James 5:6

Condemned. As in every age, the wealth of the rich often strongly influences the processes of justice. This was pathetically true in Biblical times (cf. on chapter 2:6).

The just. Or, “the righteous [one].” From the slaying of Abel (see Genesis 4:8) to the end of time, the hand of self-interested oppressors brings misery, and sometimes death, to the innocent.

Resist. Greek antitasso, “to oppose,” “to offer resistance.” The testimony of these “condemned” and mistreated righteous will rise up in awful condemnation of all oppressors in the day of judgment. The oppressed righteous are not able to resist the tyrannous rich in this life, and will secure justice only when God arises to avenge their cause. Then their cause will be vindicated, they will be compensated, and their ungodly oppressors will be destroyed (see verses 3, 5).