James 3:5
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Euen so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things: behold, how great ‖a matter a litle fire kindleth.
Original 1611 marginTranslation notes and cross-references are kept distinct.
- ‖Alternative wordingOr, wood.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
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From verse 5
- Proverbs 18:21Rank 1 from verse 5
- Jeremiah 9:3–8Rank 2 from verse 5
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.
3And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the trueth vpon the earth: for they proceed from euil to euill, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
4*‖Take yee heede euery one of his neighbour, and trust yee not in any brother: for euery brother will vtterly supplant, and euery neighbour will walke with slanders.
5‖And they will deceiue euery one his neighbour, and will not speake the trueth, they haue taught their tongue to speake lies, and weary themselues to commit iniquity.
6Thine habitation is in the middest of deceit, through deceit they refuse to know me, sayth the LORD.
7Therfore thus saith the LORD of hostes; Behold, I will melt them, and trie them: for how shall I doe for the daughter of my people?
8***†‖Their tongue is as an arrowe shot out, it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his waite.
- Proverbs 12:18Rank 3 from verse 5
- Proverbs 15:2Rank 4 from verse 5
- Psalms 17:10Rank 5 from verse 5
- Psalms 73:8–9Rank 6 from verse 5
8They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
8They are corrupt, and speake wickedly concerning oppression: they speake loftily.
9They set their mouth against the heauens; and their tongue walketh through the earth.
- Psalms 12:2–4Rank 7 from verse 5
2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
2†They speake vanitie euery one with his neighbour: with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speake.
3†The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.
4†Who haue said, with our tongue wil we preuaile, our lips are our owne: who is LORD ouer vs?
- Psalms 52:1–2Rank 8 from verse 5
1WHY boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.
1¶ Why boastest thou thy selfe in mischiefe, O mightie man? the goodnesse of God indureth continually.
2Thy tongue deuiseth mischiefes: like a sharpe rasor, working deceitfully.
- Jeremiah 18:18Rank 9 from verse 5
18¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
18¶ *‖Then said they, Come, and let vs deuise deuices against Ieremiah: for the Law shall not perish from the Priest, nor counsell from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: Come and let vs smite him with the tongue, and let vs not giue heede to any of his wordes.
16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
16These are murmurers complainers, walking after their owne lustes, and their mouth speaketh great swelling wordes, hauing mens persons in admiration because of aduantage.
- Psalms 10:3Rank 11 from verse 5
- Revelation 13:5–6Rank 12 from verse 5
5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
5And there was giuen vnto him a mouth, speaking great things, and blasphemies, and power was giuen vnto him to ‖continue fortie and two moneths.
6And he opened his mouth in blasphemie against God, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and them that dwelt in heauen.
- Ezekiel 28:2Rank 13 from verse 5
2Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
2†*Sonne of man, say vnto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the LORD God; Because thine heart is lifted vp, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seate of God in the middest of the seas; yet thou art a man and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God.
- 2 Kings 19:22–24Rank 14 from verse 5
22Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
23By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
24I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
22Whome hast thou reproched and blasphemed? and against whome hast thou exalted thy voyce, and lift vp thine eyes on high? euen against the Holy One of Israel.
23†By thy messengers thou hast reproched the LORD, and hast said, With the multitude of my charets, I am come vp to the height of the mountaines, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut downe †the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice firre trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the ‖forrest of his Carmel.
24I haue digged & drunke strange waters, and with the sole of my feete haue I dried vp all the riuers of ‖besieged places.
- 2 Peter 2:18Rank 15 from verse 5
18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
18For when they speake great svelling words of vanitie, they alure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonnesse, those that were ‖cleane escaped from them who liue in errour.
- Daniel 4:30Rank 16 from verse 5
30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
30The King spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I haue built for the house of the kingdome, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie?
- Exodus 15:9Rank 17 from verse 5
9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
9The enemie said, I will pursue, I wil ouertake, I wil diuide the spoile: my lust shall be satisfied vpon them: I will draw my sword, mine hand shall ‖destroy them.
- Job 21:14–15Rank 18 from verse 5
14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
14*Therefore they say vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.
15What is the Almightie, that wee should serue him? and what profite should we haue, if we pray vnto him?
- Daniel 3:15Rank 20 from verse 5
15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
15Now if ye be ready that at what time yee heare the sound of the cornet, flute, harpe, sackbut, psalterie, and dulcimer, and all kindes of musicke, ye fall downe, and worship the image which I haue made, well: but if yee worship not, ye shall be cast the same houre into the midst of a fierie furnace, and who is that God that shall deliuer you out of my handes?
- Exodus 5:2Rank 21 from verse 5
- Ezekiel 29:3Rank 22 from verse 5
3Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
3*Speake and say, Thus saith the LORD God, Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the middest of his riuers, which hath saide, My riuer is mine owne, and I haue made it for my selfe.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
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DEFINED WORDS
James 3:5
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
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
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
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
1. A subject, affair, or cause. 2. Material substance.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Burning flame and heat that gives light, consumes, purifies, or destroys.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
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Suggested context · James 3:1–12
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3:1MY brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
3:1¶ My brethren, bee not many masters, knowing that we shall receiue the greater ‖condemnation.
3:2For 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.
3:2For 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.
3:3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
3:3Behold, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about their whole body.
3:4Behold 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.
3:4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driuen of fierce windes, yet are they turned about with a very small helme, whithersoeuer the gouernour listeth.
3:5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
3:5Euen so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things: behold, how great ‖a matter a litle fire kindleth.
Selected passage3:6And 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.
3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquitie: so is the tongue amongst our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hell.
3:7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
3:7For euery †kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of †mankind.
3:8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
3:8But the tongue can no man tame, it is an vnruly euill, ful of deadly poyson.
3:9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
3:9Therewith blesse wee God, euen the Father: and therewith curse wee men, which are made after the similitude of God.
3:10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
3:10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing: my brethren, these things ought not so to be.
3:11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
3:11Doeth a fountaine send foorth at the same ‖place sweet water and bitter?
3:12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
3:12Can y e figtree, my brethren, beare oliue berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountaine both yeeld salt water & fresh.