Limitless Word
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James 5:20 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
  • BSB consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
  • NKJV let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
  • NASB let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
  • NLT you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Whoever turns a sinner from his wandering saves a soul from death and covers a multitude of sins. Restoring the straying has eternal significance.

Overview

James ends by declaring the great worth of restoring a wanderer: it rescues a soul from death and results in the covering of many sins. The forgiveness in view is ultimately God's, secured through Christ, whose atoning work covers sin. The closing exhortation urges the church to take seriously the eternal stakes of pursuing and reclaiming those who stray.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 14

  • 1 Pet 4:8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
  • Prov 10:12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
  • 1 Tim 4:16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
  • Prov 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
  • Jas 5:19Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
  • Rom 11:14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
  • 1 Cor 9:22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
  • Jas 1:15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
  • Prov 11:4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
  • Ps 32:1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
  • John 5:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
  • Prov 10:2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
  • Phlm 1:19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
  • Rev 20:6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — James videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on James 5:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JamesMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The wisdom from above and the royal law of love are the life of those who belong to 'our glorious Lord Jesus Christ' — faith in him made visible in works.

How James 5:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.