James 5:16

World English Bible (2000)

Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἐξομολογεῖσθε ἀλλήλοις τὰ παραπτώματα, καὶ εὔχεσθε ὑπὲρ ἀλλήλων, ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. Πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη.

Transliteration

Exomologeisthe allēlois ta paraptōmata, and euchesthe hyper allēlōn, so that iathēte. Poly ischuei deēsis dikaiou energoumenē.

Grammar Details

• *Exomologeisthe*: present middle imperative, 2nd plural - confess
• *allēlois*: dative, masculine, plural - to one another
• *ta paraptōmata*: accusative, neuter, plural - the trespasses
• *euchesthe*: present middle imperative, 2nd plural - pray
• *hyper*: preposition + genitive - for/on behalf of
• *allēlōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - one another
• *iathēte*: aorist passive subjunctive, 2nd plural - you may be healed
• *Poly*: adverb - much/greatly
• *ischuei*: present active, 3rd singular - is effective/powerful
• *deēsis*: nominative, feminine, singular - prayer/supplication
• *dikaiou*: genitive, masculine, singular - of righteous person
• *energoumenē*: present middle participle, nominative, feminine, singular - working/operating

Word Meanings

• *Exomologeisthe*: confess/acknowledge openly
• *paraptōmata*: trespasses/sins/offenses
• *euchesthe*: pray (formal prayer)
• *iathēte*: you may be healed/cured/made whole (can refer to physical or spiritual healing)
• *ischuei*: is effective/powerful/avails much
• *deēsis*: prayer/supplication/petition
• *dikaiou*: of righteous/just person
• *energoumenē*: working/operating/being effective (middle voice suggesting fervent activity)

Referenced Verses

• John 9:31 : 31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.
• Prov 15:29 : 29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
• 1 John 3:22 : 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
• Ps 34:15 : 15 Yahweh's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
• Matt 21:22 : 22 All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
• Acts 19:18 : 18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
• Luke 11:11-13 : 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won't give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, he won't give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
• 1 Pet 2:24 : 24 who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
• Ps 10:17-18 : 17 Yahweh, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear, 18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more. For the Chief Musician. By David.
• Jer 29:12-13 : 12 You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.
• Gen 20:17 : 17 Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
• Num 11:2 : 2 The people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire abated.
• Ps 145:18-19 : 18 Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
• Prov 15:8 : 8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
• Job 42:8 : 8 Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has."
• Heb 12:13 : 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
• 1 Thess 5:17 : 17 Pray without ceasing.
• Rom 5:19 : 19 For as through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
• Luke 18:1-8 : 1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray, and not give up, 2 saying, "There was a judge in a certain city who didn't fear God, and didn't respect man. 3 A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!' 4 He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" 6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
• 2 Kgs 20:2-5 : 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yahweh, saying, 3 "Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 It happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 5 "Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day, you shall go up to the house of Yahweh.
• Prov 28:9 : 9 He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
• Matt 3:6 : 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
• Gen 18:23-32 : 23 Abraham drew near, and said, "Will you consume the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn't the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 Yahweh said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake." 27 Abraham answered, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord, who am but dust and ashes. 28 What if there will lack five of the fifty righteous? Will you destroy all the city for lack of five?" He said, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there." 29 He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the forty's sake." 30 He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak. What if there are thirty found there?" He said, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." 31 He said, "See now, I have taken it on myself to speak to the Lord. What if there are twenty found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake." 32 He said, "Oh don't let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake."
• Exod 9:28-29 : 28 Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." 29 Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Yahweh's.
• Exod 9:33 : 33 Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands to Yahweh; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.
• Exod 17:11 : 11 It happened, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
• Exod 32:10-14 : 10 Now therefore leave me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of you a great nation." 11 Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, 'He brought them forth for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?' Turn from your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your seed as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.'" 14 Yahweh repented of the evil which he said he would do to his people.
• Gen 19:29 : 29 It happened, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the middle of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.
• Gen 20:7 : 7 Now therefore, restore the man's wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don't restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours."
• Gen 32:28 : 28 He said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."
• Gen 41:9-9 : 9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults today. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker.
• 1 Kgs 17:18-24 : 18 She said to Elijah, "What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!" 19 He said to her, "Give me your son." He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed. 20 He cried to Yahweh, and said, "Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I stay, by killing her son?" 21 He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, "Yahweh my God, please let this child's soul come into him again." 22 Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, "Behold, your son lives." 24 The woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth."
• 2 Kgs 4:33-35 : 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh. 34 He went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child grew warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
• 2 Kgs 19:15-20 : 15 Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh, and said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sit [above] the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib, with which he has sent to defy the living God. 17 Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, 18 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, are God alone." 20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'Whereas you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you.
• Num 21:7-9 : 7 The people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahweh, and against you. Pray to Yahweh, that he take away the serpents from us." Moses prayed for the people. 8 Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." 9 Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of brass, he lived.
• Deut 9:18-20 : 18 I fell down before Yahweh, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water; because of all your sin which you sinned, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, with which Yahweh was angry against you to destroy you. But Yahweh listened to me that time also. 20 Yahweh was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.
• Josh 10:12 : 12 Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!"
• Matt 7:7-9 : 7 "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
• Dan 9:20-22 : 20 While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering. 22 He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I am now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding.
• Jer 33:3 : 3 Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.
• 2 Chr 30:20 : 20 Yahweh listened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.
• 2 Chr 32:20-22 : 20 Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven. 21 Yahweh sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. When he had come into the house of his god, those who came forth from his own bowels killed him there with the sword. 22 Thus Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [others], and guided them on every side.
• Luke 7:3-4 : 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for you to do this for him,
• Acts 4:24-31 : 24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, "O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? 26 The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and against his Christ.' 27 "For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus." 31 When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
• Acts 10:38 : 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
• Acts 12:5-9 : 5 Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. 6 The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side, and woke him up, saying, "Stand up quickly!" His chains fell off from his hands. 8 The angel said to him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." He did so. He said to him, "Put on your cloak, and follow me." 9 And he went out and followed him. He didn't know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out, and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting."
• Col 1:9 : 9 For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
• Rom 3:10 : 10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.
• 1 Thess 5:23 : 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1 Thess 5:25 : 25 Brothers, pray for us.
• Heb 11:7 : 7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
• Heb 13:18 : 18 Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
• Heb 11:4 : 4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
• Luke 9:6 : 6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.
• 2 Chr 14:11-12 : 11 Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God. Don't let man prevail against you." 12 So Yahweh struck the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
• 1 Kgs 13:6 : 6 The king answered the man of God, "Now entreat the favor of Yahweh your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again." The man of God entreated Yahweh, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
• Dan 2:18-23 : 18 that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. 21 He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22 he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23 I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king's matter.
• Jer 15:1 : 1 Then Yahweh said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
• Hos 12:3-4 : 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God. 4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,
• Matt 18:15-17 : 15 "If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. 16 But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
• Num 14:13-20 : 13 Moses said to Yahweh, "Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them; 14 and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you Yahweh are in the midst of this people; for you Yahweh are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night. 15 Now if you killed this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying, 16 'Because Yahweh was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.' 17 Now please let the power of the Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying, 18 'Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.' 19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and according as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." 20 Yahweh said, "I have pardoned according to your word:
• 1 Sam 12:18 : 18 So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.
• 2 Sam 19:19 : 19 He said to the king, "Don't let my lord impute iniquity to me, neither do you remember that which your servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.