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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>James 5:3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/james/5-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/59_Jas_05_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="James 5:3 - Warning to the Rich" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. 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Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. <a href="/nlt/james/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. <a href="/esv/james/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. <a href="/bsb/james/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. <a href="/blb/james/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Your gold and silver have corroded, and their rust will be for a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have treasured up in the last days. <a href="/kjv/james/5.htm">King James Bible</a> Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. <a href="/nkjv/james/5.htm">New King James Version</a> Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. <a href="/nasb_/james/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will serve as a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! <a href="/nasb/james/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! <a href="/nasb77/james/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! <a href="/lsb/james/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Your gold and your silver have rusted, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up such treasure in the last days! <a href="/amp/james/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up your treasure in the last days [when it will do you no good]. <a href="/csb/james/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. <a href="/hcsb/james/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Your silver and gold are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You stored up treasure in the last days! <a href="/asv/james/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. <a href="/cev/james/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Your money has rusted, and the rust will be evidence against you, as it burns your body like fire. Yet you keep on storing up wealth in these last days. <a href="/erv/james/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days. <a href="/gwt/james/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you. Like fire, it will destroy your body. You have stored up riches in these last days. <a href="/gnt/james/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire. You have piled up riches in these last days. <a href="/isv/james/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasures in these last days. <a href="/msb/james/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days. <a href="/net/james/5.htm">NET Bible</a> Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! <a href="/nheb/james/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days. <a href="/wbt/james/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have amassed treasure for the last days. <a href="/wey/james/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> your gold and your silver have become covered with rust, and the rust on them will give evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded up wealth in these last days. <a href="/web/james/5.htm">World English Bible</a> Your gold and your silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be for a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up your treasure in the last days. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/james/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> your gold and silver have rotted, and the rust of them will be to you for a testimony, and will eat your flesh as fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days! <a href="/blb/james/5.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Your gold and silver have corroded, and their rust will be for a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have treasured up in the last days. <a href="/ylt/james/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> your gold and silver have rotted, and the rust of them for a testimony shall be to you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye made treasure in the last days! <a href="/slt/james/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Your gold and silver is become rusty; and their rust shall be for a witness to you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have gathered up treasures in the last days.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/james/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up to yourselves wrath against the last days. <a href="/cpdv/james/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be a testimony against you, and it will eat away at your flesh like fire. You have stored up wrath for yourselves unto the last days. <a href="/nabre/james/5.htm">New American Bible</a> your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. <a href="/nrsvce/james/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/james/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Your gold and silver are tarnished, and the rust of them will be a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh. The treasures which you have heaped together will be as fire to you for the last days. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/james/5.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Your gold and your silver has corroded itself and their corrosion will be for a witness against you and will consume your flesh. You have gathered fire to yourselves for the last days.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/james/5.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> your gold and your silver are covered with rust; and their rust will be a testimony against you, and will eat your flesh as fire. You have heaped up treasures in the last days. <a href="/godbey/james/5.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> your gold and your silver are cankered; and their rust shall be for a witness against you, and eat your flesh like fire. You laid up treasures in the last days. <a href="/haweis/james/5.