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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

James 3:3–5

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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!
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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3 selected · 7 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

14 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 3

  1. Psalms 32:9Rank 1 from verse 3
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    9Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

  2. Psalms 39:1Rank 2 from verse 3
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    1I SAID, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  3. James 1:26Rank 3 from verse 3
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    26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

  4. 2 Kings 19:28Rank 4 from verse 3
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    28Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

  5. Isaiah 37:29Rank 5 from verse 3
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    29Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.

From verse 4

  1. Matthew 8:24Rank 1 from verse 4
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    24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

  2. Acts 27:14–38Rank 2 from verse 4
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    14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

    15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

    16And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

    17Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

    18And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

    19And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

    20And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

    21But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

    22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

    23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

    24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cæsar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

    25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

    26Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

    27But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

    28And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

    29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

    30And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

    31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

    32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

    33And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

    34Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

    35And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

    36Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

    37And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

    38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

  3. Psalms 107:25–27Rank 3 from verse 4
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    25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

    26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

    27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

  4. Jonah 1:4Rank 4 from verse 4
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    4¶ But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

From verse 5

  1. Proverbs 18:21Rank 1 from verse 5
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    21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

  2. Jeremiah 9:3–8Rank 2 from verse 5
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    3And 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.

    4Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

    5And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

    6Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord.

    7Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

    8Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

  3. Proverbs 12:18Rank 3 from verse 5
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    18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

  4. Proverbs 15:2Rank 4 from verse 5
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    2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

  5. Psalms 17:10Rank 5 from verse 5
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    10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

James 3:3

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

put

↗

To place, set, lay, appoint, bring into a condition, or cause to be.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bits

↗

Parts of a bridle put into horses' mouths to control and turn them.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mouths

↗

Sense 1: The opening used for eating and speaking. Sense 2: An opening, edge, command, or testimony by extension.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

obey

↗

To hear with submission and do what is commanded; to comply with authority or instruction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

us

↗

The first-person plural object pronoun, referring to the speaker together with one or more others as recipients or objects of an action or relation.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

turn

↗

Sense 1: To change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change. Sense 2: One’s time or occasion in an order or succession.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

about

↗

1. Around or near in place, position, or movement; on every side, in a circuit, from place to place, or turned from one direction or state toward another. 2. Approximately in number, measure, distance, or time. 3. Concerning, occupied with, or engaged in a matter. 4. On the point of, intending, or attempting an action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

body

↗

Sense 1: The material frame of a person or creature. Sense 2: A visible form, mass, or main substance. Sense 3: A unified whole or company composed of members. Sense 4: Substantial reality distinguished from a shadow.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

James 3:4

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

driven

↗

Past-participial form of drive: impelled, forced, urged, carried, or moved onward or away.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

winds

↗

Currents or movements of air; winds from named or differing directions.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

yet

↗

1. Up to or at the present or stated time; still. 2. At some future time. 3. Nevertheless; however. 4. In addition; further.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

turned

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of turn, meaning to change direction, position, condition, purpose, or allegiance; to cause such a change.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

about

↗

1. Around or near in place, position, or movement; on every side, in a circuit, from place to place, or turned from one direction or state toward another. 2. Approximately in number, measure, distance, or time. 3. Concerning, occupied with, or engaged in a matter. 4. On the point of, intending, or attempting an action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

very

↗

Sense 1: Truly, actually, exactly, or the same in identity. Sense 2: To a great or marked degree, used to intensify the quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

small

↗

1. Little or limited in size, amount, number, extent, strength, power, rank, or importance. 2. Fine or minute; broken or ground into small particles. 3. In “no small,” considerable or great. 4. In “small cattle,” sheep and goats, as distinguished from oxen or larger cattle.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

James 3:5

COMBINED MEANING

even

↗

1. Used to emphasize, include, or precisely identify what is meant: indeed, precisely, or namely. 2. Used to mark a boundary, endpoint, or full reach in place, time, or degree: up to, as far as, or through. 3. In ‘even as,’ ‘even so,’ and like constructions, just as, exactly so, or in the same manner. 4. The evening, or close of day. 5. Equal, level, identical, balanced, or uniform.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

tongue

↗

1. The organ of the mouth used for tasting and speech. 2. Speech, words, or a language. 3. A tongue-shaped projection or arm of land or water.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

member

↗

A limb or subordinate part of a body; an individual constituent belonging to a larger body.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

fire

↗

Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Selected passage

4Behold 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.

Selected passage

5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

Selected passage

6And 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.

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