Second illustration , showing the importance of the tongue and its government. The rudder is a very small thing, but it enables the steersman to guide the ship wherever he will, in spite of the storm. Whithersoever the governor listeth ( ὅπου ἡ ὀρμὴ τοῦ εὐθυνοντος βούλεται , א , B); whither the impulse of the steersman willeth (R.V); Vulgate, impetus dirigentis. read more
Behold, we put bits in the horses” mouths ... - The meaning of this simple illustration is, that as we control a horse by the bit - though the bit is a small thing - so the body is controlled by the tongue. He who has a proper control over his tongue can govern his whole body, as he who holds a bridle governs and turns about the horse. read more
Behold also the ships - This illustration is equally striking and obvious. A ship is a large object. It seems to be unmanageable by its vastness, and it is also impelled by driving storms. Yet it is easily managed by a small rudder; and he that has control of that, has control of the ship itself. So with the tongue. It is a small member as compared with the body; in its size not unlike the rudder as compared with the ship. Yet the proper control of the tongue in respect to its influence on the... read more
James 3:3-5. Behold, &c. As if the apostle had said, Think not the tongue a weak member because it is small; we put bits in the horses’ mouths that they may obey us May go as we direct them; and, strong, and sometimes furious as they are; we turn about their whole body Influence as we please all their motions. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great So large and heavy, and are driven frequently by fierce winds which seem to be irresistible, yet are they turned... read more
3:1-5:6 WORLDLY AMBITION AND CHRISTIAN FAITHControl of the tongue (3:1-12)James warns his readers not to be too ambitious to be teachers in the church, because if they instruct others and then fail themselves, they will receive greater judgment. This places teachers in particular danger, because they cannot avoid making some mistakes (3:1-2). A person who can control his tongue can control the whole self. Just as the bit controls the horse and the rudder controls the ship, so the tongue... read more
Behold . App-133 .; but the texts read ei ( App-118 . a) de, "But if". bits . Greek. chalinos. Here and Revelation 14:20 . that = to the end that ( App-104 .), but the texts read eis (vi). obey . App-150 . turn about . Greek. metago. Only here and James 3:4 . read more
Behold . App-133 . also the ships = the ships also. of . App-104 . fierce . Greek. skleros. Elsewhere translated "hard". with . Same as "of". helm . Greek. pedalion. Only here and Acts 27:40 . the governor lusteth = the impulse (Greek. horme) Only here and Acts 14:5 ) of the governor wishes ( App-102 .) governor = helmsman, the one who directs, or makes straight (Greek. euthuno) . Only here and John 1:23 . read more
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.Now if ... Punchard criticized this rendition of this introductory remark thus:This is a more clumsy reading than "Behold." The supporters of such curious corrections (?) argue that the least likely is the most so; and thus every slip of a copyist, either in grammar or spelling, becomes more sacred in their eyes than the Received Text in believers of verbal inspiration.[11] It is high... read more
Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.Just as the tongue is a very small member, the rudder of a great ship is likewise a very small instrument in comparison with the whole ship; but the guidance of the entire vessel is accomplished by means of that tiny rudder. The Venerable Bede, the earliest of English translators, "understood the ships here as an image of... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:3
Illustration of the last statement of James 3:2 . The bit in the horse's mouth enables us to turn about the whole body. So the man who can govern his tongue has the mastery over the whole body. A remarkable parallel is afforded by Sophocles, 'Antigone,' 1. 470, σμικρῷ χαλινῷ δ οἷδα τοὺς θυμουμένους ἵππους καταρτυθέιτας . So also Philo, 'De Op. Mundi,' p. 19, τὸ θυμικώτατον ζῶον ἵππος ῥᾳδίως ἄγεται χαλινωθείς . The manuscript; authority is overwhelming in favor... read more