A.T. Robertson Commentary James 5:7

"Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain." — James 5:7 (ASV)

Be patient therefore (μακροθυμησατε ουν). A direct corollary (ουν, therefore) from the coming judgment on the wicked rich (5:1-6). First aorist (constative) active imperative of μακροθυμεω, late compound (Plutarch, LXX) from μακροθυμος (μακροσ, θυμος, of long spirit, not losing heart), as in Mt 18:26. The appeal is to the oppressed brethren. Catch your wind for a long race (long-tempered as opposed to short-tempered). See already the exhortation to patience (υπομονη) in 1:3f.,12 and repeated in 5:11. They will need both submission (υπομενω 5:11) and steadfastness (μακροθυμια 5:10).

Until the coming of the Lord (εως της παρουσιας). The second coming of Christ he means, the regular phrase here and in verse 8 for that idea (Matthew 24:3,37,39; 1 Thessalonians 2:19, etc.).

The husbandman (ο γεωργος). The worker in the ground (γη, εργω) as in Mt 21:33f.

Waiteth for (εκδεχετα). Present middle indicative of εκδεχομα, old verb for eager expectation as in Ac 17:16.

Precious (τιμιον). Old adjective from τιμη (honor, price), dear to the farmer because of his toil for it. See 1 Peter 1:19.

Being patient over it (μακροθυμων επ' αυτω). Present active participle of μακροθυμεω just used in the exhortation, picturing the farmer longing and hoping over his precious crop (cf. Luke 18:7 of God).

Until it receive (εως λαβη). Temporal clause of the future with εως and the second aorist active subjunctive of λαμβανω, vividly describing the farmer's hopes and patience.

The early and latter rain (προιμον κα οψιμον). The word for rain (υετονActs 14:17) is absent from the best MSS. The adjective προιμος (from πρω, early) occurs here only in N.T., though old in the form προιμος and πρωις. See De 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24, etc. for these terms for the early rain in October or November for the germination of the grain, and the latter rain (οψιμον, from οψε, late, here only in N.T.) in April and May for maturing the grain.