Bible Chapter Summary
James 3 Summary
The Tongue: Fire of Iniquity
James warns against many becoming teachers, for teachers receive greater judgment. He illustrates the tongue's power through comparisons: bits turn horses, small helms steer great ships, and a small fire kindles great matter. The tongue, though small, is a world of iniquity that defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, full of deadly poison that no man can tame. Yet it blesses God and curses men made in God's likeness, a contradiction. True wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy; earthly wisdom brings envy and strife.
Key themes
Key verses
James 3:5-6
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And 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.”
James 3:8
“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
James 3:9-10
“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.”
James 3:17-18
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
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