James 3:5

KJV1611 – Modern English

Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles!

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Referenced Verses

  • Jer 9:3-8 : 3 And they bend their tongues like a bow for lies; but they are not valiant for the truth on the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the LORD. 4 Take heed every one of his neighbor, and do not trust in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will walk with slanders. 5 And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6 Your habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, says the LORD. 7 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and test them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue is like an arrow shot out; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lies in wait.
  • Ps 17:10 : 10 They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly.
  • Ps 52:1-2 : 1 Why do you boast in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. 2 Your tongue devises mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
  • Ps 73:8-9 : 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly of oppression; they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
  • Prov 12:18 : 18 There are those who speak like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
  • Prov 15:2 : 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge appropriately, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
  • Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
  • Jer 18:18 : 18 Then said they, Come, and let us devise plans 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 attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
  • Ezek 28:2 : 2 Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD; Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are a man and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God:
  • Ps 10:3 : 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the greedy, whom the LORD abhors.
  • Ps 12:2-4 : 2 They speak vanity everyone with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
  • Rev 13:5-6 : 5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue for forty-two months. 6 And he opened his mouth to blaspheme against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
  • Jude 1:16 : 16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
  • Dan 3:15 : 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image which I have made, well; but if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God who shall deliver you out of my hands?
  • Dan 4:30 : 30 The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal residence, by the might of my power and for the honor 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 wantonness, those who have barely escaped from those who live in error.
  • Exod 15:9 : 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
  • 2 Kgs 19:22-24 : 22 Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? and against whom have you exalted your voice, and lifted up your eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. 23 By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, and have said, With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down its tall cedar trees, and the choice fir trees: and I will enter into its farthest lodging, and into the forest of its Carmel. 24 I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet I have dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
  • Job 21:14-15 : 14 Therefore they say to God, 'Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.' 15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?
  • Job 22:17 : 17 They said to God, 'Depart from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do for us?'

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 the tongue is among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

    7For every kind of beast, and of bird, and of serpent, and of things in the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

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

    9With it we bless God, even the Father; and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.

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

  • Jas 3:2-4
    3 verses
    77%

    2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

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

    4Look also at the ships, which, though they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned with a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

  • 4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a break in the spirit.

  • 71%

    19In the multitude of words, there is no lack of sin, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

    20The tongue of the just is as choice silver, the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    70%

    1A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.

    2The tongue of the wise uses knowledge appropriately, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.

  • 23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

  • 5For your mouth declares your iniquity, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.

  • 31The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue shall be cut out.

  • 3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

  • 27An ungodly man digs up evil, and in his lips there is like a burning fire.

  • 68%

    20A man's stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; he will be filled with the produce of his lips.

    21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

  • 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

  • Ps 12:3-4
    2 verses
    68%

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

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

  • 18For wickedness burns like the fire; it will devour the briers and thorns and will kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they will mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

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

  • 14As the fire burns a forest, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire;

  • 14Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, Because you speak this word, behold, I will make my words in your 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 consumes both ends of it, and the middle of it is burned. Is it fit for any work?

    5Behold, when it was whole, it was not fit for any work: how much less shall it be fit for any work when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

  • 3He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

  • 26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is useless.

  • 3My heart burned within me, while I was musing, the fire burned: then I spoke with my tongue,

  • 21His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth.

  • 21As coals to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

  • 10For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

  • 18There are those who speak like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

  • 3What shall be given to you? Or what shall be done to you, you false tongue?

  • 19Therefore, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger:

  • 6Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

  • 23The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

  • 14'Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.'

  • 19You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit.

  • 15By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

  • 18Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

  • 12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.

  • 2Your tongue devises mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

  • 13That you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?

  • 7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud; under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

  • 20Our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.

  • 36But I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account for in the day of judgment.