8 But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.
Their throat is like an open place of death; with their tongues they have said what is not true: the poison of snakes is under their lips:
Their tongues are sharp like the tongue of a snake; the poison of snakes is under their lips. (Selah.)
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, but they were sharp swords.
My soul is among lions; I am stretched out among those who are on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
If a snake gives a bite before the word of power is said, then there is no longer any use in the word of power.
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;
Their wine is the poison of dragons, the cruel poison of snakes.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on James 3
Commentary on James 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
The apostle here reproves ambition, and an arrogant magisterial tongue; and shows the duty and advantage of bridling it because of its power to do mischief. Those who profess religion ought especially to govern their tongues (v. 1-12). True wisdom makes men meek, and avoiders of strife and envy: and hereby it may easily be distinguished from a wisdom that is earthly and hypocritical (v. 13-18).
Jam 3:1-12
The foregoing chapter shows how unprofitable and dead faith is without works. It is plainly intimated by what this chapter first goes upon that such a faith is, however, apt to make men conceited and magisterial in their tempers and their talk. Those who set up faith in the manner the former chapter condemns are most apt to run into those sins of the tongue which this chapter condemns. And indeed the best need to be cautioned against a dictating, censorious, mischievous use of their tongues. We are therefore taught,
Jam 3:13-18
As the sins before condemned arise from an affectation of being thought more wise than others, and being endued with more knowledge than they, so the apostle in these verses shows the difference between men's pretending to be wise and their being really so, and between the wisdom which is from beneath (from earth or hell) and that which is from above.