James 3:8

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Τὴν δὲ γλῶσσαν οὐδεὶς δύναται ἀνθρώπων δαμάσαι· ἀκατάσχετον κακόν, μεστὴ ἰοῦ θανατηφόρου.

Transliteration

The de glōssan oudeis dynatai of anthrōpōn to damasai; akatascheton kakon, mestē of iou thanatēphorou.

Grammar Details

*de*: postpositive conjunction - but/yet
*glōssan*: accusative, feminine, singular - tongue
*oudeis*: nominative, masculine, singular - no one
*dynatai*: present indicative, middle, 3rd singular - is able
*anthrōpōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of humans/men
*damasai*: aorist infinitive, active - to tame/subdue
*akatascheton*: nominative, neuter, singular - uncontrollable/restless
*kakon*: nominative, neuter, singular - evil/bad thing
*mestē*: nominative, feminine, singular - full
*iou*: genitive, masculine, singular - poison/venom
*thanatēphorou*: genitive, masculine, singular - death-bringing/deadly

Word Meanings

*akatascheton*: uncontrollable/restless/untameable
*kakon*: evil/bad thing/harm
*mestē*: full/filled
*iou*: poison/venom
*thanatēphorou*: death-bringing/deadly/fatal

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Rom 3:13 : 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:
Ps 140:3 : 3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. {H5542}
Jas 3:6 : 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members {G3779} is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
Eccl 10:11 : 11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
Ps 64:3-4 : 3 Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words, 4 That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Ps 55:21 : 21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
Ps 57:4 : 4 My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
Ps 58:4 : 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,
Ps 59:7 : 7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth; Swords are in their lips: For who, [say they], doth hear?
Deut 32:33 : 33 Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of asps.
Rev 12:9 : 9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Jas 3:5-7
3 verses
85%
5None So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!
6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members {G3779} is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
7For every kind of beasts and birds, {G5037} of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.
Rom 3:13-14
2 verses
74%
13Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:
14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Jas 3:9-11
3 verses
74%
9Therewith {G846} bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith {G846} curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:
10out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?
Prov 15:4
73%
4A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Jas 3:2-3
2 verses
72%
2For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
3Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, {G2532} we turn about their whole body also.
Ps 140:3
72%
3They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. {H5542}
Ps 10:7
71%
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
Ps 34:13
71%
13Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
1 Pet 3:10
71%
10For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:
Job 20:16
70%
16He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper's tongue shall slay him.
Prov 17:20
70%
20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Eccl 10:11
70%
11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
Prov 16:27
69%
27A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
Ps 58:4
69%
4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,
Matt 12:34
69%
34Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Ps 52:2
69%
2Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Ps 64:3
69%
3Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,
Jas 1:20
69%
20for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Ps 50:19
69%
19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit.
Ps 120:3
69%
3What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue?
Prov 23:32
68%
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.
Prov 18:21
68%
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Prov 21:23
68%
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
Ps 36:3
68%
3The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise [and] to do good.
Ps 5:9
68%
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.
Prov 26:18
68%
18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
Job 20:12-13
2 verses
68%
12Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
13Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;
Prov 10:31
68%
31The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.
Prov 15:2
68%
2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
Prov 10:19-20
2 verses
68%
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
20The tongue of the righteous is [as] choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
Job 15:5
68%
5For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth, And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
Jas 1:26
67%
26If any man {G1722} {G5213} thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
Prov 26:28
67%
28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Titus 3:2-3
2 verses
67%
2to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
3For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
Jude 1:10
67%
10But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.
2 Pet 2:12
67%
12But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,
Jer 9:8
67%
8Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.
Prov 12:18
67%
18There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
Jas 3:15
67%
15This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
Jas 1:8
67%
8a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.
Titus 2:8
66%
8sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.