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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

James 3:8–10

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
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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

15 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 8

  1. Romans 3:13Rank 1 from verse 8
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    13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

  2. Psalms 140:3Rank 2 from verse 8
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    3They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.

  3. Psalms 55:21Rank 3 from verse 8
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    21The 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.

  4. James 3:6Rank 4 from verse 8
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    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.

  5. Psalms 57:4Rank 5 from verse 8
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    4My 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.

From verse 9

  1. Psalms 10:7Rank 1 from verse 9
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    7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

  2. Genesis 1:26–27Rank 2 from verse 9
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    26¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

    27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

  3. Isaiah 29:13Rank 3 from verse 9
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    13¶ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

  4. Psalms 62:4Rank 4 from verse 9
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    4They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

  5. Genesis 9:6Rank 5 from verse 9
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    6Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

From verse 10

  1. Romans 12:14Rank 1 from verse 10
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    14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

  2. 1 Peter 3:9Rank 2 from verse 10
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    9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  3. Psalms 50:16–20Rank 3 from verse 10
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    16But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

    17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

    18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

    19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

    20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

  4. 1 Corinthians 3:3Rank 4 from verse 10
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    3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

  5. 1 Timothy 5:13Rank 5 from verse 10
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    13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

James 3:8

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

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

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

unruly

↗

Not readily governed, restrained, or controlled; disorderly or unmanageable.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

evil

↗

Sense 1: Moral wickedness, sin, wrong, or corruption. Sense 2: Harm, misery, calamity, adversity, or punishment.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

poison

↗

A substance which, when taken into the stomach, mixed with the blood or applied to the skin or flesh, proves fatal or deleterious by an action not mechanical; venom.

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

DEFINED WORDS

James 3:9

COMBINED MEANING

bless

↗

To pronounce or bestow good, favor, or happiness; to praise, thank, or glorify God.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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

father

↗

Sense 1: A male parent or begetter. Sense 2: An ancestor, forefather, founder, source, originator, chief, elder, or one bearing paternal authority and care. Sense 3: God as Father, including the Father of Jesus Christ and of those described as his children.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

curse

↗

Sense 1: A pronouncement, sentence, or imposed condition of evil, loss, or judgment; an oath invoking such a penalty. Sense 2: As a verb, to pronounce judgment or evil upon, condemn, or revile.

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

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

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

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

similitude

↗

A likeness, resemblance, form, figure, representation, image, or pattern by which one thing is seen or compared with another.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Bullokar 1616 · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

James 3:10

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

mouth

↗

Sense 1: The bodily opening used for eating, breathing, and speaking. Sense 2: The opening or entrance of a thing. Sense 3: Speech, utterance, or the agency of speaking.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

blessing

↗

Sense 1: The act or words of pronouncing good; divine favor. Sense 2: A benefit bestowed by God.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cursing

↗

1. The uttering of curses or reviling words. 2. A pronounced curse or doom; the condition subject to it.

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

COMBINED MEANING

brethren

↗

1. Persons of the same people, tribe, community, or shared service who are regarded or addressed as brothers. 2. Persons regarded as brothers by reason of faith or another spiritual relation. 3. Male siblings or other male relatives.

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

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

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

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:

8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Selected passage

9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

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