Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be patient therefore - As judgment is so near (James 5:1; James 5:3), ye can afford to be "long-suffering" х makrothumeesate (G3114)], after the example of the unresisting just one (James 5:6).
Brethren - contrasted with the "rich" oppressors, James 5:1-6.
Unto the coming of the Lord - when the trial of long-suffering waiting shall cease.
Husbandman waiteth for - i:e., amidst toils and delays, through hope of the harvest. Its 'preciouness' (cf. Psalms 126:6, "precious seed") will amply compensate for all the past. Compare Galatians 6:8-9.
Hath long patience (suffering) for it - `over it,' in respect to it.
Until he receive - `until it receive' (Alford). The receiving of the early and latter rains is not the object of his hope, but the harvest, to which those rains are the preliminary. The early rain fell at sowing time, about November or December; the latter rain, about March or April, to mature the grain for harvest. The latter rain that shall precede the spiritual harvest will probably be another Pentecost-like effusion of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 2:23,28-32).