1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
1 My G3450 brethren, G80 be G1096 not G3361 many G4183 masters, G1320 knowing G1492 that G3754 we shall receive G2983 the greater G3187 condemnation. G2917
2 For G1063 in many things G4183 we offend G4417 all. G537 If any man G1536 offend G4417 not G3756 in G1722 word, G3056 the same G3778 is a perfect G5046 man, G435 and able G1415 also G2532 to bridle G5468 the whole G3650 body. G4983
3 Behold, G2400 we put G906 bits G5469 in G1519 the horses' G2462 mouths, G4750 that G4314 they G846 may obey G3982 us; G2254 and G2532 we turn about G3329 their G846 whole G3650 body. G4983
4 Behold G2400 also G2532 the ships, G4143 which though they be G5607 so great, G5082 and G2532 are driven G1643 of G5259 fierce G4642 winds, G417 yet are they turned about G3329 with G5259 a very small G1646 helm, G4079 whithersoever G3699 G302 the governor G2116 listeth. G3730 G1014
5 Even G2532 so G3779 the tongue G1100 is G2076 a little G3398 member, G3196 and G2532 boasteth great things. G3166 Behold, G2400 how great G2245 a matter G5208 a little G3641 fire G4442 kindleth! G381
6 And G2532 the tongue G1100 is a fire, G4442 a world G2889 of iniquity: G93 so G3779 is G2525 the tongue G1100 among G1722 our G2257 members, G3196 that it defileth G4695 the whole G3650 body, G4983 and G2532 setteth on fire G5394 the course G5164 of nature; G1078 and G2532 it is set on fire G5394 of G5259 hell. G1067
7 For G1063 every G3956 kind G5449 of beasts, G2342 and G5037 G2532 of birds, G4071 and G5037 of serpents, G2062 and G2532 of things in the sea, G1724 is tamed, G1150 and G2532 hath been tamed G1150 of mankind: G5449 G442
8 But G1161 the tongue G1100 can G1410 no G3762 man G444 tame; G1150 it is an unruly G183 evil, G2556 full G3324 of deadly G2287 poison. G2447
9 Therewith G1722 G846 bless we G2127 God, G2316 even G2532 the Father; G3962 and G2532 therewith G1722 G846 curse we G2672 men, G444 which G3588 are made G1096 after G2596 the similitude G3669 of God. G2316
10 Out of G1537 the same G846 mouth G4750 proceedeth G1831 blessing G2129 and G2532 cursing. G2671 My G3450 brethren, G80 these things G5023 ought G5534 not G3756 so G3779 to be. G1096
11 Doth G3385 a fountain G4077 send forth G1032 at G1537 the same G846 place G3692 sweet G1099 water and G2532 bitter? G4089
12 Can G3361 G1410 the fig tree, G4808 my G3450 brethren, G80 bear G4160 olive berries? G1636 either G2228 a vine, G288 figs? G4810 so G3779 can no G3762 fountain G4077 both yield G4160 salt G252 water G5204 and G2532 fresh. G1099
13 Who G5101 is a wise man G4680 and G2532 endued with knowledge G1990 among G1722 you? G5213 let him shew G1166 out of G1537 a good G2570 conversation G391 his G846 works G2041 with G1722 meekness G4240 of wisdom. G4678
14 But G1161 if G1487 ye have G2192 bitter G4089 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 in G1722 your G5216 hearts, G2588 glory G2620 not, G3361 and G2532 lie not G5574 against G2596 the truth. G225
15 This G3778 wisdom G4678 descendeth G2076 G2718 not G3756 from above, G509 but G235 is earthly, G1919 sensual, G5591 devilish. G1141
16 For G1063 where G3699 envying G2205 and G2532 strife G2052 is, there G1563 is confusion G181 and G2532 every G3956 evil G5337 work. G4229
17 But G1161 the wisdom G4678 that is from above G509 is G2076 first G4412 pure, G3303 G53 then G1899 peaceable, G1516 gentle, G1933 and easy to be intreated, G2138 full G3324 of mercy G1656 and G2532 good G18 fruits, G2590 without partiality, G87 and G2532 without hypocrisy. G505
18 And G1161 the fruit G2590 of righteousness G1343 is sown G4687 in G1722 peace G1515 of them that make G4160 peace. G1515
1 Be not many `of you' teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.
2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3 Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.
8 But the tongue can no man tame; `it is' a restless evil, `it is' full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:
10 out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet `water' and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither `can' salt water yield sweet.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not `a wisdom' that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.
1 Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,
2 for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one `is' a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;
3 lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
4 lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
5 so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
6 and the tongue `is' a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
7 For every nature, both of beasts and of fowls, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and hath been subdued, by the human nature,
8 and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, `it is' an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,
9 with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;
10 out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;
11 doth the fountain out of the same opening pour forth the sweet and the bitter?
12 is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? or a vine figs? so no fountain salt and sweet water `is able' to make.
13 Who `is' wise and intelligent among you? let him shew out of the good behaviour his works in meekness of wisdom,
14 and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth;
15 this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,
16 for where zeal and rivalry `are', there is insurrection and every evil matter;
17 and the wisdom from above, first, indeed, is pure, then peaceable, gentle, easily entreated, full of kindness and good fruits, uncontentious, and unhypocritical: --
18 and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.
1 Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.
2 For we all often offend. If any one offend not in word, *he* [is] a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body too.
3 Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
4 Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.
5 Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
6 and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
7 For every species both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and of sea animals, is tamed and has been tamed by the human species;
8 but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
9 Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.
11 Does the fountain, out of the same opening, pour forth sweet and bitter?
12 Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt [water] make sweet water.
13 Who [is] wise and understanding among you; let him shew out of a good conversation his works in meekness of wisdom;
14 but if ye have bitter emulation and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish.
16 For where emulation and strife [are], there [is] disorder and every evil thing.
17 But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned.
18 But [the] fruit of righteousness in peace is sown for them that make peace.
1 Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment.
2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.{Gehenna is a name that describes a burning Hell with rotting bodies and unclean things in it}
7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.
10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
1 Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others.
2 For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control.
3 Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.
4 And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.
5 Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.
7 For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority;
8 But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.
9 With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.
10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.
11 Does the fountain send from the same outlet sweet and bitter water?
12 Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea?
13 Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy in your heart and the desire to get the better of others, have no pride in this, talking falsely against what is true.
15 This wisdom is not from heaven, but is of the earth and the flesh and the Evil One.
16 For where envy is, and the desire to get the better of others, there is no order, but every sort of evil-doing.
17 But the wisdom which is from heaven is first holy, then gentle, readily giving way in argument, full of peace and mercy and good works, not doubting, not seeming other than it is.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace for those who make peace.
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.