My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. BE NOT, [ ginethe (G1096)] - become not: taking the office too hastily, of your own accord. MANY. The office is noble; but few are fit for it. Few govern the tongue well. (James 3:2); only such are fit for t... [ Continue Reading ]
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. ALL, [ hapantes (G537)] - 'all without exception;' even the apostles. OFFEND NOT, [ ptaiei (G4417)] - stumbleth not: slips not in word: in which one especially tr... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. BEHOLD. So C. But 'Aleph (') A B, Vulgate [ ei (G1510) de (G1161)], 'But if;' "What if" (Romans 9:22): there being understood, Should we not similarly bridle our tongue? (Psalms 39:1.) Others exp... [ Continue Reading ]
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, whithersoever the governor listeth. Not only animals, but even ships. THE GOVERNOR, [ hee (G3588) hormee (G3730) tou (G3588) euthunontos (G2116)] - the impulse... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! BOASTETH GREAT THINGS. What the careless think 'little,' is often of great moment (Bengel). "A world," "the course of nature," "hell" (James 3:6), show how great mischief the litt... [ Continue Reading ]
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. [ Hee (G3588) gloossa (G1100) pur (G4442) ho (G3588) kosmos (G2889) tees (G3588) adikias (G93): 'the tongue,... [ Continue Reading ]
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: EVERY KIND, [ fusis (G5449)] - "nature." OF BEASTS - i:e., quadrupeds of every disposition: distinguished from the three other classes, 'birds,' creeping things [ herpet... [ Continue Reading ]
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. NO MAN - literally, no one of men: neither can a man control his neighbour's nor even his own tongue. Hence, the truth of James 3:2 appears. UNRULY EVIL, [ akatastation (G182), akin to akatastasia (G181), James 3:16 ]... [ Continue Reading ]
Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. GOD. 'Aleph (') A B C read 'Lord' [ ton (G3588) kurion (G2962) kai (G2532) patera (G3962)]; 'Him who is Lord, and Father.' The uncommon application of 'Lord' to the Father doubtless ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. The tongue (AEsop) is at once the best and the worst of things. A man with the same breath blows hot and cold. 'Life and death are in the power of the tongue' (cf. ). BRETHREN - a mild appeal to... [ Continue Reading ]
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? FOUNTAIN - the heart: as the aperture [so opees (G3692), 'place'] of the fountain represents the month. The image is appropriate to the scene of the letter, Palestine, wherein salt and bitter springs are found. Though "sweet" s... [ Continue Reading ]
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Transition from the month to the heart. CAN THE FIG TREE ... - an impossibility: as in James 3:10, it "ought not so to be." James does not, as Matthew 7:16, ask, "Do men g... [ Continue Reading ]
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. WHO - (cf. Psalms 34:12.) All wish to appear "wise:" few are so. SHOW - `by works,' not merely by profession (James 2:18). OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORKS -... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. IF YE HAVE - as is the case (Greek indicative). BITTER (Ephesians 4:31). ENVYING, [ zeelon (G2205)] - zeal: generous emulation is not condemned, but "bitter" (Bengel). STRIFE, [ eritheian (G2... [ Continue Reading ]
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. THIS WISDOM - in which ye "glory," as if "wise" (James 3:13). DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE - `is not one descending,' etc.: "from the Father of lights" (true illumination) (James 1:17), through "the Spirit of truth" (John 1... [ Continue Reading ]
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ENVYING - Greek, 'zeal,' 'emulation' (note, James 3:14; Romans 13:13). 'The envious man stands in his own light. He thinks his candle cannot shine in presence of another's sun. He aims directly at men, obliquely at God, who... [ Continue Reading ]
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. FIRST PURE, [ hagnee (G53)] - 'clean' from all that is "earthly, sensual (animal), devilish" (James 3:15). This is 'first of... [ Continue Reading ]
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. 'The peaceable fruit of righteousness.' Righteousness is itself the true wisdom. As in the case of the earthly wisdom, after the description came its results: so in the case of the heavenly wisdom. There the results were pre... [ Continue Reading ]