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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

James 3:8–9

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.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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2 selected · 8 available

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

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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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.

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

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · James 3:1–12

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

3:1MY brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive 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.

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

3:5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

3:6And 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.

3:7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

3:8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Selected passage

3:9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Selected passage

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?

3:12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

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