James 3:9-10 - Exposition

Examples of the restless character of the tongue: "With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it too we curse men who are made in his image." In the first clause we should read κύριον ( א , A, B, C, Coptic, Syriac, ff, and some manuscripts of the Vulgate) for θεόν (Receptus, with K, L, and Vulgate). Made after the similitude of God ; better, likeness ( ὁμοίωσις ) . The words, which are taken from Genesis 1:26 ( καὶ εἷπεν ὁ θεὸς ποιήσωμεν ἄνθρωπον κατ εἰκόνα ἡμετέραν καὶ καθ ὁμοιώσιν ) are added to show the greatness of the sin. Theologically they are important, as showing that the "likeness of God" in man was not entirely obliterated by the Fall. St. James's words would be meaningless if only Adam had been created in the image and likeness of God. So St. Paul speaks of fallen man as still "the image ( εἰκών ) and glory of God" ( 1 Corinthians 11:7 ; and cf. Genesis 9:6 ).