2
Forγὰρwe allἅπαντεςstumbleπταίομενin many ways.πολλὰIfεἴanyoneτιςdoes notοὐstumbleπταίειinἐνword,λόγῳheοὗτοςisa perfectτέλειοςman,ἀνήρableδυνατὸςto bridleχαλιναγωγῆσαιalsoκαὶthe wholeὅλονbody.τὸ σῶμα
James 3:2
Study it in the app“For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body.”
James: the tongue, small like a bit or a rudder, is a fire that no one can tameThe Tongue
With the Greek beneath
James 3:2, word by word
- we allἅπαντεςhapantes
all
All, every one without exception.
Where else “hapantes” appears- stumbleπταίομενptaiomen
stumble
Stumble, trip; hence fail, go wrong.
Where else “ptaiomen” appears- in many waysπολλὰpolla
many
A great number of people or things.
Where else “polla” appears- wordλόγῳlogōi
word
What someone says or teaches.
Where else “logōi” appears- a perfectτέλειοςteleios
perfect
Whole, lacking nothing.
Where else “teleios” appears- manἀνήρanēr
man
An adult male, as distinct from a woman or a child.
Where else “anēr” appears- ableδυνατὸςdynatos
mighty
One who has strength and ability to act.
Where else “dynatos” appears- to bridleχαλιναγωγῆσαιchalinagōgēsai
bridle, restrain
Bridle, keep in check as with a bridle; restrain.
Where else “chalinagōgēsai” appears- the wholeὅλονholon
whole, all
Whole, entire, all.
Where else “holon” appears- bodyσῶμαsōma
body
The person in his physical part, living or dead.
Where else “sōma” appears
The context
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment.
2 · This verse (above)
3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we steer also their whole body.
To study James 3 in a group
1. What it says
What images does James use to describe the power of the tongue (v. 3-6)?
2. What it means
Why do you think James contrasts the wisdom "from above" with bitter jealousy and rivalry (v. 13-18)?
3. How I live it
James says blessing and cursing come from the same mouth (v. 9-10). What kind word could you say today?