James 5:4

Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

Behold {G2400}, the hire {G3408} of the labourers {G2040} who {G3588} have reaped down {G270} your {G5216} fields {G5561}, which {G3588} is of {G575} you {G5216} kept back by fraud {G650}, crieth {G2896}: and {G2532} the cries {G995} of them which have reaped {G2325} are entered {G1525} into {G1519} the ears {G3775} of the Lord {G2962} of sabaoth {G4519}.

Listen! The wages you have fraudulently withheld from the workers who mowed your fields are calling out against you, and the outcries of those who harvested have reached the ears of Adonai-Tzva’ot.

Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

James 5:4 delivers a powerful indictment against those who exploit their workers, specifically by withholding wages. It highlights God's unwavering attention to economic injustice and His readiness to intervene on behalf of the oppressed.

Context

This verse is part of James's stern warning to the wealthy and powerful who accumulate riches through unrighteous means. Following a general condemnation of the rich in James 5:1-3, this specific verse focuses on the sin of defrauding laborers. In the ancient world, agricultural laborers often relied on immediate payment for their daily sustenance. Withholding their wages was not merely a breach of contract but an act of severe cruelty that could lead to destitution for them and their families. This practice was explicitly forbidden in the Old Testament law, as seen in Deuteronomy 24:14-15 and Leviticus 19:13, underscoring its gravity in God's eyes.

Key Themes

  • Economic Injustice and Exploitation: The verse directly addresses the sin of "keeping back by fraud" the wages of laborers. This speaks to the broader issue of exploiting vulnerable populations for personal gain, a sin consistently condemned throughout Scripture.
  • The Cry of the Oppressed: James personifies the withheld wages as "crying out," and explicitly states that "the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth." This vivid imagery emphasizes that the injustice is so profound it creates a spiritual cry that ascends directly to God, much like the cry of the Israelites under Egyptian bondage.
  • Divine Judgment and Intervention: The fact that these cries enter the "ears of the Lord of sabaoth" signifies that God hears and will act. This serves as a solemn warning to oppressors and a source of hope for the oppressed, assuring them that their suffering is not unnoticed by a just God.

Linguistic Insights

The title "Lord of sabaoth" (Greek: Kyrios Sabaōth) is a significant phrase. It is a transliteration of the Hebrew "Yahweh Sabaoth," meaning "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of Armies." This title emphasizes God's omnipotence, His supreme authority, and His role as the commander of heavenly armies. When used here, it powerfully conveys that the God who hears the cries of the defrauded is not a passive deity but an all-powerful sovereign who has the might and the will to execute justice and avenge the wrongs committed against His people. It reinforces the certainty of divine retribution for injustice.

Practical Application

James 5:4 remains profoundly relevant today. It calls believers to:

  • Uphold Ethical Business Practices: Employers are admonished to pay fair wages and on time, recognizing the dignity and value of every worker. Any form of wage theft or exploitation is a direct offense against God.
  • Advocate for Justice: The verse encourages empathy for and advocacy on behalf of those who are economically disadvantaged or exploited. Christians are called to be voices for the voiceless and to challenge systems that perpetuate injustice.
  • Trust in God's Justice: For those experiencing exploitation, the verse offers comfort and hope, reminding them that God sees, God hears, and God will ultimately bring about justice. This echoes the sentiment found in Malachi 3:5, where God declares He will be a swift witness against those who oppress the hireling.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Leviticus 19:13

    Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob [him]: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

  • Jeremiah 22:13

    Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; [that] useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;

  • Deuteronomy 24:14

    ¶ Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant [that is] poor and needy, [whether he be] of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that [are] in thy land within thy gates:

  • Deuteronomy 24:15

    At his day thou shalt give [him] his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he [is] poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

  • Romans 9:29

    And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

  • Malachi 3:5

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Job 24:10

    They cause [him] to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf [from] the hungry;
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