James 3:6

Geneva Bible (1560)

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα πῦρ, ὁ κόσμος τῆς ἀδικίας: οὕτως ἡ γλῶσσα καθίσταται ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ἡμῶν, ἡ σπιλοῦσα ὅλον τὸ σῶμα, καὶ φλογίζουσα τὸν τροχὸν τῆς γενέσεως· καὶ φλογιζομένη ὑπὸ τῆς γεέννης.

Transliteration

And the glōssa pyr, the kosmos of the adikias: houtōs the glōssa kathistatai in the melesin of us, the spilousa holon the sōma, and phlogizousa the trochon of the geneseōs; and being phlogizomenē by the geennēs.

Grammar Details

• *glōssa*: nominative, feminine, singular - tongue
• *pyr*: nominative, neuter, singular - fire
• *kosmos*: nominative, masculine, singular - world/order/system
• *adikias*: genitive, feminine, singular - unrighteousness/iniquity
• *houtōs*: adverb - thus/in this manner
• *kathistatai*: present indicative, middle/passive, 3rd singular - is set/established
• *melesin*: dative, neuter, plural - members/parts
• *spilousa*: present participle, active, nominative, feminine, singular - defiling/staining
• *holon*: accusative, neuter, singular - whole/entire
• *sōma*: accusative, neuter, singular - body
• *phlogizousa*: present participle, active, nominative, feminine, singular - setting on fire
• *trochon*: accusative, masculine, singular - wheel/course
• *geneseōs*: genitive, feminine, singular - origin/birth/existence
• *phlogizomenē*: present participle, passive, nominative, feminine, singular - being set on fire
• *geennēs*: genitive, feminine, singular - hell/Gehenna

Word Meanings

• *kosmos*: world/order/system/universe
• *adikias*: unrighteousness/iniquity/wickedness
• *kathistatai*: is set/established/placed/appointed
• *spilousa*: defiling/staining/polluting
• *phlogizousa*: setting on fire/inflaming
• *trochon*: wheel/course/circle
• *geneseōs*: birth/origin/existence/life
• *geennēs*: hell/Gehenna

