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

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, since you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. 4See also the ships—though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered 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 8:46If they sin against You—for there is no man that does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and their captors carry them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,
• 2 Chronicles 6:36When they sin against You—for there is no man that does not sin —and You become angry with them and hand them over to the enemy who takes them captive to a land far off or near,
• Proverbs 20:9Who can say: “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
• Ecclesiastes 7:20Surely there is not a righteous person on earth who does what is good and doesn’t sin.
• Isaiah 64:6No one calls on Your Name, or stirs himself up to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us, and have consumed us, because of our iniquities.
• Romans 3:10As it is written, “There is no one righteous—no, not one.
• Romans 7:21So I find the principle—that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
• Galatians 3:22But the Scripture has locked up the whole world under sin, so that the promise based on trust in Messiah Yeshua might be given to those who trust.
• Galatians 5:17For the flesh sets its desire against the Ruach, but the Ruach sets its desire against the flesh—for these are in opposition to one another, so that you cannot do what you want.
• 1 John 1:8If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
• James 3:5So also the tongue is a small member—yet it boasts of great things. See how so small a fire sets a blaze so great a forest!
• James 1:26If anyone thinks he is religious and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is futile.
• Psalms 34:13Who is the one who delights in life, and loves to see good days?
• Proverbs 13:3He who watches his mouth protects his life, but whoever opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
• 1 Peter 3:10For, “The one who loves life, wanting to see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
• James 1:4And let endurance have its perfect work, so 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