James 3:6

And our tongue is (a) fire, the university of wickedness. The tongue is ordained in our members, which defouleth all the body; and it is enflamed, [or set afire], of hell (or and it is set on fire from hell), and enflameth the wheel of our birth.

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

5So also the tongue is but a little member, and raiseth great things. Lo! how little fire burneth [or kindleth] a full great wood, (or Behold! how a little fire burneth a very large forest).

7And all the kind (s) of beasts, and of fowls, and of serpents, and of others is chastised, and those be made tame of man’s kind (or and they all can be tamed by mankind); [Soothly all kind (s) of beasts, and fowls, and serpents, and of others, be overcome, or under-yoked, and be made tame, of mankind, (or and can be made tame by mankind);]

Read all of James 3

Cross References

Genesis 3:4Forsooth the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not die by death (or Ye shall not die);

Numbers 25:2which daughters called them to their sacrifices, and they ate (the sacrificial food), and worshipped the gods of those daughters;

Deuteronomy 13:6If thy brother, the son of thy mother, either thy son, either thy daughter, either the wife which is in thy bosom, either thy friend, whom thou lovest as thy (own) soul, will counsel thee, and saith privily, Go we and serve alien gods, which thou knowest not, and thy fathers know not, (or will counsel thee, and saith privately, Let us go, and serve foreign, or other, gods, which thou knowest not, nor thy fathers knew),

Judges 16:15And Delilah said to him, How sayest thou, that thou lovest me, since thine inward affection is not with me? By three times thou hast lied to me, and wouldest not say to me, wherein is thy most strength (or where thy great strength lieth).

2 Samuel 13:26And Absalom said to David, If thou wilt not come, I beseech thee, come namely Amnon, my brother, with us, (or And Absalom said to David, If thou wilt not come, I beseech thee, then let my brother Amnon come with us). And the king said to him, It is no need, that he go with thee.

2 Samuel 16:20And Absalom said to Ahithophel, Take ye counsel (or Give ye advice to me), what we ought to do.

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 3:6