Referenced Verses

• Prov 16:27 : 27 A wicked man diggeth vp euill, and in his lippes is like burning fire.
• Mark 7:15 : 15 There is nothing without a man, that can defile him, when it entreth into him: but the things which proceede out of him, are they which defile the man.
• Mark 7:20-22 : 20 Then he sayd, That which commeth out of man, that defileth man. 21 For from within, euen out of the heart of men, proceede euill thoughtes, adulteries, fornications, murthers, 22 Theftes, couetousnes, wickednes, deceite, vncleannes, a wicked eye, backbiting, pride, foolishnesse.
• Matt 15:11-20 : 11 That which goeth into the mouth, defileth not the man, but that which commeth out of the mouth, that defileth the man. 12 Then came his disciples, and saide vnto him, Perceiuest thou not, that the Pharises are offended in hearing this saying? 13 But hee answered and saide, Euery plant which mine heauenly Father hath not planted, shalbe rooted vp. 14 Let them alone, they be the blinde leaders of the blinde: and if the blinde leade ye blinde, both shall fall into the ditche. 15 Then answered Peter, and said to him, Declare vnto vs this parable. 16 Then said Iesus, Are ye yet without vnderstanding? 17 Perceiue ye not yet, that whatsoeuer entreth into the mouth, goeth into the bellie, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those thinges which proceede out of the mouth, come from the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come euil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, slaunders. 20 These are the things, which defile the man: but to eat with vnwashen hands, defileth not ye man.
• Matt 12:32-36 : 32 And whosoeuer shall speake a word against the Sonne of man, it shall be forgiuen him: but whosoeuer shall speake against the holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiuen him, neither in this worlde, nor in the worlde to come. 33 Either make the tree good, and his fruite good: or els make the tree euill, and his fruite euil: for the tree is knowen by the fruite. 34 O generations of vipers, howe can you speake good things, when ye are euill? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth foorth good things: & an euill man out of an euill treasure, bringeth forth euill things. 36 But I say vnto you, that of euery idle word that men shall speake, they shall giue account thereof at the day of iudgement.
• Prov 15:1 : 1 A soft answere putteth away wrath: but grieuous wordes stirre vp anger.
• Ps 120:2-3 : 2 Deliuer my soule, O Lord, from lying lippes, and from a deceitfull tongue. 3 What doeth thy deceitfull tongue bring vnto thee? or what doeth it auaile thee?
• Col 3:8-9 : 8 But now put ye away euen all these things, wrath, anger, maliciousnes, cursed speaking, filthie speaking, out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that yee haue put off the olde man with his workes,
• 2 Thess 2:9-9 : 9 Euen him whose comming is by the effectuall working of Satan, with all power, and signes, and lying wonders, 10 And in al deceiuablenes of vnrighteousnes, among them that perish, because they receiued not the loue of the trueth, that they might be saued. 11 And therefore God shal send them strong delusion, that they should beleeue lies, 12 That all they might be damned which beleeued not the trueth, but had pleasure in vnrighteousnes.
• Titus 1:11 : 11 Whose mouthes must bee stopped, which subuert whole houses, teaching things, which they ought not, for filthie lucres sake.
• Jas 2:7 : 7 Doe nor they blaspheme the worthie Name after which yee be named?
• 2 Pet 2:1-2 : 1 Bvt there were false prophets also among the people, euen as there shalbe false teachers among you: which priuily shall bring in damnable heresies, euen denying the Lorde, that hath bought them, and bring vpon themselues swift damnation. 2 And many shall folow their destructions, by whom the way of trueth shalbe euil spoken of,
• 2 Pet 3:3 : 3 This first vnderstande, that there shall come in the last dayes, mockers, which wil walke after their lustes,
• 3 John 1:10 : 10 Wherefore if I come, I will call to your remembrance his deedes which he doeth, pratling against vs with malicious wordes, and not therewith content, neither he himselfe receiueth the brethren, but forbiddeth them that woulde, and thrusteth them out of the Church.
• Jude 1:8-9 : 8 Likewise notwithstanding these sleepers also defile the flesh, and despise gouernment, and speake euill of them that are in authoritie. 9 Yet Michael the Archangell, when hee stroue against the deuill, and disputed about the body of Moses, durst not blame him with cursed speaking, but sayd, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these speake euill of those thinges, which they know not: & whatsoeuer things they know naturally, as beasts, which are without reason, in those things they corrupt them selues.
• Jude 1:15-18 : 15 To giue iudgement against al men, and to rebuke all the vngodly among them of all their wicked deeds, which they haue vngodly committed, and of all their cruel speakings, which wicked sinners haue spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their owne lustes: Whose mouthes speake proud things, hauing mens persons in admiration, because of aduantage. 17 But, yee beloued, remember the wordes which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ, 18 How that they told you that there should be mockers in ye last time, which should walke after their owne vngodly lustes.
• Rev 2:14-15 : 14 But I haue a fewe things against thee, because thou hast there them that maintaine the doctrine of Balaam, which taught Balac to put a stumbling blocke before ye children of Israel, that they should eate of things sacrificed vnto Idoles, and commit fornication. 15 Euen so hast thou them, that maintaine the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
