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James 3

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My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

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For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

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Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

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Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

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Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

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And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

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For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

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But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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9

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

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Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

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Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

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Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

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Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

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But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

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This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

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For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

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But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

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And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

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James 3:9

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”

Study Summary

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in the image of God — the contradiction is laid bare: the same tongue that blesses the divine also curses those made in God's image (eikon theou). The juxtaposition of blessing (eulogeō) God and cursing (kataraomai) humans is presented as a monstrous inconsistency. The invocation of humanity's imaging of God suggests that to curse a person is to assault a reflection of the divine.

Community Reflections

1
Thomas Mueller (test user)8h ago
Mercy and justice — James 3

I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel…

Read the note →
1
Priya Sharma (test user)8h ago
Living with purpose — James 3

God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. Their context of persecution gives these words a weight we often miss.. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. My…

Read the note →

James 3:9

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”

Study Summary

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in the image of God — the contradiction is laid bare: the same tongue that blesses the divine also curses those made in God's image (eikon theou). The juxtaposition of blessing (eulogeō) God and cursing (kataraomai) humans is presented as a monstrous inconsistency. The invocation of humanity's imaging of God suggests that to curse a person is to assault a reflection of the divine.

Community Reflections

1
Thomas Mueller (test user)8h ago
Mercy and justice — James 3

I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet chosen. His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel…

Read the note →
1
Priya Sharma (test user)8h ago
Living with purpose — James 3

God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. Reading the Psalms alongside this gives a fuller picture of what the author was experiencing — both the anguish and the hope.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. I notice the repetition here is deliberate — the author wants us to feel the emphasis, to let the truth sink deep into our hearts.. Their context of persecution gives these words a weight we often miss.. We bring nothing; He provides everything.. My…

Read the note →

James 3:9

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in the image of God — the contradiction is laid bare: the same tongue that blesses the divine also curses those made in God's image (eikon theou). The juxtaposition of blessing (eulogeō) God and cursing (kataraomai) humans is presented as a monstrous inconsistency. The invocation of humanity's imaging of God suggests that to curse a person is to assault a reflection of the divine.