Taming the Tongue
James 3:5
In 9 translations
- BSB
- In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
- KJV
- Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
- WEB
- So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
- ASV
- So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
- LSV
- so also the tongue is a little member, and boasts greatly; behold, how much forest a little fire kindles!
- YLT
- so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!
- DBY
- Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!
- DRC
- Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.
- GNV
- Euen so the tongue is a litle member, and boasteth of great things: beholde, howe great a thing a litle fire kindleth.
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Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
- NA28, NA27, Tyndale House, SBLGNT (2010), Westcott–Hort, Tregelles read ἡλίκον (“a great”); Textus Receptus, Byzantine text read ὀλίγον (“a little”).
Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (2)
- Word order: Textus Receptus, Byzantine text place μεγάλα elsewhere in this verse.
- Spelling of αὐχεῖ: Textus Receptus, Byzantine text: μεγαλαυχεῖ.
SBLGNT apparatus (2)
A comparison of published Greek editions. “Add” means after the SBLGNT wording; “omit” refers to that wording.
- SBLGNT: μεγάλα αὐχεῖ. Westcott and Hort (1881), Tregelles, Nestle–Aland 28th edition read μεγάλα αὐχεῖ; Robinson–Pierpont read μεγαλαυχεῖ.
- SBLGNT: ἡλίκον. Westcott and Hort (1881), Tregelles, Nestle–Aland 28th edition read ἡλίκον; Robinson–Pierpont read ὀλίγον.
Copyright 2010 by the Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software. CC BY 4.0.
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- SBLGNT
- οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστὶν καὶ μεγάλα αὐχεῖ. Ἰδοὺ ἡλίκον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει·
- RP2018
- Οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστίν, καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖ. Ἰδού, ὀλίγον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει.
- TR-Boyd
- Οὕτω καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστί, καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖ. Ἰδού, ὀλίγον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει.
- SCR1894
- ουτως και η γλωσσα μικρον μελος εστιν και μεγαλαυχει ιδου ολιγον πυρ ηλικην υλην αναπτει
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Proverbs 18:21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
- Proverbs 12:18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Jeremiah 9:3–8“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not…
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- Psalms 17:10They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
- Psalms 73:8–9They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongues strut across the earth.
- Psalms 12:2–4They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue. They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be…
- Psalms 52:1–2Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
- Jude 1:16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
- Jeremiah 18:18Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his…
- Revelation 13:5–6The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those…
- Psalms 10:3For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
- Ezekiel 28:2“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though…
- 2 Kings 19:22–24Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! Through your servants you have taunted the Lord, and you have said: “With my…
- 2 Peter 2:18With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
- Exodus 15:9The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).