James · Chapter 5 · Healing
James 5:16 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
For the wound that has not yet closed.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective."
KJV · King James Version
"Confess1843 your faults3900 one to another240, and2532 pray2172 one240 for5228 another240, that3704 ye may be healed2390. The effectual fervent1754 prayer1162 of a righteous man1342 availeth2480 much4183."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses faults, effectual, fervent, man, while the WEB renders these as offenses, you, insistent, person. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
James 5:16 in James 5
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is James 5:16 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of James 5. Read the full chapter →
- v.14 Is 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,
- v.15 and 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.
- v.16 Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
- v.17 Elijah 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.
- v.18 He prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Book background
About the Book of James
- Testament
- New Testament
- Genre
- General epistle
- Author
- James, half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church
- Date written
- c. 45–50 AD (possibly the earliest NT book)
- Audience
- Jewish Christians scattered across the Roman world
- Chapters
- 5
James is the New Testament's wisdom book — practical, direct, and full of pithy imperatives. It tests genuine faith by visible works ("faith without works is dead" — 2:17), warns about the tongue, demands care for the poor, urges patience in trials, and insists on real-world holiness.
Setting: Written from Jerusalem in the church's earliest decade.
Key themes: wisdom · works · speech · patience · practical faith
Memorisation aid
How to memorise James 5:16
James 5:16 contains 26 words in 4 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
Confess your offenses to one another
CYOTOA
- 2
and pray for one another
APFOA
- 3
that you may be healed
TYMBH
- 4
The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.
TIPOAR
Frequently asked
FAQ about James 5:16
What does James 5:16 say?
James 5:16 reads: "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective." — from the New Testament, James (General epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is James 5:16 in?
James 5:16 is in the book of James, traditionally attributed to James, half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church and written around c. 45–50 AD (possibly the earliest NT book). James is general epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to Jewish Christians scattered across the Roman world. Best known for "faith without works is dead".
What is James 5:16 about?
James 5:16 is primarily a Bible verse about Healing, with related themes including Forgiveness, Prayer. Within James, James is the New Testament's wisdom book — practical, direct, and full of pithy imperatives. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between James 5:16 in WEB and KJV?
James 5:16 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "Confess1843 your faults3900 one to another240, and2532 pray2172 one240 for5228 another240, that3704 ye may be healed2390. The effectual fervent1754 prayer1162 of a righteous man1342 availeth2480 much4183.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is James 5:16?
James 5:16 is 26 words in the WEB translation (155 characters), broken into 4 clauses. It is a longer verse, often broken into smaller phrases for memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 8 seconds.
How can I memorise James 5:16?
To memorise James 5:16, split it into its 4 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does James 5:16 matter in James?
James is the New Testament's wisdom book — practical, direct, and full of pithy imperatives. It tests genuine faith by visible works ("faith without works is dead" — 2:17), warns about the tongue, demands care for the poor, urges patience in trials, and insists on real-world holiness. James 5:16 sits within this larger story — James as a whole emphasises wisdom, works, speech.
How can I apply James 5:16 today?
Many readers use James 5:16 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download James 5:16 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Matthew 11:28
““Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.”
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-
2 Corinthians 12:9
“He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses,…”
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-
Psalm 147:3
“He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.”
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Psalms 34:18
“Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.”
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-
Psalms 147:3
“He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.”
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Isaiah 53:5
“But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.”
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-
Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first th…”
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-
James 5:14-15
“Is 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, and the pra…”
Read context →
-
Jeremiah 17:14
“Heal me, O Yahweh, and I shall be healed. Save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise.”
Read context →
-
Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
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More featured verses in James 5
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More featured verses in James
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James 1:5
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.”
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James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.”
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James 1:19
“So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;”
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James 4:8
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
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