James 3:6
4 Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
5 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.
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- 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.
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- 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.
- BLB
- And the tongue [is] a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, and setting aflame the course of nature, and [itself] being set aflame by Gehenna.
- ÅB
- Også tungen er en ild; som en verden av urettferdighet står tungen blant våre lemmer; den smitter hele legemet og setter livets hjul i brann, og settes selv i brann av helvete.
- OTB
- Tungen er også en ild, en verden av urett blant kroppens deler. Den forderver hele kroppen, setter livets løp i brann, og er selv satt i brann av helvete.
- B1930
- Også tungen er en ild; som en verden av urettferdighet står tungen blandt våre lemmer; den smitter hele legemet og setter livets hjul i brand, og settes selv i brand av helvede.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 120:2–3
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.
Read in contextProverbs 16:27
A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Read in contextMark 7:15
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”
Read in contextMatthew 15:11–20
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”
Read in contextProverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Read in contextMark 7:20–22
He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.
Read in contextLuke 16:24
So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
Read in contextColossians 3:8–9
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Read in context