James 3:8

no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless plague! It is charged with deadly poison!

Twentieth Century New Testament

In The King James Version

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

In Context

7For while all sorts of beasts and birds, and of reptiles and creatures in the sea, are tameable, and actually have been tamed by man,

9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made ‘in God’s likeness.’

Read all of James 3

Cross References

James 3:6And the tongue is like a spark. Among the members of our body it proves itself a very world of mischief; it contaminates the whole body; it sets the wheels of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by the flames of the Pit.

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

Study James 3:8