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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.

Context of James 3:4

2For 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. 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. 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! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• the shipsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the shipsπλοῖονploion · boatG4143
• which thoughεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• so greatτηλικοῦτοςtēlikoutos tēlikautē · so greatG5082
• drivenἐλαύνωelaunō · to driveG1643
• ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
• fierceσκληρόςsklēros · hardG4642
• windsἄνεμοςanemos · windG417
• yet are they turned aboutμετάγωmetagō · to turnG3329
• a very smallἐλάχιστοςelachistos · leastG1646
• helmπηδάλιονpēdalion · rudderG4079
• whithersoeverὅπουhopou · where(-ever)G3699
• whithersoeverἄνan · ifG302
• ·ὁρμήhormē · impulseG3730
• the governorεὐθύνωeuthunō · to straightenG2116
• listethβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014

Cross-references for James 3:4

• Psalms 107:25For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
• Jonah 1:4But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
• Matthew 8:24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.
• Acts 27:14But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.

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