James

James 3:5–6

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 3:5

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

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

James 3:5 Proverbs 18:21 · Proverbs 12:18 · Jeremiah 9:3–8 · Proverbs 15:2 · Psalm 17:10 · Psalm 73:8–9 · Psalm 12:2–4 · Psalm 52:1–2 · Jude 1:16 · Jeremiah 18:18 · Revelation 13:5–6 · Psalm 10:3

James 3:6 Psalm 120:2–3 · Proverbs 16:27 · Mark 7:15 · Matthew 15:11–20 · Proverbs 15:1 · Mark 7:20–22 · Luke 16:24 · Colossians 3:8–9 · Matthew 12:32–36 · Psalm 64:3 · Psalm 140:3 · Proverbs 6:19

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.