Commentary
Old Testament : Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
The Song of Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
![](images/minus.gif)
Text -- James 3:4-18 (NET)
![](images/arrow_open.gif)
Strongs On/Off
Context
3:4 Look at ships too : Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds , they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs .
3:5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body , yet it has great pretensions . Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze .
3:6 And the tongue is a fire ! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies . It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell .
3:7 For every kind of animal , bird , reptile , and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind .
3:8 But no human being can subdue the tongue ; it is a restless evil , full of deadly poison .
3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father , and with it we curse people made in God’s image .
3:10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing . These things should not be so , my brothers and sisters .
3:11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?
3:12 Can a fig tree produce olives , my brothers and sisters , or a vine produce figs ? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water .
True Wisdom
3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you ? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts , do not boast and tell lies against the truth .
3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly , natural , demonic .
3:16 For where there is jealousy and selfishness , there is disorder and every evil practice .
3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure , then peaceable , gentle , accommodating , full of mercy and good fruit , impartial , and not hypocritical .
3:18 And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace .
![](images/advanced.gif)
![](images/advanced.gif)
![](images/advanced.gif)
Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
![](images/arrow_open.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus_head.gif)
expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Jam 3:6 The word translated hell is “Gehenna” (γέεννα, geenna), a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew words ge hinno...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Jam 3:8 Most mss (C Ψ 1739c Ï as well as a few versions and fathers) read “uncontrollable” (ἀκατασχ&...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Jam 3:9 Grk “men”; but here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpous) has generic force, referring to both men and wome...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
NET Notes: Jam 3:15 Grk “soulish,” which describes life apart from God, characteristic of earthly human life as opposed to what is spiritual. Cf. 1 Cor 2:14; ...
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)
![](images/cmt_minus.gif)