5
Soοὕτωςalsoκαὶthe tongueἡ γλῶσσαisἐστὶνa smallμικρὸνmemberμέλοςandκαὶboasts ofαὐχεῖgreat things.μεγάλαSeeἸδοὺhow greatἡλίκηνa forestὕληνso smallἡλίκονa fireπῦρsets ablaze.ἀνάπτει
James 3:5
Study it in the app“So also the tongue is a small member and boasts of great things. See how great a forest so small a fire sets ablaze.”
James: the tongue, small like a bit or a rudder, is a fire that no one can tameThe Tongue
With the Greek beneath
James 3:5, word by word
- the tongueγλῶσσαglōssa
tongue
The organ of the mouth used to speak and to taste.
Where else “glōssa” appears- isἐστὶνestin
be
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “estin” appears- a smallμικρὸνmikron
small
Of little size, little age or little importance before others.
Where else “mikron” appears- memberμέλοςmelos
member
A part of the body.
Where else “melos” appears- boasts ofαὐχεῖauchei
boast
Boast, brag.
Where else “auchei” appears- great thingsμεγάλαmegala
intense
Of great force or intensity, like an enormous joy or fear.
Where else “megala” appears- how greatἡλίκηνhēlikēn
how great
Expresses the size of something, with wonder.
Where else “hēlikēn” appears- a forestὕληνhylēn
forest, wood
Forest, woodland; also wood or matter.
Where else “hylēn” appears- a fireπῦρpyr
fire
Fire.
Where else “pyr” appears- sets ablazeἀνάπτειanaptei
kindle
Kindle, light a fire.
Where else “anaptei” appears
The context
4Look also at the ships: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the pilot wants.
5 · This verse (above)
6And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of existence, and is itself set on fire by Gehenna.
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?