James 3:4

James 3:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
• New International Version (NIV)Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Context of James 3:4

2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. 5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3:4 word by word

ἰδοὺ καὶ τὰ πλοῖα, τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα, μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται.¶Read the interlinear

• Considerἰδούidou · look!G2400
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• shipsπλοῖονploion · boatG4143
• as wellκαίkai · andG2532
• Although they areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• so largeτηλικοῦτοςtēlikoutos tēlikautē · so greatG5082
• are drivenἐλαύνωelaunō · to driveG1643
• byὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• strongσκληρόςsklēros · hardG4642
• windsἄνεμοςanemos · windG417
• they are steeredμετάγωmetagō · to turnG3329
• a very smallἐλάχιστοςelachistos · leastG1646
• rudderπηδάλιονpēdalion · rudderG4079
• whereverὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• pilotεὐθύνωeuthunō · to straightenG2116
• is inclinedὁρμήhormē · impulseG3730
• is inclinedβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014

Cross-references for James 3:4

• Psalms 107:25For He spoke and raised a tempest that lifted the waves of the sea.
• Jonah 1:4Then the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship was in danger of breaking apart.
• Matthew 8:24Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping.
• Acts 27:14But it was not long before a cyclone called the Northeaster swept down across the island.

Commentaries on James 3:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Behold 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…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Not only animals, but even ships. the governor listeth--literally, "the impulse of the steersman pleaseth." The feeling which moves the tongue corresponds with this.Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:4

• Helm
• Ship

In the dictionaries

• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Busybody
• List
• Ships and Boats
• Wind

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