James 3:5
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.
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:
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
- KJV
- Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
- WEB
- So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
- ASV
- So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
- DARBY
- Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
- BLB
- So also the tongue is a small member, and it boasts great [things]. Behold what size a fire, what size a forest it kindles.
- ÅB
- Så er og tungen et lite lem, og taler dog store ord. Se, en liten ild, hvor stor en skog den setter i brann!
- OTB
- På samme måte er tungen en liten del av kroppen, men den skryter av store ting. Se hvordan en stor skog kan settes i brann av en liten gnist!
- B1930
- Så er og tungen et lite lem, og taler dog store ord. Se, en liten ild, hvor stor en skog den setter i brand!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Read in contextProverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Read in contextJeremiah 9:3–8
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Read in contextProverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Read in contextPsalms 17:10
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
Read in contextPsalms 73:8–9
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Read in contextPsalms 12:2–4
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Read in contextPsalms 52:1–2
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Read in context