James 3:8

but no one of men is able to subdue the tongue—[it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison;

Literal Standard Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

7For every nature, both of beasts and of birds, both of creeping things and things of the sea, is subdued, and has been subdued, by the human nature,

9with it we bless the God and Father, and with it we curse the men made according to [the] likeness of God;

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Cross References

Psalms 55:21His mouth has been sweeter than honey, || And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, || And they [are] drawn [swords].

Psalms 58:4Their poison [is] as poison of a serpent, || As a deaf cobra shutting its ear,

Psalms 64:3Who sharpened their tongue as a sword, || They directed their arrow—a bitter word.

Ecclesiastes 10:11If the serpent bites without enchantment, || Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.

James 3:6And the tongue [is] a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

Matthew Henry on James 3:2-13

Government of the Tongue. ( a. d. 61.) 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 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. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 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,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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