Take, my brothers, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
who.
Isaiah 39:8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.
Jeremiah 23:22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Jeremiah 26:16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
for.
2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Jeremiah 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Matthew 5:11,12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake…
As an example of patience in affliction
The call to patience in affliction is a recurring theme in Scripture, encouraging believers to endure hardships with steadfastness. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is exemplified by many biblical figures. The Greek word for patience, "makrothumia," implies long-suffering and endurance, qualities that are essential for spiritual maturity and perseverance in faith.
Take the prophets
The prophets of the Old Testament serve as models of endurance and faithfulness amidst persecution and suffering. Figures like Jeremiah, who faced imprisonment and rejection (Jeremiah 20:2), and Elijah, who fled from Jezebel's threats (1 Kings 19:1-3), exemplify the trials faced by those who faithfully delivered God's message. Their lives demonstrate unwavering commitment to God's call despite severe opposition.
Who spoke in the name of the Lord
The prophets' authority came from their divine commission to speak on behalf of God. This phrase underscores the legitimacy and divine backing of their messages. Speaking "in the name of the Lord" signifies acting under God's authority and with His endorsement, a concept that is foundational to the prophetic office (Deuteronomy 18:18-20). It also foreshadows the ultimate prophet, Jesus Christ, who perfectly revealed God's will and character (John 1:18, Hebrews 1:1-2).
James warmly addresses his readers as “Brothers,” grounding the exhortation in family language.
• By calling believers family (James 1:2; Hebrews 3:1), Scripture reminds us we are united in Christ and share responsibility for one another.
• The term carries an implicit call to mutual support when trials hit (Galatians 6:2).
• Because the words come from a spiritual sibling, they arrive not as distant commands but as loving counsel we can trust (1 John 3:16).
James points us to a pattern worth imitating.
• Scripture often supplies living illustrations so truth feels accessible (1 Corinthians 10:11; Philippians 3:17).
• Examples are not mere history lessons; they are invitations to copy proven faithfulness (Hebrews 6:12).
• By studying these models, we gain hope that the same God will steady us (Romans 15:4).
The focus is perseverance when life hurts.
• Patience here reflects steadfast endurance rather than passive waiting (Romans 12:12).
• Affliction can be physical opposition, emotional strain, or social rejection for righteousness’ sake (2 Timothy 3:12).
• Scripture ties endurance to eternal reward (Revelation 2:10) and presents it as a fruit of the Spirit that grows through testing (James 1:3–4).
• We are assured that suffering is never wasted when borne in faith (2 Corinthians 4:17).
James points to the Old Testament messengers as prime illustrations.
• They stood firm despite ridicule, imprisonment, and threats (Hebrews 11:32–38).
• Jesus highlighted their endurance as motivation for His followers (Matthew 5:12).
• The early church remembered how prophets faced hostility yet obeyed God rather than men (Acts 7:52).
• Their biographies remind us that perseverance is possible for ordinary people empowered by an extraordinary God.
The prophets’ authority and courage flowed from speaking God’s words, not their own.
• Genuine patience is anchored in knowing we serve at His command (Jeremiah 1:9).
• Declaring truth in the Lord’s name gave the prophets boldness to outlast persecution (2 Peter 1:21).
• Our endurance today likewise rests on the certainty that God’s message remains trustworthy and effective (Isaiah 55:11).
• When our trials connect to obediently bearing His name (Acts 5:41), we can expect the same sustaining grace.
James 5:10 urges believers to look at the prophets as family-tested proof that patient endurance under pressure is both possible and worthwhile. Because they spoke with God’s authority, they withstood intense affliction, modeling the perseverance we need. Their stories invite us to lean on the same faithful Lord, confident that He will enable us to stand firm and finish well.
(10) For an example.--Another reason for endurance, an example of affliction and patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. These are the bright ones in the cloud of witnesses, of whom the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:1) speaks, who, like Daniel, "stopped the mouths of lions"; like Jeremiah and Elijah, "escaped the edge of the sword;" "out of weakness were made strong"; who "were stoned," like Zachariah; "sawn asunder," like Isaiah; "slain with the sword," like Urijah and John; "of whom the world was not worthy." Thus the saints of the Old Covenant are held up for honour and imitation to those of the New. James was not advocating a religion alien to that of Moses, but building again more widely "the ruins of the tabernacle which had fallen down," that "all the Gentiles might seek after the Lord." (Comp. his speech in the synod, Acts 15:13-21.)Verse 10. - The injunction is further strengthened by an appeal to the example of the prophets of the old covenant, an "example of suffering and of patience." Read ἐν τῶ ὀνόματι, with א, B, and observe the anarthrous Κυρίου (cf. on James 4:10). Suffering affliction. Τῆς κακοπαθείας.: here only in the LXX., Malachi 1:13; 2 Macc. 2:26.