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James 3:9

“With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who have been made in the likeness of God.”

James 3:9 · direct translation from the Greek
Study it in the app

James: with the tongue we curse people, who were made in the likeness of GodCreationJames: the tongue, small like a bit or a rudder, is a fire that no one can tameThe Tongue

With the Greek beneath

9

Allusion · Genesis 1:26

Go to Genesis 1:26

Both texts say that the human being is made in the “likeness” of God.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • ὁμοίωσινhomoiōsinG3669דְמוּתֵdemuteH1823“likeness”
  • ἀνθρώπουςanthrōpousG444אָדָםadamH120“man, human being”

James 3:9, word by word

we blessεὐλογοῦμενeulogoumen

praise

To speak well of God, give him thanks.

Where else “eulogoumen” appears
the Lordκύριονkyrion

Lord

The Lord: God, whose name is YHWH; also Jesus.

Where else “kyrion” appears
Fatherπατέραpatera

Father

God, who gives life and cares for his own; the Father of Jesus.

Where else “patera” appears
we curseκαταρώμεθαkatarōmetha

curse

Curse.

Where else “katarōmetha” appears
peopleἀνθρώπουςanthrōpous

person

A person, man or woman.

Where else “anthrōpous” appears
have been madeγεγονόταςgegonotas

be made

To come into being, to be made.

Where else “gegonotas” appears
the likenessὁμοίωσινhomoiōsin

likeness

Likeness: being made like something.

Where else “homoiōsin” appears
of Godθεοῦtheou

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theou” appears

Translation note

Recalls Genesis 1:26.

The context

8But no human being can tame the tongue: it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 · This verse (above)

10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Read all of James 3

To study James 3 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What images does James use to describe the power of the tongue (v. 3-6)?

  2. 2. What it means

    Why do you think James contrasts the wisdom "from above" with bitter jealousy and rivalry (v. 13-18)?

  3. 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?

How to use it