James 3:8
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:8 in other translations
| BSB | but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
|---|---|
| WEB | but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. |
| ASV | but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. |
| YLT | and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison, |
| DARBY | but the tongue can no one among men tame; it is an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison. |
| BBE | But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death. |
| Webster | But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. |
What does James 3:8 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
It is an unruly evil. An evil without restraint, to which no certain effectual check can be applied. Of the truth of this no one can have any doubt, who looks at the condition of the world.
Full of deadly poison. That is, it acts on the happiness of man, and on the peace of society, as poison does on the human frame. The allusion here seems to be to the bite of a venomous reptile. Compare Ps 140:3, "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips." Rom 3:13, "With their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips." Nothing would better describe the mischief that may be done by the tongue. There is no sting of a serpent that does so much evil in the world; there is no poison more deadly to the frame than the poison of the tongue is to the happiness of man. Who, for example, can stand before the power of the slanderer? What mischief can be done in society that can be compared with that which he, may do?
'Tis slander;'
Whose edge is sharper than the sword; whose tongue
Outvenoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath
Rides on the posting winds, and doth belie
All corners of the world: kings, queens, and states,
Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave
This viperous slander enters.
Shakspere, in Cymbeline
(+) "tame" or, "subdue" (a) "full of deadly poison" Ps 140:3; Rom 3:13
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on James 3:1-12
Chapter Outline Cautions against proud behaviour, and the mischief of an unruly tongue. (1-12) The excellence of heavenly wisdom, in opposition to that which is worldly. (13-18) Verses 1-12 We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords…
James 3:8 in the original Greek
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for James 3:8
- Romans 3:13
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
- Psalms 140:3
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
- Psalms 55:21
The 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.
- James 3:6
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.
- Psalms 57:4
My 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.
- Psalms 64:3-4
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
- Psalms 59:7
Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
- Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
- Deuteronomy 32:33
Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
- Ecclesiastes 10:11
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
- Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- James 3:7
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
- James 3:8
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
- James 3:9
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
James 3:8 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Pero ningún hombre puede domar la lengua, que es un mal que no puede ser refrenado; llena de veneno mortal. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | mais pour la langue, aucun des hommes ne peut la dompter: c’est un mal désordonné, plein d’un venin mortel. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | die Zunge aber kann keiner der Menschen bändigen: sie ist ein unstetes Übel, voll tödlichen Giftes. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | linguam autem nullus hominum domare potest: inquietum malum, plena veneno mortifero. |