alētheias*": "genitive, feminine, singular - truth", "*de*": "postpositive conjunction - but/and/now", "*legō*": "present, active, indicative, 1st singular - I say/tell", "*chērai*": "nominative, feminine, plural - widows", "*ēsan*": "imperfect, active, indicative, 3rd plural - were", "*Ēliou*": "genitive, masculine, singular - of Elijah", "*Israēl*": "dative, masculine, singular - Israel", "*ekleisthē*": "aorist, passive, indicative, 3rd singular - was shut up", "*ouranos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - heaven/sky", "*etē*": "accusative, neuter, plural - years", "*tria*": "accusative, neuter, plural, numeral - three", "*mēnas*": "accusative, masculine, plural - months", "*hex*": "numeral - six", "*egeneto*": "aorist, middle, indicative, 3rd singular - came to be/happened", "*limos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - famine", "*megas*": "nominative, masculine, singular, adjective - great", "*gēn*": "accusative, feminine, singular - land/earth" }, "variants": { "*alētheias*": "truth/in truth/truly", "*ekleisthē*": "was shut up/closed/locked", "*limos*": "famine/hunger", "*gēn*": "land/earth/ground" } }
• Acts 14:15 : 15 { "verseID": "Acts.14.15", "source": "Καὶ, λέγοντες, Ἄνδρες, τί ταῦτα ποιεῖτε; Καὶ ἡμεῖς ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ἐσμεν ὑμῖν ἄνθρωποι, εὐαγγελιζόμενοι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τούτων τῶν ματαίων ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ζῶντα, ὃς ἐποίησεν τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς:", "text": "And, *legontes*, *Andres*, why these things *poieite*? Also we *homoiopatheis* *esmen* to you *anthrōpoi*, *euangelizomenoi* you from these *mataiōn* to *epistrephein* to the *Theon* the *zōnta*, who *epoiēsen* the *ouranon*, and the *gēn*, and the *thalassan*, and all the things in them:", "grammar": { "*legontes*": "present active participle, nominative masculine plural - saying", "*Andres*": "vocative masculine plural - men", "*poieite*": "present active indicative, 2nd person plural - you do/are doing", "*homoiopatheis*": "nominative masculine plural - having like feelings/similar nature", "*esmen*": "present active indicative, 1st person plural - we are", "*anthrōpoi*": "nominative masculine plural - humans/people", "*euangelizomenoi*": "present middle participle, nominative masculine plural - proclaiming good news", "*mataiōn*": "genitive neuter plural - vain things/worthless things", "*epistrephein*": "present active infinitive - to turn/return", "*Theon*": "accusative masculine singular - God", "*zōnta*": "present active participle, accusative masculine singular - living", "*epoiēsen*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - made/created", "*ouranon*": "accusative masculine singular - heaven/sky", "*gēn*": "accusative feminine singular - earth/land", "*thalassan*": "accusative feminine singular - sea", "*panta*": "accusative neuter plural - all things" }, "variants": { "*homoiopatheis*": "with like feelings/of similar nature/with the same nature", "*mataiōn*": "vain things/worthless things/empty practices", "*epistrephein epi ton Theon ton zōnta*": "to turn to the living God/to convert to the living God", "*epoiēsen ton ouranon kai tēn gēn kai tēn thalassan*": "made the heaven and the earth and the sea (reference to creation)" } }
• 1 Kgs 18:1 : 1 { "verseID": "1 Kings.18.1", "source": "וַיְהִי֙ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וּדְבַר־יְהוָ֗ה הָיָה֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖ית לֵאמֹ֑ר לֵ֚ךְ הֵרָאֵ֣ה אֶל־אַחְאָ֔ב וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה מָטָ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה", "text": "And *wayəhî* *yāmîm* *rabbîm* and *dəbar*-*YHWH* *hāyāh* to-*ʾēlîyāhû* in-the-*šānāh* the-*šəlîšît* *lēʾmōr* *lēk* *hērāʾēh* to-*ʾaḥʾāb* and-*ʾettənāh* *māṭār* upon-*pənê* the-*ʾădāmāh*", "grammar": { "*wayəhî*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 3ms - and it came to pass/and it happened", "*yāmîm*": "noun masculine plural - days", "*rabbîm*": "adjective masculine plural - many", "*dəbar*": "noun masculine singular construct - word/matter of", "*YHWH*": "divine name - LORD/Yahweh", "*hāyāh*": "qal perfect 3ms - was/happened/came", "*ʾēlîyāhû*": "proper name - Elijah", "*šānāh*": "noun feminine singular - year", "*šəlîšît*": "adjective feminine singular - third", "*lēʾmōr*": "preposition + qal infinitive construct - saying", "*lēk*": "qal imperative masculine singular - go", "*hērāʾēh*": "niphal imperative masculine singular - show yourself/appear", "*ʾaḥʾāb*": "proper name - Ahab", "*ʾettənāh*": "conjunction + qal imperfect 1cs cohortative - and I will give", "*māṭār*": "noun masculine singular - rain", "*pənê*": "noun masculine plural construct - face/surface of", "*ʾădāmāh*": "noun feminine singular - ground/earth/land" }, "variants": { "*wayəhî*": "and it happened/and it came to pass", "*dəbar*": "word/speech/command/matter", "*hāyāh*": "came/was/happened", "*lēʾmōr*": "saying/to say", "*hērāʾēh*": "show yourself/appear/be seen", "*ʾettənāh*": "I will give/I will send/I will allow" } }