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Your gold and silver is cankered with rust; and the rust upon them is a testimony against you, and shall eat into your flesh as fire. Ye have heaped up treasures in the last days. <a href="/mace/james/5.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and your gold and silver by rust: that rust shall convict you: that rust shall corrode your flesh like a caustic, which you have treasur'd up against the last days. <a href="/wey/james/5.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> your gold and your silver have become covered with rust, and the rust on them will give evidence against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded up wealth in these last days. <a href="/worrell/james/5.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and their rust will be for a witness against you, and will eat your flesh, as fire. Ye laid up treasures in the last days! <a href="/worsley/james/5.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> your gold and silver is cankered, and their rust shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire: ye have been treasuring them up for these last days. <a href="/parallel/james/5-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xUBCzqsAGw?start=818" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/james/5.htm">Warning to the Rich</a> …2Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. 3<a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">Your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5557.htm" title="5557: chrysos (N-NMS) -- Perhaps from the base of chraomai; gold; by extension, a golden article, as an ornament or coin.">gold</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/696.htm" title="696: argyros (N-NMS) -- Silver as a metal. From argos; silver.">silver</a> <a href="/greek/2728.htm" title="2728: katiōtai (V-RIM/P-3S) -- To rust; pass: To be rusted, tarnished. From kata and a derivative of ios; to rust down, i.e. Corrode.">are corroded.</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autōn (PPro-GM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Their</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2447.htm" title="2447: ios (N-NMS) -- Poison, rust; an arrow. Perhaps from eimi or hiemi; rust; also venom.">corrosion</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estai (V-FIM-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">will</a> <a href="/greek/1519.htm" title="1519: eis (Prep) -- A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases."></a> <a href="/greek/3142.htm" title="3142: martyrion (N-ANS) -- Neuter of a presumed derivative of martus; something evidential, i.e. evidence given or, the Decalogue.">testify</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymin (PPro-D2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">against you</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/5315.htm" title="5315: phagetai (V-FIM-3S) -- A primary verb; to eat.">consume</a> <a href="/greek/4771.htm" title="4771: hymōn (PPro-G2P) -- You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.">your</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tas (Art-AFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/4561.htm" title="4561: sarkas (N-AFP) -- Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred. ">flesh</a> <a href="/greek/5613.htm" title="5613: hōs (Adv) -- Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.">like</a> <a href="/greek/4442.htm" title="4442: pyr (N-NNS) -- Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; fire.">fire.</a> <a href="/greek/2343.htm" title="2343: Ethēsaurisate (V-AIA-2P) -- To store up, treasure up, save, lay up. From thesauros; to amass or reserve.">You have hoarded treasure</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/2078.htm" title="2078: eschatais (Adj-DFP) -- Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.">the last</a> <a href="/greek/2250.htm" title="2250: hēmerais (N-DFP) -- A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. ">days.</a> 4Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-21</a> Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. <a href="/luke/12-33.htm">Luke 12:33-34</a> Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. <a href="/1_timothy/6-9.htm">1 Timothy 6:9-10</a> Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. <a href="/1_timothy/6-17.htm">1 Timothy 6:17-19</a> Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. <a href="/matthew/19-21.htm">Matthew 19:21-24</a> Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” / When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth. / Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ... <a href="/luke/16-19.htm">Luke 16:19-31</a> Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. / And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. ... <a href="/revelation/18-16.htm">Revelation 18:16-17</a> saying: “Woe, woe to the great city, clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! / For in a single hour such fabulous wealth has been destroyed!” Every shipmaster, passenger, and sailor, and all who make their living from the sea, will stand at a distance <a href="/ezekiel/7-19.htm">Ezekiel 7:19</a> They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity. <a href="/proverbs/11-4.htm">Proverbs 11:4</a> Riches are worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness brings deliverance from death. <a href="/zephaniah/1-18.htm">Zephaniah 1:18</a> Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth. <a href="/job/31-24.htm">Job 31:24-28</a> If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, / if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, / if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, ... <a href="/isaiah/2-20.htm">Isaiah 2:20</a> In that day men will cast away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and gold—the idols they made to worship. <a href="/isaiah/30-22.htm">Isaiah 30:22</a> So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!” <a href="/jeremiah/17-11.htm">Jeremiah 17:11</a> Like a partridge hatching eggs it did not lay is the man who makes a fortune unjustly. In the middle of his days his riches will desert him, and in the end he will be the fool.” <a href="/proverbs/23-4.htm">Proverbs 23:4-5</a> Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. / When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Your gold and silver is corroded; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. You have heaped treasure together for the last days.cankered.