James 3:8
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:
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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- KJV
- But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
- WEB
- but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- ASV
- But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.
- DARBY
- but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.
- BLB
- but no one of men is able to subdue the tongue; [it is] an unstable evil, full of deadly poison.
- ÅB
- men tungen kan intet menneske temme, det ustyrlige onde, full av dødelig gift.
- OTB
- men ingen menneske kan temme tungen. Den er en rastløs ondskap, full av dødelig gift.
- B1930
- men tungen kan intet menneske temme, det ustyrlige onde, full av dødelig gift.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 3:13
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Read in contextPsalms 140:3
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
Read in contextPsalms 55:21
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
Read in contextJames 3:6
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.
Read in contextPsalms 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Read in contextPsalms 64:3–4
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Read in contextPsalms 59:7
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
Read in contextPsalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Read in context