Logos Bible Study

James 3:5–6

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5Even so the tongue is a little member, and kboasteth great things. Behold, how great ||a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And lthe tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that mit defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the †course of nature; and nit is set on fire of ohell.

Read in Logos
James 3:5: So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

Footnotes

  1. ||Or, wood. Ecclus. 28:10.
  2. lProv. 16:27. See Ecclus. 8:3. Comp. Prov. 12:18. & 15:1, 2.
  3. mMatt. 15:11, 18. So ch. 1:26.
  4. †[Gr. wheel]. Comp. Eccles. 12:6.
  5. nLuke 16:24. So Ps. 120:2–4.
  6. oSee Matt. 5:22.

Cross references

  1. kPs. 12:3, 4. & 73:8, 9.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

NLTNew Living Translation

In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So also the tongue is a small member of the body and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest! And the tongue is a fire! The world of unrighteousness, the tongue, is set among our members, defiling the whole body and setting on fire the course of human existence, being set on fire by hell.