• Rev 12:9 : 9 And the great dragon, that olde serpent, called the deuil and Satan, was cast out, which deceiueth all the world: he was euen cast into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
• Rev 13:1-5 : 1 (12:18) And I stoode on the sea sand. And I sawe a beast rise out of the sea, hauing seuen heads, and ten hornes, and vpon his hornes were ten crownes, and vpon his heads the name of blasphemie. 2 And the beast which I sawe, was like a Leopard, and his feete like a beares, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gaue him his power and his throne, and great authoritie. 3 And I sawe one of his heads as it were wounded to death, but his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondred and folowed the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gaue power vnto the beast, & they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like vnto the beast! Who is able to warre with him! 5 And there was giuen vnto him a mouth, that spake great things and blasphemies, and power was giuen vnto him, to doe two and fourtie moneths.
• Rev 13:14 : 14 And deceiued them that dwell on the earth by the signes, which were permitted to him to doe in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make the image of the beast, which had the wound of a sword, and did liue.
• Rev 18:23 : 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more in thee: and the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride shalbe heard no more in thee: for thy marchants were the great men of the earth: and with thine inchantments were deceiued all nations.
• Rev 19:20 : 20 But ye beast was taken, & with him that false prophet that wrought miracles before him, whereby he deceiued them that receiued ye beastes marke, and them that worshipped his image. These both were aliue cast into a lake of fire, burning with brimstone.
• Ps 140:3 : 3 They haue sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adders poyson is vnder their lips. Selah.
• Prov 1:10-14 : 10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause: 12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: 13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle: 14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
• Prov 6:19 : 19 A false witnesse that speaketh lyes, and him that rayseth vp contentions among brethren.
• Gen 3:4-6 : 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not die at all, 5 But God doeth knowe, that when ye shall eate thereof, your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and euill. 6 So the woman (seeing that the tree was good for meate, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to get knowledge) tooke of the fruite thereof, and did eate, & gaue also to her husband with her, and he did eate.
• Lev 24:11 : 11 So the Israelitish womans sonne blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed, and they brought him vnto Moses (his mothers name also was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan)
• Num 25:2 : 2 Which called the people vnto the sacrifice of their gods, and the people ate, & bowed downe to their gods.
• Num 31:16 : 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel through the counsell of Balaam to commit a trespasse against the Lorde, as concerning Peor, and there came a plague among the Congregation of the Lorde.
• Judg 12:4-6 : 4 Then Iphtah gathered all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are runnagates of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. 5 Also the Gileadites tooke the passages of Iorden before the Ephraimites, and when the Ephraimites that were escaped, saide, Let me passe, then the men of Gilead said vnto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay, 6 Then said they vnto him, Say nowe Shibboleth: and he said, Sibboleth: for he could not so pronounce: then they tooke him, and slewe him at the passages of Iorden: & there fel at that time of the Ephraimites two & fourtie thousand.
• Judg 16:15-20 : 15 Againe shee sayde vnto him, Howe canst thou say, I loue thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked mee these three times, and hast not tolde me wherein thy great strength lieth. 16 And because shee was importunate vpon him with her wordes continually, and vexed him, his soule was pained vnto the death. 17 Therefore he tolde her all his heart, and said vnto her, There neuer came rasor vpon mine head: for I am a Nazarite vnto God from my mothers wombe: therefore if I bee shauen, my strength will goe from me, and I shalbe weake, and be like all other men. 18 And when Delilah sawe that he had tolde her all his heart, she sent, and called for the Princes of ye Philistims, saying, Come vp once againe: for he hath shewed mee all his heart. Then the Princes of the Philistims came vp vnto her, and brought the money in their handes. 19 And she made him sleepe vpon her knees, and she called a man, and made him to shaue off the seuen lockes of his head, and shee began to vexe him, and his strength was gone from him. 20 Then she said, The Philistims be vpon thee, Samson; hee awoke out of his sleepe, and thought, I will go out now as at other times, and shake my selfe, but he knewe not that the Lorde was departed from him.
