Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 5:11

"Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful." — James 5:11 (ASV)

The third illustration is Job. “Those who have persevered” are considered blessed. No doubt James has in mind his words in 1:12, where he points out the enviable joy of the person who does not cave in under trial. In 5:7–10 the plea is for patience, for self-restraint that does not retaliate; but here in 5:11 he is referring to perseverance in difficult circumstances. It is significant that James speaks of Job’s “perseverance” (GK 5705), not his patience, for despite the popular phrase “the patience of Job,” he hardly exemplified that quality (cf. Job 12:2; 13:3–4; 16:2). He was, however, an outstanding example of perseverance in the most trying situations (cf. Job 1:21–22; 2:10; 13:15; 19:25–27). His experience also was proof that “the Lord is full of compassion and mercy,” as we see in “what the Lord finally brought about” for him: God gave him “twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10–17). To sum up, in vv.7–11 James is urging his readers not to fight back but to exercise long-suffering patience toward the rich who oppress them; and he is calling for stout-hearted perseverance in the trying circumstances that confront them.