<a href="/2_timothy/2-17.htm">2 Timothy 2:17</a> And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;a witness.<a href="/genesis/31-48.htm">Genesis 31:48,52</a> And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; … <a href="/joshua/24-27.htm">Joshua 24:27</a> And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.<a href="/job/16-8.htm">Job 16:8</a> And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.and shall.<a href="/jeremiah/19-9.htm">Jeremiah 19:9</a> And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.<a href="/micah/3-3.htm">Micah 3:3</a> Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.<a href="/revelation/17-16.htm">Revelation 17:16</a> And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.Ye have.<a href="/deuteronomy/32-33.htm">Deuteronomy 32:33,34</a> Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps… <a href="/job/14-16.htm">Job 14:16,17</a> For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? … <a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5</a> But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;the last.<a href="/genesis/49-1.htm">Genesis 49:1</a> And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.<a href="/isaiah/2-2.htm">Isaiah 2:2</a> And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.<a href="/micah/4-1.htm">Micah 4:1</a> But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/zechariah/9-3.htm">Amassed</a> <a href="/james/4-2.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/2_timothy/2-17.htm">Canker</a> <a href="/james/4-3.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-4.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/hebrews/13-10.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/james/5-2.htm">Eaten</a> <a href="/james/2-20.htm">Evidence</a> <a href="/james/3-6.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/james/3-15.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/james/2-2.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/mark/15-32.htm">Heaped</a> <a href="/isaiah/23-18.htm">Hoarded</a> <a href="/hebrews/4-13.htm">Laid</a> <a href="/james/5-2.htm">Rotted</a> <a href="/matthew/6-20.htm">Rust</a> <a href="/2_timothy/2-20.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/2_timothy/4-8.htm">Store</a> <a href="/2_timothy/4-8.htm">Stored</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-15.htm">Testify</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-39.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/james/2-22.htm">Together</a> <a href="/2_timothy/1-14.htm">Treasure</a> <a href="/james/4-3.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/galatians/4-11.htm">Wasted</a> <a href="/james/5-2.htm">Wealth</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-39.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_chronicles/1-14.htm">Amassed</a> <a href="/2_peter/2-6.htm">Burning</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-14.htm">Canker</a> <a href="/genesis/18-23.htm">Consume</a> <a href="/revelation/4-6.htm">Covered</a> <a href="/revelation/2-7.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/revelation/10-9.htm">Eaten</a> <a href="/exodus/22-13.htm">Evidence</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-7.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/james/5-17.htm">Flesh</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-7.htm">Gold</a> <a href="/revelation/18-5.htm">Heaped</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/5-13.htm">Hoarded</a> <a href="/revelation/1-17.htm">Laid</a> <a href="/exodus/16-20.htm">Rotted</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-6.htm">Rust</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-18.htm">Silver</a> <a href="/2_peter/3-7.htm">Store</a> <a href="/2_peter/3-7.htm">Stored</a> <a href="/1_john/1-2.htm">Testify</a> <a href="/1_john/5-6.htm">Testimony</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-7.htm">Together</a> <a href="/genesis/24-10.htm">Treasure</a> <a href="/revelation/12-6.htm">Waste</a> <a href="/genesis/31-40.htm">Wasted</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-18.htm">Wealth</a> <a href="/1_peter/1-11.htm">Witness</a><div class="vheading2">James 5</div>1. <a href="/james/5-1.htm">Rich oppressors are to fear God's vengeance.</a> 7. <a href="/james/5-7.htm">We ought to be patient in afflictions, after the example of the prophets, and Job;</a> 12. <a href="/james/5-12.htm">to forbear swearing;</a> 13. <a href="/james/5-13.htm">to pray in adversity, to sing in prosperity;</a> 14. <a href="/james/5-14.htm">to acknowledge mutually our several faults, to pray one for another;</a> 19. <a href="/james/5-19.htm">and to correct a straying brother.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the ancient world, gold and silver were considered imperishable and symbols of wealth and security. The corrosion mentioned here is metaphorical, indicating the futility and temporary nature of earthly riches. This echoes Jesus' teaching in <a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19-20</a>, where He advises storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The imagery of corrosion suggests that what was thought to be lasting is ultimately subject to decay, highlighting the spiritual decay that accompanies the hoarding of wealth.Their corrosion will testify against you The idea of corrosion testifying against the wealthy implies a legal setting, where the evidence of their greed and misuse of resources stands as a witness in a divine court. This reflects the biblical theme of justice, where God holds individuals accountable for their actions, as seen in passages like <a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5-6</a>. The corrosion serves as a visible sign of their misplaced trust and priorities, condemning them for their failure to use their resources for God's purposes.and consume your flesh like fire. Fire is often used in Scripture as a symbol of judgment and purification. Here, it represents the destructive consequences of greed and selfishness. The imagery of flesh being consumed suggests the totality of the judgment, affecting both the physical and spiritual aspects of a person. This aligns with the warnings found in passages like <a href="/1_corinthians/3-13.htm">1 Corinthians 3:13-15</a>, where works are tested by fire to reveal their true value.You have hoarded treasure in the last days. The phrase "last days" refers to the eschatological period between Christ's first and second coming, a time marked by the anticipation of His return. Hoarding treasure during this period is particularly condemned because it reflects a lack of faith in God's provision and a misunderstanding of the times. This connects to the parable of the rich fool in <a href="/luke/12-16.htm">Luke 12:16-21</a>, where storing up earthly wealth without regard for one's spiritual state is shown to be foolish. The emphasis is on the urgency of living righteously and generously in light of Christ's imminent return.