Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 5:18

"And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." — James 5:18 (ASV)

James now offers illustrative proof that a righteous man’s prayer is “powerful and effective.” “Elijah,” he says, “was a man just like us.” He had no superhuman powers; he was by nature a human being and nothing more. However, when he prayed “that it would not rain... it did not rain” (cf. 1 Kings 17:1; 18:42–45). The explanation of his power in prayer is twofold: he was a righteous man, and “he prayed earnestly.” So James assures his readers that such answers to prayer are within the reach of any believer. It is true that 1Ki 17–18 does not explicitly say that Elijah prayed, but this may be assumed from 17:1 and especially from 18:42. The three and one-half years is a round number based on 18:1.