James

James 3:1–6

¹Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ²We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. ⁴Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

⁵In 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. ⁶The 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.^a

Footnotes

a 3:6 Greek Gehenna

Read all of James 3

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

James 3:1

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Not	Μὴ	Mē	Adverb	G3361 not, lest
many	πολλοὶ	polloi	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural	G4183 much, many, often
should become	γίνεσθε	ginesthe	Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural	G1096 I come into being, am born
teachers	διδάσκαλοι	didaskaloi	Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural	G1320 a teacher
my	μου	mou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
brothers	ἀδελφοί	adelphoi	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G80 a brother
you know	εἰδότες	eidotes	Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G1492 I know, remember
that	ὅτι	hoti	Conjunction	G3754 that, since, because
we	λημψόμεθα	lēmpsometha	Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Plural	G2983 I receive, take
judged	κρίμα	krima	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G2917 a judgment, verdict, lawsuit
more strictly	μεῖζον	meizon	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative	G3173 large, great

James 3:2

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
We all stumble	πταίομεν	ptaiomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G4417 I stumble, fall, sin
in many ways	πολλὰ	polla	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G4183 much, many, often
If	εἴ	ei	Conjunction	G1487 if
anyone	τις	tis	Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5100 any one, some one
never	οὐ	ou	Adverb	G3756 no, not
at fault	πταίει	ptaiei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4417 I stumble, fall, sin
in	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
what he says	λόγῳ	logō	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
he	οὗτος	houtos	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
a perfect	τέλειος	teleios	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G5046 perfect, full-grown
man	ἀνήρ	anēr	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G435 a male human being, a man
able	δυνατὸς	dynatos	Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular	G1415 powerful, able, possible
to control	χαλιναγωγῆσαι	chalinagōgēsai	Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active	G5468 I bridle, curb
whole	ὅλον	holon	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3650 all, the whole, entire
body	σῶμα	sōma	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G4983 body, flesh

James 3:3

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
we put	βάλλομεν	ballomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G906 I cast, throw, rush, put, place, drop
bits	χαλινοὺς	chalinous	Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural	G5469 a bridle
into	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
the	τὰ	ta	Article - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3588 the
mouths	στόματα	stomata	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G4750 the mouth, speech
of	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Masculine Plural	G3588 the
horses	ἵππων	hippōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G2462 a horse
to make	εἰς	eis	Preposition	G1519 into, in, among, till, for
them	αὐτοὺς	autous	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
obey	πείθεσθαι	peithesthai	Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive	G3982 I persuade, urge
us	ἡμῖν	hēmin	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
we can guide	μετάγομεν	metagomen	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural	G3329 I turn about, change the position of
the	αὐτῶν	autōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
whole	ὅλον	holon	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3650 all, the whole, entire
animal	σῶμα	sōma	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G4983 body, flesh

James 3:4

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Consider	ἰδοὺ	idou	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G2400 See! Lo! Behold! Look!
ships	πλοῖα	ploia	Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural	G4143 a ship, vessel
as well	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
Although they are	ὄντα	onta	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural	G1510 I am, exist
so large	τηλικαῦτα	tēlikauta	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural	G5082 so great
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
are driven	ἐλαυνόμενα	elaunomena	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural	G1643 I drive on, propel, row
by	ὑπὸ	hypo	Preposition	G5259 by, under, about
strong	σκληρῶν	sklērōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G4642 hard, violent, harsh, stern
winds	ἀνέμων	anemōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G417 the wind
they are steered	μετάγεται	metagetai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular	G3329 I turn about, change the position of
by	ὑπὸ	hypo	Preposition	G5259 by, under, about
a very small	ἐλαχίστου	elachistou	Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular - Superlative	G1646 least, smallest, very little
rudder	πηδαλίου	pēdaliou	Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular	G4079 the rudder of a ship
wherever	ὅπου	hopou	Adverb	G3699 where, whither
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
pilot	εὐθύνοντος	euthynontos	Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2116 I make straight, guide, steer
is inclined	ὁρμὴ	hormē	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3730 a rush, violent assault

James 3:5

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
In the same way	Οὕτως	Houtōs	Adverb	G3779 thus, so, in this manner
the	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
tongue	γλῶσσα	glōssa	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
is	ἐστὶν	estin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G1510 I am, exist
a small	μικρὸν	mikron	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular	G3398 little, small
part of the body	μέλος	melos	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G3196 a limb, member
it boasts of	αὐχεῖ	auchei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G3166 I boast, am arrogant, vaunt
great things	μεγάλα	megala	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural	G3173 large, great
Consider	ἰδοὺ	idou	Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G2400 See! Lo! Behold! Look!
how small	ἡλίκον	hēlikon	Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular	G2245 of what size, how much
a spark	πῦρ	pyr	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G4442 fire, trials
sets	ἀνάπτει	anaptei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G381 I kindle, set on fire
a great	ἡλίκην	hēlikēn	Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular	G2245 of what size, how much
forest	ὕλην	hylēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G5208 wood, fuel

James 3:6

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The	ἡ	hē	Article - Nominative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
tongue	γλῶσσα	glōssa	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G1100 the tongue, a language, nation
also	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
a fire	πῦρ	pyr	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G4442 fire, trials
a	ὁ	ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
world	κόσμος	kosmos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2889 the world, universe
of wickedness	ἀδικίας	adikias	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G93 unrighteousness
among	ἐν	en	Preposition	G1722 in, on, among
the	τοῖς	tois	Article - Dative Neuter Plural	G3588 the
parts	μέλεσιν	melesin	Noun - Dative Neuter Plural	G3196 a limb, member
of the	ἡμῶν	hēmōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural	G1473 I
It pollutes	σπιλοῦσα	spilousa	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular	G4695 I defile, spot
the	τὸ	to	Article - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3588 the
whole	ὅλον	holon	Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3650 all, the whole, entire
person	σῶμα	sōma	Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G4983 body, flesh
sets	φλογίζουσα	phlogizousa	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular	G5394 I inflame, fire with passion
the	τὸν	ton	Article - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
course	τροχὸν	trochon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G5164 a wheel, course
of his life	γενέσεως	geneseōs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1078 birth, lineage
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
is itself set on fire	φλογιζομένη	phlogizomenē	Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular	G5394 I inflame, fire with passion
by	ὑπὸ	hypo	Preposition	G5259 by, under, about
hell	γεέννης	geennēs	Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular	G1067 Gehenna