James 3:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - James 3:1-12

The foregoing chapter shows how unprofitable and dead faith is without works. It is plainly intimated by what this chapter first goes upon that such a faith is, however, apt to make men conceited and magisterial in their tempers and their talk. Those who set up faith in the manner the former chapter condemns are most apt to run into those sins of the tongue which this chapter condemns. And indeed the best need to be cautioned against a dictating, censorious, mischievous use of their tongues.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:3-5

3:3-5 If we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obedient to us, we can control the direction of their whole body as well. Look at ships, too. See how large they are and how they are driven by rough winds, and see how their course is altered by a very small rudder, wherever the pressure of the steersman desires. So, too, the tongue is a little member of the body, but it makes arrogant claims for itself. It might be argued against James' terror of the tongue that it is a very small... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:4

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great ,.... Of so large a bulk, of such a prodigious size, and are such unwieldy vessels: and are driven of fierce winds ; with great vehemence, rapidity, and swiftness: yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth ; the helm, or tiller of a ship, is a beam or piece of timber fastened into the rudder, and so coming forward into the steerage, where he that stands at helm steers the ship F5 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:1-12

WARNING AGAINST OVER - READINESS TO TEACH , LEADING TO A DISCOURSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:1-12

Speech I. THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY OF TEACHERS . This is forcibly shown by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:15 , etc. Even of those who have built upon the right foundation the work is to be tested by fire, and "if any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." What, then, must be the "greater condemnation "in store for others whose very foundation was faulty? In a commentary especially designed for teachers of others, a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:1-12

The ethics of speech. In these verses is dealt a rebuke against the craving for authority, which, as he reminds them, involves "heavier judgment." How? Partly as coming under judgment itself (see Matthew 23:8-10 ); partly as involving increased responsibility. And responsibility and judgment are very near akin. More especially, in these words of warning, he has in view that confused assembly of theirs, in which all vied together in attempts to speak. How great the danger of "stumbling"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:2-6

The Tower of the tongue. Passing from the peculiar responsibility which attaches to teachers of religion, James proceeds to speak generally of the enormous influence of the faculty of speech, especially upon the speaker himself, and of the abuse to which it is liable. I. A DIRECT STATEMENT OF THIS POWER . "If any stumbleth not in word, the same," etc. (verse 2). In most cases, the capacity to control one's utterances indicates the measure of one's attainment as regards the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - James 3:4

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - James 3:4

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - James 3:3-5

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

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