James 3:10

James 3:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
• New International Version (NIV)Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
• English Standard Version (ESV)From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Context of James 3:10

8But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. 11Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

James 3:10 word by word

ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος ἐξέρχεται εὐλογία καὶ κατάρα. οὐ χρή, ἀδελφοί μου, ταῦτα οὕτως γίνεσθαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Out ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• the sameαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• mouthστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
• proceedethἐξέρχομαιexerchomai · to go outG1831
• blessingεὐλογίαeulogia · praiseG2129
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• cursingκατάραkatara · curseG2671
• Myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• oughtχρήchrē · to ought/needG5534
• notοὐou · noG3756
• soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• to beγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096

Cross-references for James 3:10

• Psalms 50:16But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite My statutes Or to take My covenant on your lips?
• Jeremiah 7:4Do not trust in the deceptive and lying words [of the false prophets who claim that Jerusalem will be protected by God because of the temple], saying, ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’
• Micah 3:11Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests teach for a fee, And her prophets foretell for money; Yet they lean on the Lord, saying, “Is not the Lord among us? No tragedy or distress will come on us.”
• Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you [who cause you harm or hardship]; bless and do not curse [them].
• 1 Peter 3:9and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection].
• Genesis 20:9Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].”
• 2 Samuel 13:12She replied, “No, my brother! Do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this disgraceful thing!
• 1 Corinthians 3:3You are still worldly [controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity]. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men [unchanged by faith]?
• 1 Timothy 5:13Now at the same time, they also learn to be idle as they go from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies [meddlers in things that do not concern them], talking about things they should not mention.

Commentaries on James 3:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Out 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing - The meaning here may be, either that out of the mouth of man two such opposite things proceed, not referring to the same individual, but to different persons; or, out of the mouth of the same individual. Both of these are true; and both are equally incongruous and wrong. No organ should be devoted to uses so unlike, and the mouth should be employed in giving utterance only to that which is just…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. The tongue, says ÆSOP, is at once the best and the worst of things. So in a fable, a man with the same breath blows hot and cold. "Life and death are in the power of the tongue" (compare Psa 62:4). brethren--an appeal to their consciences by their brotherhood in Christ. ought not so to be--a mild appeal, leaving it to themselves to understand that such conduct deserves the most severe reprobation.Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:10

• Blasphemy
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Blessing
• Busybody
• curse, cursed, cursing
• image of God, image

Commentaries on James 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings