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 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 things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 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. 5Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is 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 commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
• Jonah 1:4But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.
• Matthew 8:24And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
• Acts 27:14But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.

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