The Meaning of James 5:19 Explained

James 5:19

KJV: Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

YLT: Brethren, if any among you may go astray from the truth, and any one may turn him back,

Darby: My brethren, if any one among you err from the truth, and one bring him back,

ASV: My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Brethren,  if  any  of  you  do err  from  the truth,  and  one  convert  him; 

What does James 5:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse also ties in with what James just said about the privilege and duty of prayer. Any believer, not just the elders, can help a brother back into the right way ( James 5:14; cf. Ezekiel 33:1-9).
"It was easy then, and is now, to be led astray from Christ, who is the Truth." [1]

Context Summary

James 5:12-20 - Effectual Prayer
In view of the judgment-seat, at which we shall have to give an account of our words, we shall do well to employ the simplest, plainest speech, Matthew 5:34; Matthew 12:36-37.
How shall we act in any given situation? The Apostle says in effect, be perfectly natural. The suffering should pray, the glad sing, the sick confess his sins and call for believing prayer. The oil is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The body is the Holy Spirit's temple, and He is asked to bring it to the level of that spiritual wholeness which is His ideal. Where He gives the prayer that can affirm and claim, there is no doubt that perfect health will result. But there is all the difference between human telepathy and divine healing, which is God's gift to faith.
Elijah became what he was by faith and prayer. Naturally he was subject to the same fears and failings as ourselves. There are two reasons why we should endeavor to convert men: (1) for their salvation, (2) for the arrest of their baleful influence [source]

Chapter Summary: James 5

1  Rich oppressors are to fear God's vengeance
7  We ought to be patient in afflictions, after the example of the prophets, and Job;
12  to forbear swearing;
13  to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity;
14  to acknowledge mutually our several faults, to pray one for another;
19  and to correct a straying brother

Greek Commentary for James 5:19

If any one among you do err [εαν τις εν υμιν πλανητηι]
Third-class condition (supposed case) with εαν — ean and the first aorist passive subjunctive of πλαναω — planaō old verb, to go astray, to wander (Matthew 18:12), figuratively (Hebrews 5:2). [source]
From the truth [απο της αλητειας]
For truth see James 1:18; James 3:14; John 8:32; 1 John 1:6; 1 John 3:18. It was easy then, and is now, to be led astray from Christ, who is the Truth.And one convert him (και επιστρεπσηι τις αυτον — kai epistrepsēi tis auton). Continuation of the third-class condition with the first aorist active subjunctive of επιστρεπω — epistrephō old verb, to turn (transitive here as in Luke 1:16., but intransitive often as Acts 9:35). [source]
And one convert him [και επιστρεπσηι τις αυτον]
Continuation of the third-class condition with the first aorist active subjunctive of επιστρεπω — epistrephō old verb, to turn (transitive here as in Luke 1:16., but intransitive often as Acts 9:35). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 5:19

James 5:20 Let him know [γινωσκετω]
Present active imperative third person singular of γινωσκω — ginōskō but Westcott and Hort read γινωσκετε — ginōskete (know ye) after B. In either case it is the conclusion of the condition in James 5:19. [source]
James 5:20 He which converteth [ο επιστρεπσας]
First aorist active articular participle of επιστρεπω — epistrephō of James 5:19.From the error (εκ πλανης — ek planēs). “Out of the wandering” of James 5:19 (πλανη — planē from which πλαναω — planaō is made). See 1 John 4:6 for contrast between “truth” and “error.”A soul from death The soul of the sinner Future active of καλυπτω — kaluptō old verb, to hide, to veil. But whose sins (those of the converter or the converted)? The Roman Catholics (also Mayor and Ropes) take it of the sins of the converter, who thus saves himself by saving others. The language here will allow that, but not New Testament teaching in general. It is apparently a proverbial saying which Resch considers one of the unwritten sayings of Christ (Clem. Al. Paed. iii. 12). It occurs also in 1 Peter 4:8, where it clearly means the sins of others covered by love as a veil thrown over them. The saying appears also in Proverbs 10:12: “Hatred stirs up strife, but love hides all transgressions” - that is “love refuses to see faults” (Mayor admits). That is undoubtedly the meaning in 1 Peter 4:8; James 5:20. [source]
James 5:20 From the error [εκ πλανης]
“Out of the wandering” of James 5:19 See 1 John 4:6 for contrast between “truth” and “error.” [source]
1 John 1:8 The truth []
The whole Gospel. All reality is in God. He is the only true God ( ἀληθινός John 17:3; see on John 1:9). This reality is incarnated in Christ, the Word of God, “the very image of His substance,” and in His message to men. This message is the truth, a title not found in the Synoptists, Acts, or Revelation, but in the Catholic Epistles (James 5:19; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 2:2), and in Paul (2 Corinthians 8:8; Ephesians 1:13, etc.). It is especially characteristic of the Gospel and Epistles of John. The truth is represented by John objectively and subjectively. 1. Objectively. In the person of Christ. He is the Truth, the perfect revelation of God (John 1:18; John 14:6). His manhood is true to the absolute law of right, which is the law of love, and is, therefore, our perfect pattern of manhood. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Truth, absolutely existing in and identified with God, was also, in some measure, diffused in the world. The Word was in the world, before as after the incarnation (John 1:10. See on John 1:4, John 1:5). Christ often treats the truth as something to which He came to bear witness, and which it was His mission to develop into clearer recognition and expression (John 18:37). This He did through the embodiment of truth in His own person (John 1:14, John 1:17; John 14:6), and by His teaching (John 8:40; John 17:17); and His work is carried out by the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13), sent by God and by Christ himself (John 14:26; John 16:7). Hence the Spirit, even as Christ, is the Truth (1 John 5:6). The whole sum of the knowledge of Christ and of the Spirit, is the Truth (1 John 2:21; 2 John 1:1). This truth can be recognized, apprehended, and appropriated by man, and can be also rejected by him (John 8:32; 1 John 2:21; John 8:44). -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
2. Subjectively. The truth is lodged in man by the Spirit, and communicated to his spirit (John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13). It dwells in man (1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:4; 2 John 1:2), as revelation, comfort, guidance, enlightenment, conviction, impulse, inspiration, knowledge. It is the spirit of truth as opposed to the spirit of error (1 John 4:6). It translates itself into act. God's true children do the truth (John 3:21; 1 John 1:6). It brings sanctification and freedom (John 8:32; John 17:17). See on John 14:6, John 14:17. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

What do the individual words in James 5:19 mean?

Brothers of Me if anyone among you might wander from the truth and should bring back someone him
Ἀδελφοί μου ἐάν τις ἐν ὑμῖν πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας καὶ ἐπιστρέψῃ τις αὐτόν

Ἀδελφοί  Brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
πλανηθῇ  might  wander 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: πλανάω  
Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
ἀληθείας  truth 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλήθεια  
Sense: objectively.
ἐπιστρέψῃ  should  bring  back 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐπιστρέφω  
Sense: transitively.
τις  someone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.