James 3:5

World English Bible (2000)

So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Jer 9:3-8 : 3 They bend their tongue, [as it were] their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don't know me, says Yahweh. 4 Take heed everyone of his neighbor, and don't trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders. 5 They will deceive everyone his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6 Your habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, says Yahweh. 7 Therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how [else] should I do, because of the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lays wait for him.
  • Ps 17:10 : 10 They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
  • Ps 52:1-2 : 1 Why do you boast of mischief, mighty man? God's loving kindness endures continually. 2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
  • Ps 73:8-9 : 8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression. 9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
  • Prov 12:18 : 18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
  • Prov 15:2 : 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
  • Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
  • Jer 18:18 : 18 Then they said, 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 strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
  • Ezek 28:2 : 2 Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: 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 man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God--
  • Ps 10:3 : 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.
  • Ps 12:2-4 : 2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart. 3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts, 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 A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. 6 He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven.
  • Jude 1:16 : 16 These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
  • Dan 3:15 : 15 Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, [well]: but if you don't worship, you 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 spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
  • 2 Pet 2:18 : 18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping 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 on them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'
  • 2 Kgs 19:22-24 : 22 Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel. 23 By your messengers you have defied the Lord, and have said, 'With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down its tall cedars, and its choice fir trees; and I will enter into his farthest lodging place, the forest of his fruitful field. 24 I have dug and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.'
  • Job 21:14-15 : 14 They tell God, 'Depart from us, for we don't want to know about your ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'
  • Job 22:17 : 17 who 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%

    6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.

    7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.

    8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

    9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

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

  • Jas 3:2-4
    3 verses
    77%

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

    3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

    4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

  • Prov 15:4
    73%

    4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

  • Prov 10:19-20
    2 verses
    71%

    19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

    20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    70%

    1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

    2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.

  • Prov 21:23
    70%

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

  • Job 15:5
    69%

    5 For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.

  • Prov 10:31
    69%

    31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

  • Prov 14:3
    68%

    3 The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

  • Prov 16:27
    68%

    27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

  • Prov 18:20-21
    2 verses
    68%

    20 A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

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

  • Gal 5:9
    68%

    9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.

  • Ps 12:3-4
    2 verses
    68%

    3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

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

  • Isa 9:18
    68%

    18 For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.

  • Prov 6:27
    68%

    27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?

  • Ps 83:14
    68%

    14 As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,

  • Jer 5:14
    68%

    14 Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Armies, "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%

    4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and its midst is burned: is it profitable for any work?

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

  • Prov 13:3
    67%

    3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

  • Jas 1:26
    67%

    26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.

  • Ps 39:3
    67%

    3 My heart was hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue:

  • Job 41:21
    67%

    21 His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth.

  • Prov 26:21
    67%

    21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

  • 1 Pet 3:10
    67%

    10 For, "He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

  • Prov 12:18
    67%

    18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.

  • Ps 120:3
    67%

    3 What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue?

  • Jas 1:19
    66%

    19 So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

  • 1 Cor 5:6
    66%

    6 Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast leavens the whole lump?

  • Prov 25:23
    66%

    23 The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

  • Rom 3:14
    66%

    14 "whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."

  • Ps 50:19
    66%

    19 "You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.

  • Prov 25:15
    66%

    15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.

  • Prov 26:18
    66%

    18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,

  • Eccl 10:12
    66%

    12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

  • Ps 52:2
    66%

    2 Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

  • Job 15:13
    66%

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

  • Ps 10:7
    66%

    7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.

  • Job 22:20
    66%

    20 saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'

  • Matt 12:36
    66%

    36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.