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James 3

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a greater judgment. 2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in speech, he is a complete person, able to bridle his whole body as well. 3If we put bits into horses' mouths so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. 4Look also at ships: though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the pilot intends. 5So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it boasts of great things. Look how small a fire sets so great a forest ablaze! 6And the tongue is a fire. The tongue stands among our body's parts as a world of unrighteousness, staining the whole body, setting the wheel of life on fire, and itself set on fire by Gehenna. 7For every kind of wild animal and bird, reptile and sea creature is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8but no human can tame the tongue. It is an unstable evil, full of deadly poison.

9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who have been made in God's likeness. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be so. 11Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12My brothers, can a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water produce sweet water.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show his deeds by his good conduct, with the gentleness of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast over others and lie against the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above; it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where there are jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every vile practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, open to persuasion, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Translation notes 7

3:1, 10, 12 — Brothers. This masculine family address can include women as well as men. “We” in verse 1 includes the writer among those facing the greater judgment.

3:2 — Complete. Often rendered “perfect.” The word links control of speech with the completeness sought in 1:4. The bridle image also returns from 1:26.

3:6 — World and wheel. The difficult construction portrays the tongue as a whole world of unrighteousness within the body. “Wheel of life” retains the circular image in an expression for the course of human existence; it does not establish a teaching about reincarnation.

3:6 — Gehenna. The NET Bible renders this word “hell.” Gehenna is a name associated with the Valley of Hinnom and divine punishment; it is distinct from Hades, the realm of the dead. James depicts the tongue's destructive fire as kindled by Gehenna. The retained name preserves that particular image rather than merging different judgment terms.

3:8–9 — Unstable; Lord. “Unstable” repeats the Greek adjective in 1:8; “restless” is another rendering here. A textual alternative reads “uncontrollable.” The base has “Lord and Father”; another reading has “God and Father.”

3:11–12 — Sweet water. “Sweet” contrasts with both bitter and salty water, meaning fresh or drinkable water. The bitter image recurs in “bitter jealousy” in verse 14.

3:15, 17–18 — Wisdom and its fruit. “Unspiritual” contrasts this wisdom with wisdom from above; it is not a claim that bodily life is inherently evil. “Impartial” can alternatively be read “unwavering” or “without divided judgment.” In verse 18, “for those who make peace” may also be “by those who make peace.” The fruit can be understood as righteousness itself.