James · 18 verses
James 3
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
A single mouth blesses the Lord and curses men made in God's likeness, as though one spring had taken to producing two sorts of water.
The little tongue with the large itineraryvv. 1–12
Teachers are warned first: their judgment will be stricter, and everyone stumbles in speech. Then the tongue is placed beside the bit that turns a horse, the rudder that turns a ship, and the spark that turns a forest into fire. Humanity can tame animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea; the tongue remains a restless evil, full of deadly poison. The chapter's oddest spring follows: blessing and cursing issue from the same mouth, while fig trees, grapevines, and salt springs are expected to keep to their proper produce.
Two sorts of wisdomvv. 13–18
Wisdom is not introduced by a speech but by conduct: humility is its telltale manner. Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition produce disorder and every evil practice, and their wisdom is called earthly, unspiritual, demonic. The wisdom from above arrives with a quite different inventory—purity, peace, gentleness, accommodation, mercy, good fruit, impartiality, and sincerity—while peacemakers sow in peace and reap righteousness.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Jas 3:1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Jas 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
Jas 3:3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
Jas 3:4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
Jas 3:5In 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.
Jas 3:6The 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.
Jas 3:7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
Jas 3:8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Jas 3:9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
Jas 3:10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
Jas 3:11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
Jas 3:12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Jas 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Jas 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
Jas 3:15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Jas 3:16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
Jas 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
Jas 3:18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 379 passages were voted onto 16 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 17Galatians 5:22–23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- 13Galatians 5:23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- 17Proverbs 2:6For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- 13James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- 6Psalms 120:2–3Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue.
- 14James 3:16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- 171 Corinthians 13:4–7Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
- 18Matthew 5:9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
- 13Matthew 5:5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- 17James 3:15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- 16James 3:14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- 2James 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
- 2Proverbs 13:3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- 17Romans 12:9Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
- 2Matthew 12:37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- 21 Peter 3:10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
Onward