James 3:5

Authorized King James Version (1611)

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

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Referenced Verses

  • Jer 9:3-8 : 3 And they bend their tongues [like] their bow [for] lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. 4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. 5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, [and] weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6 Thine habitation [is] in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. 7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue [is as] an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: [one] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
  • Ps 17:10 : 10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
  • Ps 52:1-2 : 1 ¶ To the chief Musician, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God [endureth] continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
  • Ps 73:8-9 : 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly [concerning] oppression: they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
  • Prov 12:18 : 18 ¶ There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health.
  • Prov 15:2 : 2 ¶ The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
  • Prov 18:21 : 21 ¶ Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
  • Jer 18:18 : 18 ¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
  • Ezek 28:2 : 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart [is] lifted up, and thou hast said, I [am] a God, I sit [in] the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou [art] a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
  • Ps 10:3 : 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.
  • Ps 12:2-4 : 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?
  • Rev 13:5-6 : 5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months. 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
  • Jude 1:16 : 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
  • Dan 3:15 : 15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
  • Dan 4:30 : 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
  • 2 Pet 2:18 : 18 For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
  • Exod 15:9 : 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
  • 2 Kgs 19:22-24 : 22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted [thy] voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy [One] of Israel. 23 By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, [and into] the forest of his Carmel. 24 I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
  • Job 21:14-15 : 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
  • Job 22:17 : 17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Jas 3:6-10
    5 verses
    87%

    6And 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.

    7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

    8But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

    9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

    10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

  • Jas 3:2-4
    3 verses
    77%

    2For 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.

    3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

    4Behold 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.

  • Prov 15:4
    73%

    4¶ A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.

  • Prov 10:19-20
    2 verses
    71%

    19¶ In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise.

    20¶ The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver: the heart of the wicked [is] little worth.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    70%

    1¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

    2¶ The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

  • Prov 21:23
    70%

    23¶ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

  • Job 15:5
    69%

    5For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

  • Prov 10:31
    69%

    31¶ The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

  • Prov 14:3
    68%

    3¶ In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

  • Prov 16:27
    68%

    27¶ An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.

  • Prov 18:20-21
    2 verses
    68%

    20¶ A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

    21¶ Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

  • Gal 5:9
    68%

    9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

  • Ps 12:3-4
    2 verses
    68%

    3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:

    4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?

  • Isa 9:18
    68%

    18For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.

  • Prov 6:27
    68%

    27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

  • Ps 83:14
    68%

    14As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;

  • Jer 5:14
    68%

    14Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

  • Ezek 15:4-5
    2 verses
    68%

    4Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for [any] work?

    5Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for [any] work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?

  • Prov 13:3
    67%

    3¶ He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: [but] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • Jas 1:26
    67%

    26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

  • Ps 39:3
    67%

    3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: [then] spake I with my tongue,

  • Job 41:21
    67%

    21His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

  • Prov 26:21
    67%

    21[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.

  • 1 Pet 3:10
    67%

    10For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

  • Prov 12:18
    67%

    18¶ There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health.

  • Ps 120:3
    67%

    3What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?

  • Jas 1:19
    66%

    19¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • 1 Cor 5:6
    66%

    6Your glorying [is] not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

  • Prov 25:23
    66%

    23¶ The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

  • Rom 3:14
    66%

    14Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:

  • Ps 50:19
    66%

    19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

  • Prov 25:15
    66%

    15¶ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

  • Prov 26:18
    66%

    18¶ As a mad [man] who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

  • Eccl 10:12
    66%

    12¶ The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

  • Ps 52:2
    66%

    2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

  • Job 15:13
    66%

    13That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest [such] words go out of thy mouth?

  • Ps 10:7
    66%

    7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.

  • Job 22:20
    66%

    20Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.

  • Matt 12:36
    66%

    36‹But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.›