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/james.htm">James</a> The author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He writes with authority and pastoral concern for the moral and spiritual well-being of believers. 2. <a href="/topical/w/wealthy_oppressors.htm">Wealthy Oppressors</a> The primary audience of this passage, likely wealthy landowners or merchants who have accumulated wealth unjustly and are warned of impending judgment. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_last_days.htm">The Last Days</a> A term used to describe the period between Christ's first and second coming, emphasizing the urgency and imminence of divine judgment.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_temporary_nature_of_earthly_wealth.htm">The Temporary Nature of Earthly Wealth</a> Earthly riches are subject to decay and corrosion, symbolizing their impermanence and inability to provide true security or satisfaction. <a href="/topical/t/the_testimony_of_corrosion.htm">The Testimony of Corrosion</a> The corrosion of wealth serves as a witness against the hoarder, indicating moral and spiritual decay. Believers are called to examine their hearts and priorities. <a href="/topical/j/judgment_and_accountability.htm">Judgment and Accountability</a> The imagery of consuming fire points to divine judgment. Christians are reminded of their accountability before God and the importance of righteous living. <a href="/topical/l/living_in_the_last_days.htm">Living in the Last Days</a> The phrase "in the last days" emphasizes the urgency of living with an eternal perspective, prioritizing spiritual wealth over material accumulation. <a href="/topical/g/generosity_and_stewardship.htm">Generosity and Stewardship</a> Instead of hoarding, believers are encouraged to use their resources for God's kingdom, practicing generosity and wise stewardship.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_james_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from James 5</a> <a href="/q/does_job_3's_despair_contradict_james_5_11.htm">Does the despair expressed in Job 3 contradict later biblical accounts (e.g., James 5:11) that describe Job as patient and steadfast?</a> <a href="/q/how_can_the_tongue_be_untamable_yet_controlled.htm">In James 3:8, the tongue is called 'untamable,' conflicting with other teachings on self-control (e.g., Galatians 5:23); how can both be true?</a> <a href="/q/why_aren't_james_5_1-3_warnings_on_the_rich_supported_by_history.htm">In James 5:1-3, why are the warnings against the rich not corroborated by historical evidence showing that many wealthy individuals also contributed positively to society?</a> <a href="/q/can_we_get_what_we_pray_for.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on wealth?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/james/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) Your gold and silver . . .--In like manner, the gold and silver are said to be "cankered," or eaten up with rust. The precious metals themselves do not corrode, but the base alloy does, which has been mixed with them for worldly use and device. The rust of them shall be a witness to you: not merely against, but convincing yourselves in the day of judgment; and, moreover, a sign of the fire which shall consume you. So will the wages of the traitor, and the harlot, the spoil of the thief and oppressor, burn the hands which have clutched them; the memories of the wrong shiver through each guilty soul, like the liquid fires which Muhammedans say torture the veins of the damned in the halls of Eblis.Ye have heaped . . .--Read, Ye heaped up treasures in the last days:--the days of grace, given you for repentance, like the years when "the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah" (<a href="/genesis/6-3.htm" title="And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.">Genesis 6:3</a>; <a href="/1_peter/3-20.htm" title="Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.">1Peter 3:20</a>), or the time during which God bore with Canaan, "till the iniquity of the Amorite" was "full" (<a href="/genesis/15-16.htm" title="But in the fourth generation they shall come here again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.">Genesis 15:16</a>).Some expositors have seen in this verse an instance of James's belief that he was "living in the last days of the world's history;" and compared his delusion with that of Paul and John (<a href="/1_thessalonians/4-15.htm" title="For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.">1Thessalonians 4:15</a>, and <a href="/1_john/2-18.htm" title="Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.">1John 2:18</a>). But there was no mistake on the part of the inspired. writers; freedom from error in their Sacred office must be vindicated, or who shall sever the false gospel from the true? The simple explanation is an old one--the potential nearness of Christ, as it is called. In many ways He has been ever near each individual, as by affliction, or death, or judgment; but His actual return was probably nearer in the first ages of faith than in the brutality of the tenth century, or the splendid atheism of the fifteenth, or the intellectual pride of the nineteenth. His advent is helped or hindered by the state of Christendom itself: "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (<a href="/2_peter/3-8.htm" title="But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.">2Peter 3:8</a>), there is: neither past nor future in His sight; only the presence of His own determination: and nought retards Christ's Second Coming so much as the false and feeble Christianity which prays "Thy kingdom come" in frequent words, but waits not as the handmaid of her Lord, with "loins girded about and lights burning" (<a href="/luke/12-35.htm" title="Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;">Luke 12:35</a>), "until the day dawn, and the day star arise" (<a href="/2_peter/1-19.htm" title="We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:">2Peter 1:19</a>). . