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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of James 3:2

1Brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers. You know that we who teach will be judged more severely. All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does. 3We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we have control over everything they do. 4The same thing is true for ships. They are very big and are driven by strong winds. Yet, by using small rudders, pilots steer ships wherever they want them to go.

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“They may sin against you. (No one is sinless.) You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them to ⌞another⌟ country as captives, ⌞whether it is⌟ far or near.
• 2 Chronicles 6:36“They may sin against you. (No one is sinless.) You may become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them to ⌞another⌟ country as captives, ⌞whether it is⌟ far or near.
• Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I’ve made my heart pure. I’m cleansed from my sin”?
• Ecclesiastes 7:20Certainly, there is no one so righteous on earth that he always does what is good and never sins.
• Isaiah 64:6We’ve all become unclean, and all our righteous acts are like permanently stained rags. All of us shrivel like leaves, and our sins carry us away like the wind.
• Romans 3:10as Scripture says, “Not one person has God’s approval.
• Romans 7:21So I’ve discovered this truth: Evil is present with me even when I want to do what God’s standards say is good.
• Galatians 3:22But Scripture states that the whole world is controlled by the power of sin. Therefore, a promise based on faith in Jesus Christ could be given to those who believe.
• Galatians 5:17What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do.
• 1 John 1:8If we say, “We aren’t sinful” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
• James 3:5In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things. A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame.
• James 1:26If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless.
• Psalms 34:13Keep your tongue from saying evil things and your lips from speaking deceitful things.
• Proverbs 13:3Whoever controls his mouth protects his own life. Whoever has a big mouth comes to ruin.
• 1 Peter 3:10“People who want to live a full life and enjoy good days must keep their tongues from saying evil things, and their lips from speaking deceitful things.
• James 1:4Endure until your testing is over. Then you will be mature and complete, and you won’t need anything.

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