James 5:5

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Ye have lived in pleasure {G5171} on {G1909} the earth {G1093}, and {G2532} been wanton {G4684}; ye have nourished {G5142} your {G5216} hearts {G2588}, as {G5613} in {G1722} a day {G2250} of slaughter {G4967}.

You have led a life of luxury and self-indulgence here on earth โ€” in a time of slaughter, you have gone on eating to your heartโ€™s content.

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.

Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.

Commentary

Context

James 5:5 is part of a sobering warning issued by James, the brother of Jesus, primarily directed at the wealthy and powerful who had acquired their riches through oppression and exploitation. The preceding verses (James 5:1-4) condemn their ill-gotten gains and failure to pay laborers. This specific verse focuses on the luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyle of these individuals, contrasting it sharply with the suffering of those they exploited. It highlights a spiritual blindness to their impending judgment, painting a vivid picture of their earthly focus.

Key Themes

  • Self-Indulgence and Materialism: The verse vividly portrays a life consumed by earthly pleasures and extravagant living. These individuals prioritized their comfort and desires above all else, indicating a profound spiritual detachment.
  • Wantonness and Excess: "Lived in pleasure" and "been wanton" describe an unrestrained pursuit of sensual gratification and luxury. This wasn't merely comfort, but an excessive, morally lax lifestyle that ignored spiritual principles and the needs of others.
  • Spiritual Blindness to Judgment: The chilling metaphor, "nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter," reveals that their indulgence was unknowingly preparing them for divine reckoning. Like animals fattened for sacrifice, their pursuit of pleasure was leading them to a severe judgment. This echoes warnings found elsewhere about the dangers of prioritizing worldly goods over eternal life, as seen in the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21.
  • Divine Justice: Implicit in this warning is the theme of God's justice. While these wealthy oppressors enjoyed their earthly paradise, God saw their actions and prepared a day of accountability for their unrighteousness and lack of compassion.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "been wanton" translates the Greek word spatalao (ฯƒฯ€ฮฑฯ„ฮฑฮปฮฌฯ‰), which means to live luxuriously, sensuously, or licentiously. It carries the strong connotation of living in extravagant indulgence and unrestrained pleasure, often with a hint of moral looseness. This term emphasizes the excessive and self-gratifying nature of their lifestyle, going beyond simple comfort to outright decadence.

Practical Application

James 5:5 serves as a powerful call to self-examination for all believers, regardless of their economic status:

  • Examine Priorities: It challenges us to assess where our true treasures lie. Are we living primarily for earthly comforts and fleeting pleasures, or are we investing in eternal values and seeking God's kingdom first? Consider Matthew 6:19-21 regarding storing up treasures.
  • Stewardship: The verse reminds us that all we possess is a gift from God. How are we stewarding our resources, time, and energy? Are we using them for self-indulgence or to honor God and bless others?
  • Awareness of Consequences: Our choices, particularly regarding our attitudes towards wealth and pleasure, have spiritual ramifications. We are called to live with an awareness of God's eventual judgment and to prepare our hearts for His coming, not for a "day of slaughter."
  • Compassion and Justice: While this verse focuses on the wealthy's indulgence, its broader context (James 5:1-6) compels us to consider our responsibility to the poor and oppressed. True faith is demonstrated by actions of justice and mercy.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Timothy 5:6 (10 votes)

    But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

  • Luke 16:25 (7 votes)

    But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

  • Luke 16:19 (5 votes)

    ยถ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

  • Amos 6:1 (4 votes)

    ยถ Woe to them [that are] at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, [which are] named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

  • Jeremiah 12:3 (4 votes)

    But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

  • Jeremiah 25:34 (3 votes)

    Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves [in the ashes], ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

  • Revelation 19:17 (3 votes)

    And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;