James 3:8
James 3:8 in Multiple Translations
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.
But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.
but no one can tame the tongue—it's an evil thing, hard to control, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue can no man tame. It is an vnruly euill, full of deadly poyson.
and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,
but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.
no person ◄on his own/by himself► is able to control what he says [MTY]. And when people say evil things, it shows that they are unstable/uncontrolled and wicked [MTY]. As the poison of a snake kills people [MTY], we harm others [MET] by what we say.
But nobody can control their own tongue properly. It is always saying bad things and hurting people, like it has poison in it, just like a cheeky snake.
Berean Amplified Bible — James 3:8
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James 3:8 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — James 3:8
Study Notes — James 3:8
- Context
- Cross References
- James 3:8 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on James 3:8
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 3:8
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 3:8
- Trapp's Commentary on James 3:8
- Ellicott's Commentary on James 3:8
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 3:8
- Cambridge Bible on James 3:8
- Barnes' Notes on James 3:8
- Whedon's Commentary on James 3:8
- Sermons on James 3:8
Context — Taming the Tongue
8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romans 3:13 | “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.” |
| 2 | Psalms 140:3 | They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah |
| 3 | Psalms 55:21 | His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. |
| 4 | James 3:6 | The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. |
| 5 | Psalms 57:4 | My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. |
| 6 | Psalms 64:3–4 | who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear. |
| 7 | Psalms 59:7 | See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?” |
| 8 | Psalms 58:4 | Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears, |
| 9 | Ecclesiastes 10:11 | If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 32:33 | Their wine is the venom of serpents, the deadly poison of cobras. |
James 3:8 Summary
The verse James 3:8 tells us that our tongues are very hard to control and can cause a lot of harm to ourselves and others. This is because our words have the power to hurt or help, as seen in Proverbs 18:21. The good news is that God can help us to transform our speech and use our tongues to bless and edify others, as promised in Ephesians 4:29. By seeking God's help and being mindful of our words, we can learn to use our tongues to build up and not tear down, and to bring life and encouragement to those around us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Bible say that the tongue is a restless evil?
The Bible describes the tongue as a restless evil because of its tendency to cause harm and spread darkness, as seen in James 3:8, and its connection to the heart, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 15:18-19.
Can anyone tame their tongue?
According to James 3:8, no man can tame the tongue, emphasizing the need for divine help and the work of the Holy Spirit in transforming our speech, as promised in Ezekiel 36:26-27.
What kind of poison is the tongue full of?
The deadly poison referred to in James 3:8 is the kind that destroys relationships, reputations, and even our own souls, as warned in Proverbs 18:21, highlighting the critical importance of careful and edifying speech.
How does this verse relate to my everyday life?
This verse reminds us that our words have power and consequences, and as believers, we are called to speak life and truth, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:29, and to be mindful of the impact of our words on others and our own spiritual well-being.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have used my tongue to hurt or harm others, and how can I seek forgiveness and restoration?
- How can I practically apply the teaching of James 3:8 to my daily conversations and interactions with others?
- In what ways do I struggle with taming my tongue, and what spiritual disciplines or practices can help me to grow in this area?
- What would my relationships and community look like if I consistently used my tongue to bless and edify others, rather than to curse or harm?
Gill's Exposition on James 3:8
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on James 3:8
Matthew Poole's Commentary on James 3:8
Trapp's Commentary on James 3:8
Ellicott's Commentary on James 3:8
Adam Clarke's Commentary on James 3:8
Cambridge Bible on James 3:8
Barnes' Notes on James 3:8
Whedon's Commentary on James 3:8
Sermons on James 3:8
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Learning the Fear of God (Telugu) by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing God and turning away from sin, drawing insights from the book of Job as the first book written by God in the Bible. It highlights t |
|
John the Baptist by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon emphasizes the need for a sudden, unexpected visitation of the Holy Spirit to bring revival and transformation. It highlights the importance of seeking Christ above see |
|
Ministry From James-01 by Dwight Pentecost | In this sermon, the preacher uses two illustrations to emphasize the power of the tongue. The first illustration compares the bit in a horse's mouth to the control a person can hav |
|
The Double-Minded Man - James by Anton Bosch | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of drawing near to God and purifying our hearts. He emphasizes the need to cleanse ourselves from double-mindedness and to hav |
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Doing the Work That Jesus Did (Hindi) by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of believers understanding and applying the principle of being under authority, particularly the authority of the Holy Spirit. It highlights t |
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Are You Walking the Walk or Talking the Walk - Part 4 by Will Graham | This sermon emphasizes the importance of true biblical faith that goes beyond mere intellectual understanding, highlighting the significance of speaking God's truth boldly even if |
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Heart-Faith and Not Mind-Faith - Part 4 by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of true faith in God, contrasting mere mental belief with heartfelt conviction. It warns against being absorbed in religious activities withou |





