James 3:6 “The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of th…”

James 3:6

The 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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

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.

World English Bible

And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

American Standard Version

And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the tongue is fire, yea, a worlde of wickednesse: so is the tongue set 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.

Darby Translation

and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.

Young's Literal Translation

and 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 the gehenna.

Bible in Basic English

And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.

.mt-body { max-height: none !important; -webkit-mask-image: none !important; mask-image: none !important; } .mt-bar { display: none !important; } .o-trans::after { display: block !important; }

Cross references

“the tongue”

Proverbs 16:27 Proverbs 15:1 Psalm 64:3 Psalm 140:3 Isaiah 30:27 2 Chronicles 13:17

Proverbs 16:27 · BSB

A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Proverbs 15:1 · BSB

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Psalm 64:3 · BSB

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Psalm 140:3 · BSB

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Isaiah 30:27 · BSB

Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire.

2 Chronicles 13:17 · BSB

Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.

“a world”

Mark 7:15 Matthew 15:11–20 Mark 7:20–22 Proverbs 6:19 Matthew 12:32–36 Proverbs 7:21–23

Mark 7:15 · BSB

Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”

Matthew 15:11–20 · BSB

A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Mark 7:20–22 · BSB

He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.

Proverbs 6:19 · BSB

a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

Matthew 12:32–36 · BSB

Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.

Proverbs 7:21–23 · BSB

With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.

“it is”

Luke 16:24 Acts 5:3 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 Revelation 12:9 2 Thessalonians 2:9

Luke 16:24 · BSB

So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

Acts 5:3 · BSB

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 · BSB

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Revelation 12:9 · BSB

And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 · BSB

The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,

Also

Psalm 120:2–3 Matthew 5:22

Psalm 120:2–3 · BSB

Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.

Matthew 5:22 · BSB

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to t…

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

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.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

Read James 3