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The Prayer of Faith
James 5:13–18 teaches how believers should respond to different situations with prayer, praise, confession and care for one another. The passage keeps bringing everyday need back to God and shows that prayer belongs in both hardship and joy.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In these verses, James addresses people within the assembly and gives direct instructions for times of suffering, cheerfulness and sickness. He speaks about elders praying, anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, confession of sins, mutual prayer and the example of Elijah’s earnest prayer.
James 5:13–18Main takeaway
This passage teaches that God’s people are to respond to suffering, joy, sickness and sin with prayer that is shared, faithful and directed to the Lord.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Pray in suffering and praise in joyJames begins with two simple responses. A suffering person is told to pray, and a cheerful person is told to sing praises.
Explanation
James begins with two simple responses. A suffering person is told to pray, and a cheerful person is told to sing praises. That means prayer is not only for emergencies. Whether life is painful or glad, the right direction is toward God, either in asking or in praise.
02Call the elders and pray in the Lord’s nameWhen someone is sick, James says to call the elders of the assembly. They are to pray over the person and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord.
Explanation
When someone is sick, James says to call the elders of the assembly. They are to pray over the person and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord. The focus of the action is still prayer, and the Lord is named as the one under whose authority this is done.
03Healing, raising up and forgivenessJames says the prayer of faith will heal the sick person and the Lord will raise him up. He also adds that if the person has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Explanation
James says the prayer of faith will heal the sick person and the Lord will raise him up. He also adds that if the person has committed sins, he will be forgiven. The verse joins physical need and sin seriously, while still making the Lord the one who acts.
04Confess and pray for one anotherThe passage then widens from elders to the whole community. Believers are told to confess sins to one another and pray for one another, with healing in view.
Explanation
The passage then widens from elders to the whole community. Believers are told to confess sins to one another and pray for one another, with healing in view. James adds that the prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective, showing that prayer is meant to be active and persistent.
05Elijah as an example of earnest prayerJames points to Elijah as someone with a nature like ours. He prayed earnestly, and there was no rain for three years and six months.
Explanation
James points to Elijah as someone with a nature like ours. He prayed earnestly, and there was no rain for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and rain came and the earth produced fruit. The example highlights earnest prayer and God’s powerful response.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to James 5:13, what two different responses fit suffering and cheerfulness?
Look at the two short instructions in the verse and notice that one is prayer and the other is singing praises.
02What are the elders told to do for a sick person in James 5:14?
List the actions named in the verse and include the phrase about whose name they act in.
03Why does James mention Elijah in James 5:17–18?
Notice both that Elijah had a nature like ours and that James uses his prayers as an example of effective earnest prayer.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
James 5:13–18
13Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praises.
14Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15and the prayer of faith will heal him who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
16Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
17Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it didn’t rain on the earth for three years and six months.
18He prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.