• Acts 10:26 : 26 { "verseID": "Acts.10.26", "source": "Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος αὐτὸν ἤγειρεν, λέγων, Ἀνάστηθι· κἀγὼ αὐτὸς ἄνθρωπός εἰμι.", "text": "The *de* *Petros* him *ēgeiren*, *legōn*, *Anastēthi*; *kagō* myself *anthrōpos* *eimi*.", "grammar": { "*de*": "postpositive particle - but/and/now", "*Petros*": "nominative, masculine, singular - Peter (name)", "*ēgeiren*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - he raised up/lifted up", "*legōn*": "present active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - saying", "*Anastēthi*": "aorist active imperative, 2nd singular - stand up/rise", "*kagō*": "crasis of 'kai egō' - and I/even I", "*anthrōpos*": "nominative, masculine, singular - human/man", "*eimi*": "present active indicative, 1st singular - I am" }, "variants": { "*ēgeiren*": "raised up/lifted up/caused to stand", "*anthrōpos*": "human/man/mortal" } }
• Rom 11:2 : 2 { "verseID": "Romans.11.2", "source": "Οὐκ ἀπώσατο ὁ Θεὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ὃν προέγνω. Ἢ οὐκ οἴδατε ἐν Ἠλίᾳ τί λέγει ἡ γραφή; ὡς ἐντυγχάνει τῷ Θεῷ κατὰ τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, λέγων,", "text": "Not *apōsato* the *Theos* the *laon* of him whom he *proegnō*. Or not *oidate* in *Ēlia* what *legei* the *graphē*? how he *entynchanei* to the *Theō* against the *Israēl*, *legōn*,", "grammar": { "*apōsato*": "aorist middle indicative, 3rd person singular - rejected/cast away", "*Theos*": "nominative masculine singular - God", "*laon*": "accusative masculine singular - people", "*proegnō*": "aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular - foreknew", "*oidate*": "perfect active indicative, 2nd person plural - you know", "*Ēlia*": "dative masculine singular - Elijah", "*legei*": "present active indicative, 3rd person singular - says", "*graphē*": "nominative feminine singular - scripture", "*entynchanei*": "present active indicative, 3rd person singular - intercedes/appeals", "*Theō*": "dative masculine singular - to God", "*Israēl*": "genitive masculine - Israel", "*legōn*": "present active participle, nominative masculine singular - saying" }, "variants": { "*apōsato*": "rejected/cast away/pushed away", "*proegnō*": "foreknew/knew beforehand", "*oidate*": "know/understand", "*graphē*": "scripture/writing", "*entynchanei*": "intercedes/appeals/pleads with" } }
• Rev 11:6 : 6 { "verseID": "Revelation.11.6", "source": "Οὗτοι ἔχουσιν ἐξουσίαν κλεῖσαι τὸν οὐρανόν, ἵνα μὴ ὑετὸς βρέχῃ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτῶν τῆς προφητείας: καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔχουσιν ἐπὶ τῶν ὑδάτων στρέφειν αὐτὰ εἰς αἷμα, καὶ πατάξαι τὴν γῆν ἐν πάσῃ πληγῇ, ὁσάκις ἐὰν θελήσωσιν.", "text": "These *echousin* *exousian* to *kleisai* the *ouranon*, so that not *hyetos* *brechē* in *hēmerais* of them of the *prophēteias*: and *exousian* they *echousin* over the *hydatōn* to *strephein* them into *haima*, and to *pataxai* the *gēn* with every *plēgē*, as often as *ean* they *thelēsōsin*.", "grammar": { "*echousin*": "present active indicative, 3rd plural - they have", "*exousian*": "accusative feminine singular - authority/power", "*kleisai*": "aorist active infinitive - to shut/close", "*ouranon*": "accusative masculine singular - heaven/sky", "*hyetos*": "nominative masculine singular - rain", "*brechē*": "present active subjunctive, 3rd singular - might rain/fall", "*hēmerais*": "dative feminine plural - in days", "*prophēteias*": "genitive feminine singular - of prophecy", "*hydatōn*": "genitive neuter plural - of waters", "*strephein*": "present active infinitive - to turn/transform", "*haima*": "accusative neuter singular - blood", "*pataxai*": "aorist active infinitive - to strike/smite", "*gēn*": "accusative feminine singular - earth/land", "*plēgē*": "dative feminine singular - plague/stroke", "*ean*": "conditional particle - if/whenever", "*thelēsōsin*": "aorist active subjunctive, 3rd plural - they might wish/desire" }, "variants": { "*exousian*": "authority/power/right", "*kleisai*": "shut/close/lock", "*ouranon*": "heaven/sky", "*hyetos*": "rain/rainfall", "*brechē*": "rain/fall as rain/wet", "*prophēteias*": "prophecy/prophesying", "*hydatōn*": "waters/bodies of water", "*strephein*": "turn/transform/change", "*haima*": "blood/bloodshed", "*pataxai*": "strike/smite/afflict", "*plēgē*": "plague/blow/stroke" } }