• 1 Sam 22:9-9 : 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite (who was appoynted ouer the seruants of Saul) & sayd, I saw the sonne of Ishai when he came to Nob, to Ahimelech the sonne of Ahitub, 10 Who asked counsell of the Lorde for him and gaue him vitailes, and he gaue him also the sword of Goliath the Philistim. 11 Then the King sent to call Ahimelech the Priest the sonne of Ahitub, and all his fathers house, to wit, the Priests that were in Nob: and they came all to the King. 12 And Saul said, Heare now thou sonne of Ahitub; he answered, Here I am, my lord. 13 Then Saul sayde vnto him, Why haue yee conspired against me, thou & the sonne of Ishai, in that thou hast giuen him vitaile, and a sworde, and hast asked counsell of God for him, that he should rise against me, and lye in wayte as appeareth this day? 14 And Ahimelech answered the King, and sayde, Who is so faithfull among all thy seruants as Dauid, being also the Kings sonne in lawe, and goeth at thy commandement, and is honourable in thine house? 15 Haue I this day first begun to aske counsell of God for him? be it farre from mee, let not the King impute any thing vnto his seruant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy seruant knew nothing of all this, lesse nor more. 16 Then the King sayd, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy fathers house. 17 And the King sayde vnto the sergeantes that stoode about him, Turne, & slay the Priestes of the Lorde, because their hand also is with Dauid, and because they knewe when he fled, and shewed it not vnto mee. But the seruantes of the King would not moue their hands to fall vpon the Priests of the Lord.
• 2 Sam 13:26-29 : 26 Then sayd Absalom, But, I pray thee, shall not my brother Amnon goe with vs? And the king answered him, Why should he go with thee? 27 But Absalom was instant vpon him, & he sent Amnon with him, & all the Kings children. 28 Now had Absalom commanded his seruants, saying, Marke now when Amnons heart is merry with wine, & when I say vnto you, Smite Amnon, kil him, feare not, for haue not I commanded you? be bold therefore, & play the men. 29 And the seruantes of Absalom did vnto Amnon, as Absalom had commanded: and al the Kings sonnes arose, and euery man gate him vp vpon his mule, and fled.
• 2 Sam 15:2-6 : 2 And Absalom rose vp early, & stoode hard by the entring in of the gate: and euery man that had any matter, & came to the King for iudgement, him did Absalom call vnto him, and sayde, Of what citie art thou? And he answered, Thy seruant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 Then Absalom said vnto him, See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man deputed of the King to heare thee. 4 Absalom sayd moreouer, Oh that I were made Iudge in the lande, that euery man which hath any matter of controuersie, might come to me, that I might do him iustice. 5 And when any man came neere to him, and did him obeisance, he put forth his hand, & tooke him, and kissed him. 6 And on this maner did Absalom to al Israel, that came to the King for iudgement: so Absalom stale the hearts of the men of Israel.
• 2 Sam 16:20-17:2 : 20 Then spake Absalom to Ahithophel, Giue counsell what we shall doe. 21 And Ahithophel said vnto Absalom, Goe in to thy fathers concubines, which he hath left to keepe the house: and when all Israel shall heare, that thou art abhorred of thy father, the hands of all that are with thee, shall be strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent vpon the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsell of Ahithophel which he counseled in those dayes, was like as one had asked counsell at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with Dauid and with Absalom. 1 Moreouer Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me chuse out now twelue thousand men, & I will vp and follow after Dauid this night, 2 And I will come vpon him: for he is wearie, and weake handed: so I will feare him, and all the people that are with him, shall flee, and I will smite the King onely,
• 2 Sam 19:43-20:1 : 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Iudah, and saide, Wee haue ten partes in the King, and haue also more right to Dauid then ye: Why then did ye despise vs, that our aduise should not bee first had in restoring our King? And the wordes of the men of Iudah were fiercer then the wordes of the men of Israel. 1 Then there was come thither a wicked man (named Sheba the sonne of Bichri, a man of Iemini) and hee blew the trumpet, and saide, Wee haue no part in Dauid, neither haue we inheritance in the sonne of Ishai: euery man to his tents, O Israel.
• 1 Kgs 21:5-9 : 5 Then Iezebel his wife came to him & said vnto him, Why is thy spirit so sad that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said vnto her, Because I spake vnto Naboth the Izreelite, & sayd vnto him, Giue me thy vineyard for money, or if it please thee, I will giue thee another vineyard for it: but he answered, I wil not giue thee my vineyarde. 7 Then Iezebel his wife sayde vnto him, Doest thou nowe gouerne the kingdome of Israel? vp, eate bread, & be of good cheere, I will giue thee the vineyard of Naboth the Izreelite. 8 So she wrote letters in Ahabs name, and sealed them with his seale, and sent the letters vnto the Elders, and to the nobles that were in his citie dwelling with Naboth. 9 And shee wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaime a fast, and set Naboth among the chiefe of the people, 10 And set two wicked men before him, & let them witnesse against him, saying, Thou diddest blaspheme God and the King: then cary him out, and stone him that he may dye. 11 And the men of his citie, euen the Elders & gouernours, which dwelt in his citie, did as Iezebel had sent vnto them: as it was written in the letters, which she had sent vnto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth among the chiefe of the people, 13 And there came two wicked men, & sate before him: & the wicked men witnessed against Naboth in the presence of the people saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the King. Then they caried him away out of the citie, and stoned him with stones, that he dyed. 14 Then they sent to Iezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned and is dead. 15 And when Iezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, Iezebel sayd to Ahab, Vp, & take possession of the vineyarde of Naboth the Izreelite, which he refused to giue thee for money: for Naboth is not aliue, but is dead.
