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Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.
Verse Takeaways
1
Aimed at Oppressors, Not All Rich
Commentators clarify that James is not condemning wealth itself, but a specific class of rich individuals: those who are oppressive, worldly, and live for pleasure. Scholars like John Calvin and Albert Barnes suggest James's primary audience isn't even these rich people, but rather the poor Christians he is comforting by showing them that God will ultimately judge their oppressors.
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Book Overview
James
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7
18th Century
Presbyterian
CHAPTER V
ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTER
The subjects introduced in this chapter are the following:
An address to rich men, …
Come now, ye rich (αγε νυν ο πλουσιο). Exclamatory interjection as in 4:13. Direct address to the rich as a class as in [Reference…
19th Century
Anglican
Go to now, you rich.—As in James 4:3, it was “Woe to you, worldly,” so now “Woe to you rich: weep, wailing”—literally,
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That this verse begins a new section is indicated by the repeated call for attention, “Now listen” (cf. 4:13). The rich are to “weep [GK 3081] and …
16th Century
Protestant
Go to now. In my opinion, those who consider that James here exhorts the rich to repentance are mistaken. It seems to me to be a simple de…
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
Go to now, you rich men All rich men are not here designed; there are some rich men who are good men, and make a goo…
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Public troubles are most grievous to those who live in pleasure, and are complacent and worldly, though all ranks suffer deeply at such times. All …
