7
Forγὰρeveryπᾶσαkindφύσιςof beastsθηρίωνandτε καὶbirds,πετεινῶνof reptilesἑρπετῶνandτε καὶsea creatures,ἐναλίωνis tamedδαμάζεταιandκαὶhas been tamedδεδάμασταιby humankind,τῇ φύσει τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ
James 3:7
Study it in the app“For every kind of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by humankind,”
James: the tongue, small like a bit or a rudder, is a fire that no one can tameThe Tongue
With the Greek beneath
James 3:7, word by word
- kindφύσιςphysis
kind
A sort of being: animals, birds, people.
Where else “physis” appears- of beastsθηρίωνthēriōn
wild animal
An animal of the wild that lives free and can be dangerous.
Where else “thēriōn” appears- birdsπετεινῶνpeteinōn
bird
Bird.
Where else “peteinōn” appears- of reptilesἑρπετῶνherpetōn
reptile, creeping thing
Reptile: an animal that creeps along the ground.
Where else “herpetōn” appears- sea creaturesἐναλίωνenaliōn
sea creature
Sea creature: an animal that lives in the sea.
Where else “enaliōn” appears- is tamedδαμάζεταιdamazetai
tame, subdue
Tame, subdue.
Where else “damazetai” appears- by humankindἀνθρωπίνῃanthrōpinēi
human
Human; "in human terms", speaking as people do.
Where else “anthrōpinēi” appears
The context
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.
7 · This verse (above)
8But no human being can tame the tongue: it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
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?