James 3

James · Chapter 3

James 3:7

1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.2For 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.3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.4Behold 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.5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!6And 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.7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.17But 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.18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind:

In context

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James 3:1-12Taming the tongue

About James 3"Be not many masters," James warns, for teachers "shall receive the greater condemnation," and anyone who does not offend "in word" is "a perfect man." The tongue is like a bit or a helm, small but steering much: "the tongue is a fire," which "can no man tame," and "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing." True wisdom is shown by good conduct "with meekness," and "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits." James 3:1James 3:2James 3:3James 3:4James 3:6James 3:8James 3:10James 3:13James 3:17James overview

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
AllΠᾶσαPasaG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

forγὰρgarG1063
for

γάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. …

kindsφύσιςphusisG5449
nature

φύσις (phusis) φύσις, -εως, ἡ (φύω) [in LXX: Wis.7:20 13:1 19:20 אΑ, 3Ma.3:29, 4Ma.1:20 4Mac 5:7-8 4Mac 5:25 4Mac 13:27 4Mac 15:13 4Mac 15:25 4Mac 16:3 * ;] nature, i.e., (a) the nature (natural powers or constitution) of a person or thing: Jas.3:7, 2Pe.1:4; τέκνα φυσει ὀργῆς, Eph.2:3; (b) origin, birth (Soph., Xen., al.): Rom.2:27, Gal.2:15; (with) nature, i.e. the regular order or law of nature: 1Co.11:14; dative, φύσει adverbially, by nature, Rom.2:14, Gal.4:8; παρὰ φύσιν, against nature, Rom.1:26 11:24; καρὰ φ., according to nature, naturally, Rom.11:21, 24.† (AS)

of beastsθηρίωνthēriōnG2342
wild animal

θηρίον (thērion) θηρίον, -ου, τό (dimin. of θήρ), [in LXX chiefly for חַי ;] a wild beast, beast: Mrk.1:13, Act.11:6 28:4-5, Tit.1:12, Heb.12:20, Jas.3:7, Rev.6:8; of Antichrist, Rev.11:7, 13-19.† (AS)

bothτεteG5037
and/both

τε (te) τέ, enclitic copulative particle (= Lat. -que as καί = and, ac, atque, not very frequently in NT, more than two-thirds of the occurrences being in Ac. 1. τέ solitarium, and, denoting a closer affinity than καί between words and sentences which it connects (BL, §77, 8): Mat.28:12, Jhn.4:42, Act.2:33, 37 40 10:22 11:21, al. 2. Denoting a closer connection than simple καί, τὲ . . . καί, τὲ καί, τὲ . . . τέ (Act.26:16 Rom.14:8), as well . . . as also, both . . . and: Luk.12:45, Act.1:1 15:9, 21:30, al.; τὲ . . . δέ, and . . . and, Act.19:2; τὲ γάρ . . . ὁμοίως δὲ καί, Rom.1:26, 27. (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

of birds,πετεινῶν,peteinōnG4071
bird

πετεινός (peteinos) πετεινός, -ή, -όν (πέτομαι), [in LXX chiefly for עוֹף ;] in trag., Ion. and late writers, winged, flying; as subst., τὸ π., a winged fowl, a bird: pl., Mat.6:26 8:20 13:4, 32, Mrk.4:4, 32, Luk.8:5 9:58 12:24 13:19, Act.10:12 11:6, Rom.1:23, Jas.3:7.† (AS)

of creeping thingsἑρπετῶνherpetōnG2062
reptile

ἑρπετόν (herpeton) ἑρπετόν, -οῦ, τό (ἕρπω, to crawl), [in LXX chiefly for רֶמֶשׂ, שֶׁרֶץ ;] a creeping thing, reptile: Act.10:12 11:6, Rom.1:23, Jas.3:7.† (AS)

bothτεteG5037
and/both

τε (te) τέ, enclitic copulative particle (= Lat. -que as καί = and, ac, atque, not very frequently in NT, more than two-thirds of the occurrences being in Ac. 1. τέ solitarium, and, denoting a closer affinity than καί between words and sentences which it connects (BL, §77, 8): Mat.28:12, Jhn.4:42, Act.2:33, 37 40 10:22 11:21, al. 2. Denoting a closer connection than simple καί, τὲ . . . καί, τὲ καί, τὲ . . . τέ (Act.26:16 Rom.14:8), as well . . . as also, both . . . and: Luk.12:45, Act.1:1 15:9, 21:30, al.; τὲ . . . δέ, and . . . and, Act.19:2; τὲ γάρ . . . ὁμοίως δὲ καί, Rom.1:26, 27. (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

things of the seaἐναλίωνenaliōnG1724
marine

ἐνάλιος (enalios) ἐν-άλιος, -ον (also -α, -ον; ἅλς, the sea), of the sea: τὰ ἐ., marine creatures, Jas.3:7.† (AS)

is subduedδαμάζεταιdamazetaiG1150
to tame

δαμάζω (damazō) δαμάζω [in LXX: Dan.2:40 (חֲשַׁל) * ;] to tame, subdue: Mrk.5:4, Jas.3:7; metaphorically, τ. γλῶσσαν, Jas.3:8 (Field, Notes, 237f.).† (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

he has been subduedδεδάμασταιdedamastaiG1150
to tame

δαμάζω (damazō) δαμάζω [in LXX: Dan.2:40 (חֲשַׁל) * ;] to tame, subdue: Mrk.5:4, Jas.3:7; metaphorically, τ. γλῶσσαν, Jas.3:8 (Field, Notes, 237f.).† (AS)

raceφύσειphuseiG5449
nature

φύσις (phusis) φύσις, -εως, ἡ (φύω) [in LXX: Wis.7:20 13:1 19:20 אΑ, 3Ma.3:29, 4Ma.1:20 4Mac 5:7-8 4Mac 5:25 4Mac 13:27 4Mac 15:13 4Mac 15:25 4Mac 16:3 * ;] nature, i.e., (a) the nature (natural powers or constitution) of a person or thing: Jas.3:7, 2Pe.1:4; τέκνα φυσει ὀργῆς, Eph.2:3; (b) origin, birth (Soph., Xen., al.): Rom.2:27, Gal.2:15; (with) nature, i.e. the regular order or law of nature: 1Co.11:14; dative, φύσει adverbially, by nature, Rom.2:14, Gal.4:8; παρὰ φύσιν, against nature, Rom.1:26 11:24; καρὰ φ., according to nature, naturally, Rom.11:21, 24.† (AS)

human;ἀνθρωπίνῃ·anthrōpinēG0442
human

ἀνθρώπινος (anthrōpinos) ἀνθρώπινος, -η, ον (ἄνθρωπος), [in LXX for אָדָם, אֱנוֹשׁ ;] human, belonging to man: χεῖρες, Act.17:25; σοφία, 1Co.2:13; φύσις, Jas.3:7; κτίσις, 1Pe.2:13 (MM, VGT, see word); ἀ. ἡμέρα, opposite to ἡ ἡμ. (1Co.3:13, God's Judgment-Day), human judgment, 1Co.4:3 (see Lft., Notes, 198); πειρασμὸς ἀ., temptation such as man can bear (AV, such as is common to man, see Field, Notes, 175), 1Co.10:13; ἀνθρώπινον λέγω, I speak in human fashion, with words not properly weighed, Rom.6:19 (see Field, Notes, 156).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.