James 3:6

Translations

Modern

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, and setting aflame the course of nature, and itself being set aflame by Gehenna.

Latin

Et lingua ignis est, universitas iniquitatis. Lingua constituitur in membris nostris, quæ maculat totum corpus, et inflammat rotam nativitatis nostræ inflammata a gehenna.

Interlinear

Greek

English

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Notes

James 3:6

a world of wickedness: The tongue (our speech) acts as an agent of the whole unrighteous world that opposes God (1:27; 4:4).
by hell: The Greek word Gehenna refers to the place of eternal punishment (Matthew 5:22, 30; 23:15). Hades is the place of the dead (Luke 16:23; Acts 2:31). Mentioning hell points to the devil as the ultimate source of evil speech (James 4:7; Matt 5:22; John 8:44).

Theme notes and profiles

James, Brother of Jesus Faith and Good Deeds Speaking

Related verses

Psalm 120:2–3
Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.
Proverbs 16:27
A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
Mark 7:15
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”
Matthew 15:11–20
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”
Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Mark 7:20–22
He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.
Luke 16:24
So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’
Colossians 3:8–9
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Matthew 12:32–36
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.
Psalm 64:3
…who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
Proverbs 6:19
…a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
Psalm 140:3
They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

James 3:6

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