• 2 Chr 10:13-16 : 13 And the King answered them sharply: and King Rehoboam left the counsel of the ancient men, 14 And spake to them after ye counsell of the yong men, saying, My father made your yoke grieuous, but I wil incease it: my father chastised you with rods, but I will correct you with scourges. 15 So the king hearkened not vnto the people: for it was the ordinance of God that the Lorde might performe his saying, which hee had spoken by Ahiiah the Shilonite to Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat. 16 So when all Isarael sawe that the King would not heare them, the people answered the King, saying, What portion haue we in Dauid? for we haue none inheritance in the sonue of Ishai. O Israel, euery man to your tents: now see to thine owne house, Dauid. So all Israel departed to their tents.
• 2 Chr 13:17 : 17 And Abiiah and his people slewe a great slaughter of them, so that there fel downe wounded of Israel fiue hundreth thousand chosen men.
• Ps 64:3 : 3 Which haue whette their tongue like a sword, and shot for their arrowes bitter wordes.
• Prov 7:21-23 : 21 Thus with her great craft she caused him to yeelde, and with her flattering lips she entised him. 22 And he followed her straight wayes, as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a foole to the stockes for correction, 23 Till a dart strike through his liuer, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.
• Prov 26:20-21 : 20 Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth. 21 As ye cole maketh burning coles, & wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
• Isa 30:27 : 27 Beholde, the Name of the Lorde commeth from farre, his face is burning, & the burden thereof is heauy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a deuouring fire.
• Jer 20:10 : 10 For I had heard the railing of many, and feare on euery side. Declare, said they, and wee wil declare it: all my familiars watched for mine halting, saying, It may be that he is deceiued: so we shall preuaile against him, and we shal execute our vengeance vpon him.
• Jer 28:16 : 16 Therefore thus saith the Lorde, Beholde, I will cast thee from of the earth: this yeere thou shalt die, because thou hast spoken rebelliously against the Lord.
• Matt 5:22 : 22 But I say vnto you, whosoeuer is angry with his brother vnaduisedly, shalbe culpable of iudgment; whosoeuer sayth vnto his brother, Raca, shalbe worthy to be punished by the Councill; whosoeuer shall say, Foole, shalbe worthy to be punished with hell fire.
• Matt 12:24 : 24 But when the Pharises heard it, they saide, This man casteth the deuils no otherwise out, but through Beelzebub the prince of deuils.
• Mark 14:55-57 : 55 And the hie Priests, and all the Councill sought for witnesse against Iesus, to put him to death, but found none. 56 For many bare false witnesse against him, but their witnesse agreed not together. 57 Then there arose certaine, and bare false witnesse against him, saying,
• Luke 16:24 : 24 Then he cried, and saide, Father Abraham, haue mercie on mee, and sende Lazarus that hee may dippe the tip of his finger in water, & coole my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame.
• Acts 5:3 : 3 Then saide Peter, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart, that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy Ghost, and keepe away part of the price of this possession?
• Acts 6:13 : 13 And set forth false witnesses, which sayd, This man ceasseth not to speake blasphemous wordes against this holy place, and the Law.
• Acts 20:30 : 30 Moreouer of your owne selues shall men arise speaking peruerse thinges, to drawe disciples after them.
• Rom 3:13-14 : 13 Their throte is an open sepulchre: they haue vsed their tongues to deceit: the poyson of aspes is vnder their lippes. 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitternesse.
• Rom 16:17-18 : 17 Now I beseech you brethren, marke them diligently which cause diuision and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye haue learned, and auoide them. 18 For they that are such, serue not the Lorde Iesus Christ, but their owne bellies, and with faire speech and flattering deceiue the heartes of the simple.
• 2 Cor 11:13-15 : 13 For such false apostles are deceitfull workers, and transforme themselues into the Apostles of Christ. 14 And no marueile: for Satan himselfe is transformed into an Angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers transforme themselues, as though they were the ministers of righteousnes, whose end shall be according to their workes.
• Eph 5:3-4 : 3 But fornication, and all vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named among you, as it becommeth Saintes, 4 Neither filthinesse, neither foolish talking, neither iesting, which are things not comely, but rather giuing of thankes.
• Deut 13:6 : 6 If thy brother, the sonne of thy mother, or thine owne sonne, or thy daughter, or the wife, that lyeth in thy bosome, or thy friend, which is as thine owne soule, intice thee secretly, saying, Let vs goe and serue other gods, (which thou hast not knowen, thou, I say, nor thy fathers)
• Prov 7:5 : 5 That they may keepe thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger that is smoothe in her wordes.