James 3:9-12 NIV

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 3:9-12

3:9-12 With it we bless the Lord and Father and with it we curse the men who have been made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth there emerge blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers. Surely the one stream from the same cleft in the rock does not gush forth fresh and salt water? Surely, brothers, a fig-tree cannot produce olives, nor a vine figs, nor can salt water produce fresh water? We know only too well from experience that there is a cleavage in human... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:9

Therewith bless we God, even, the Father ,.... Of Jesus Christ, and of spirits, and of mercies: this is the instrument that is used in blessing God daily every meal that is eaten; and in joining with the saints, though only verbally and outwardly, in blessing God for all spiritual blessings in Christ, both in prayer, and in singing psalms: and therewith curse we men : make imprecations, and wish evils upon them: which are made after the similitude of God as man was originally, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:10

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing ,.... Which is not only a contradiction, but unnatural, as well as wicked and sinful: my brethren, these things ought not so to be : in any, and much less in professors of religion: such things are unbecoming men, are a scandal upon human nature, and exceeding unworthy of the Christian name; see Psalm 50:16 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:11

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place ,.... "Or hole"; for at divers places, and at different times, as Pliny F13 Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 103. observes, it may send forth sweet water and bitter : and it is reported F14 Isodor. Hispal. Originum, l. 13. c. 13. p. 115. , there is a lake with the Trogloditae, a people in Ethiopia, which becomes thrice a day bitter, and then as often sweet; but then it does not yield sweet water and bitter at the same time: this simile is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:12

Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries ?.... Every tree bears fruit, according to its kind; a fig tree produces figs, and an olive tree olive berries; a fig tree does not produce olive berries, or an olive tree figs; and neither of them both: either a vine, figs ? or fig trees, grapes; or either of them, figs and grapes: so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh . The Alexandrian copy reads, "neither can the salt water yield sweet water"; that is, the sea cannot... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:9

Therewith bless we God - The tongue is capable of rehearsing the praises, and setting forth the glories, of the eternal King: what a pity that it should ever be employed in a contrary work! It can proclaim and vindicate the truth of God, and publish the Gospel of peace and good will among men: what a pity that it should ever be employed in falsehoods, calumny, or in the cause of infidelity! And therewith curse we men - In the true Satanic spirit, many pray to God, the Father, to destroy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:10

Out of the same mouth - This saying is something like that, Proverbs 18:21 ; : Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and on this, for an illustration of St. James' words, hear Vayikra Rabba, sec. 33: "Rabbi Simeon, the son of Gamaliel, said to his servant Tobias, Go and bring me some good food from the market: the servant went, and he bought tongues. At another time he said to the same servant, Go and buy me some bad food: the servant went, and bought tongues. The master said,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:11

Doth a fountain send forth - sweet water and bitter? - In many things nature is a sure guide to man; but no such inconsistency is found in the natural world as this blessing and cursing in man. No fountain, at the same opening, sends forth sweet water and bitter; no fig tree can bear olive berries; no vine can bear figs; nor can the sea produce salt water and fresh from the same place. These are all contradictions, and indeed impossibilities, in nature. And it is depraved man alone that can... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:12

So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh - For the reading of the common text, which is οὑτως ουδεμια πηγη ἁλυκον και γλυκυ ποιησαι ὑδωρ , so no fountain can produce salt water and sweet, there are various other readings in the MSS. and versions. The word οὑτως , so, which makes this a continuation of the comparison in James 3:11 , is wanting in ABC, one other, with the Armenian and ancient Syriac; the later Syriac has it in the margin with an asterisk. ABC, five others,... read more

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - James 3:9-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - James 3:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:12

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