James 3:2

James 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
• New International Version (NIV)We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

Context of James 3:2

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look 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.

James 3:2 word by word

πολλὰ γὰρ πταίομεν ἅπαντες· εἴ τις ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει, οὗτος τέλειος ἀνήρ, δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• in many thingsπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• we offendπταίωptaiō · to stumbleG4417
• allἅπαςhapas · allG537
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• any manτιςtis · oneG5100
• notοὐou · noG3756
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• the sameοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• a perfectτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
• manἀνήρanēr · manG435
• ableδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• to bridleχαλιναγωγέωchalinagōgeō · to bridleG5468
• the wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650
• bodyὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983

Cross-references for James 3:2

• 1 Kings 8:46"If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,
• 2 Chronicles 6:36"If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near,
• Proverbs 20:9Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"?
• Ecclesiastes 7:20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
• Isaiah 64:6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
• Romans 3:10as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
• Romans 7:21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
• Galatians 3:22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
• Galatians 5:17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
• 1 John 1:8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• James 3:5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
• James 1:26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
• Psalms 34:13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
• Proverbs 13:3Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
• 1 Peter 3:10For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;
• James 1:4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Commentaries on James 3:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2In many things we offend all - ̔· We all stumble or trip. Dr. Barrow very properly observes: "As the general course of life is called a way, and particular actions steps, so going on in a regular course of right action is walking uprightly; and acting amiss, tripping or stumbling." There are very few who walk so closely with God, and inoffensively with men, as never to stumble; and although it is the privilege of every follower of God to be sincere and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For in many things we offend all - We all offend. The word here rendered offend, means to stumble, to fall; then to err, to fail in duty; and the meaning here is, that all were liable to commit error, and that this consideration should induce men to be cautious in seeking an office where an error would be likely to do so much injury. The particular thing, doubtless, which the apostle had in his eye, was the peculiar liability to commit error, or to do…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2We all: The main concern of James is how the speech of church members affects their relationships with others (3:9–10, 14; 4:1–3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. all--The Greek implies "all without exception": even the apostles. offend not--literally "stumbleth not": is void of offence or "slip" in word: in which respect one is especially tried who sets up to be a "teacher."Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:2

• Depravity of Man
• Perfection
• Speaking
• Words

In the dictionaries

• Word, The
• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Sanctification
• Tame
• Bit and Bridle
• Busybody

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