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/james/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - With this and the preceding verse contrast our Lord's words of treasure laid up in heaven, "where moth and rust do not corrupt" (<a href="/matthew/6-19.htm">Matthew 6:19</a>). Cankered (κατίωται); better, rusted. Only here in the New Testament; never in the LXX. except Ecclus. 12:11. The rust of them. Ἰός: used here for "rust" as in the LXX. in Ezekiel's parable of the boiling pot (<a href="/ezekiel/24-6.htm">Ezekiel 24:6</a>, etc.) - a passage which (according to one interpretation) may have suggested the following clause, "and shall eat your flesh," etc. (see vers. 9-12). Shall he a witness against you (εἰς μαρτύριον ὑμῖν). The rendering of the A.V. is quite defensible (see Winer, p. 265), but it is equally possible to take the words as the R.V. margin," for a testimony unto you." "The rust of them," says Alford, "is a token of what shall happen to yourselves; in the consuming of your wealth you see depicted your own." Two interpretations of the latter part of the verse are possible, depending on the punctuation adopted. (1) As the A.V. and R.V., putting the stop after πῦρ: "Their rust... shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days." The "fire," if this rendering be adopted, may be explained from <a href="/ezekiel/24-9.htm">Ezekiel 24:9</a>, etc. (2) Putting the stop after ὑμῶν and before ὡς πῦρ: "Their rust... shall eat your flesh. Ye have heaped up as it were fire in the last days." This has the support of the Syriac ("Ye have gathered fire for you for the last days"), and is adopted by Drs. Westcott and Herr. The "fire" will, of course, be the fire of judgment; and the expression, ὡς πῦρ ἐθησαυρίσατε, may easily have been suggested by <a href="/proverbs/16-27.htm">Proverbs 16:27</a>, Ἀνὴρ ἄφρων ὀρύσσει ἑαυτῷ κακά ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ χειλέων θησαυρίζει πῦρ. The whole form of expression also reminds us of St. Paul's "treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath" (<a href="/romans/2-5.htm">Romans 2:5</a>), to which it is exactly parallel, the "wrath in the day of wrath" there answering to the "fire in the last days" here. (The rendering of the Vulgate is evidently influenced by this parallel, as it has thesaurizastis tram.) For the last days; rather, in the last days (ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις); cf. <a href="/2_timothy/3-1.htm">2 Timothy 3:1</a>. If the words are connected with πῦρ as suggested above, there is no difficulty in them. If the punctuation of the A.V. be retained, we must suppose that the writer is speaking from the point of view of the last day of all. "When the end came it found them heaping up treasures which they could never use" (Dean Scott). But the other view, though not so generally adopted, seems fat' preferable. <a href="/commentaries/james/5-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. gold χρυσὸς (chrysos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5557.htm">Strong's 5557: </a> Perhaps from the base of chraomai; gold; by extension, a golden article, as an ornament or coin. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. silver ἄργυρος (argyros) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_696.htm">Strong's 696: </a> Silver as a metal. From argos; silver. are corroded. κατίωται (katiōtai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2728.htm">Strong's 2728: </a> To rust; pass: To be rusted, tarnished. From kata and a derivative of ios; to rust down, i.e. Corrode. Their αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. corrosion ἰὸς (ios) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2447.htm">Strong's 2447: </a> Poison, rust; an arrow. Perhaps from eimi or hiemi; rust; also venom. will ἔσται (estai) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. testify μαρτύριον (martyrion) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3142.htm">Strong's 3142: </a> Neuter of a presumed derivative of martus; something evidential, i.e. evidence given or, the Decalogue. against you ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. consume φάγεται (phagetai) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5315.htm">Strong's 5315: </a> A primary verb; to eat. your ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4771.htm">Strong's 4771: </a> You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. flesh σάρκας (sarkas) Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4561.htm">Strong's 4561: </a> Flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred. like ὡς (hōs) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5613.htm">Strong's 5613: </a> Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. fire. πῦρ (pyr) Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4442.htm">Strong's 4442: </a> Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'. You have hoarded treasure Ἐθησαυρίσατε (Ethēsaurisate) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2343.htm">Strong's 2343: </a> To store up, treasure up, save, lay up. From thesauros; to amass or reserve. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. [the] last ἐσχάταις (eschatais) Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2078.htm">Strong's 2078: </a> Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final. days. ἡμέραις (hēmerais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2250.htm">Strong's 2250: </a> A day, the period from sunrise to sunset. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/james/5-3.htm">James 5:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/james/5-3.htm">NT Letters: James 5:3 Your gold and your silver are corroded (Ja Jas. Jam) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/james/5-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="James 5:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="James 5:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/james/5-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="James 5:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="James 5:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>