Clarke's Bible Commentary - James 5:1
Verse 1. Go to now] See on chap. iv. 13. Weep and howl for your miseries] St. James seems to refer here, in the spirit of prophecy, to the destruction that was coming upon the Jews, not only in Judea, but in all the provinces where they sojourned. He seems here to assume the very air and character of a prophet; and in the most dignified language and peculiarly expressive and energetic images, foretells the desolations that were coming upon this bad people.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Go to now, ye rich men , etc.] All rich men are not here designed; there are some rich men who are good men, and make a good use of their riches, and do not abuse them, as these here are represented; and yet wicked rich men, or those that were the openly profane, are not here intended neither; for the apostle only writes to such who were within the church, and not without, who were professors of religion; and such rich men are addressed here, who, notwithstanding their profession, were not rich towards God, but laid up treasure for themselves, and trusted in their riches, and boasted of the multitude of their wealth; and did not trust in God, and make use of their substance to his glory, and the good of his interest, as they should have done: weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you ; meaning, not temporal calamities that should come upon them at the destruction of Jerusalem, in which the rich greatly suffered by the robbers among themselves, as well as by the Roman soldiers; for the apostle is not writing to the Jews in Judea, and at Jerusalem; but to the Christians of the twelve tribes scattered in the several parts of the world, and who were not distressed by that calamity; but eternal miseries, or the torments of hell are intended, which, unless they repented of their sins, would shortly, suddenly, and unavoidably come upon them, when their present joy and laughter would be turned into howling and weeping.
Ver 2. Your riches are corrupted , etc.] Either through disuse of them; and so the phrase is expressive of their tenaciousness, withholding that from themselves and others which is meet, and which is keeping riches for the owners thereof, to their hurt; or these are corrupted, and are corruptible things, fading and perishing, and will stand in no stead in the day of wrath, and therefore it is great weakness to put any trust and confidence in them: and your garments are moth eaten ; being neither wore by themselves, nor put upon the backs of others, as they should, but laid up in wardrobes, or in chests and coffers, and so became the repast of moths, and now good for nothing.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - Public troubles are most grievous to those who live in pleasure, an are secure and sensual, though all ranks suffer deeply at such times All idolized treasures will soon perish, except as they will rise up in judgment against their possessors. Take heed of defrauding an oppressing; and avoid the very appearance of it. God does not forbid u to use lawful pleasures; but to live in pleasure, especially sinfu pleasure, is a provoking sin. Is it no harm for people to unfi themselves for minding the concerns of their souls, by indulging bodil appetites? The just may be condemned and killed; but when such suffe by oppressors, this is marked by God. Above all their other crimes, the Jews had condemned and crucified that Just One who had come among them even Jesus Christ the righteous.
Greek Textus Receptus
αγε 71 5720 νυν 3568 οι 3588 πλουσιοι 4145 κλαυσατε 2799 5657 ολολυζοντες 3649 5723 επι 1909 ταις 3588 ταλαιπωριαις 5004 υμων 5216 ταις 3588 επερχομεναις 1904 5740
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Go to. See on ch. iv. 13.Weep and howl (klausate ololuzontev). Lit., weep, howling. The latter is a descriptive word, ol-ol-uz-o. Only here in New Testament, and denoting a more demonstrative and passionate expression of grief than weeping.
Miseries (talaipwriaiv). Only here and Rom. iii. 16. See on be afflicted, ch. iv. 9.
That shall come upon (epercomenaiv). Present participle. More correctly, as Rev., that are coming.
