James 3:3 - Forerunner Commentary

James 3:3

The Untamable Tongue

1 My brethren, ^alet not many of you become teachers, ^bknowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

2 For ^awe all stumble in many things. ^bIf anyone does not stumble in word, ^che is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3 Indeed, ^awe put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

5 Even so ^athe tongue is a little member and ^bboasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

6 And ^athe tongue is a fire, a world of¹ iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^bdefiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of² nature; and it is set on fire by³ hell.

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ^afull of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made ^ain the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

12 Can a ^afig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?¹ Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

13 ^aWho is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have ^abitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, ^bdo not boast and lie against the truth.

Verse Comparison: James 3:3

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American Standard Version
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

Amplified® Bible
If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.

Contemporary English Version
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions.

Darby English Version
Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.

Good News Bible
We put a bit into the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, and we are able to make it go where we want.

International Standard Version
Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well.

King James Version
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

New American Standard Bible
Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

New International Version
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

New King James Version
Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

Young's Literal Translation
lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;

New English Translation
And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.¹

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