James 3:9

James 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
• New International Version (NIV)With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

Context of James 3:9

7For every species of beasts and birds, reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Adonai and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in the image of God. 10From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be. 11A spring doesn’t pour out fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it?

James 3:9 word by word

ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν κύριον καὶ πατέρα καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθ᾽ ὁμοίωσιν θεοῦ γεγονότας·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• Therewithαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• bless weεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• curse weκαταράομαιkataraomai · to curseG2672
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• are madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• afterκατάkata · according toG2596
• the similitudeὁμοίωσιςhomoiōsis · likenessG3669

Cross-references for James 3:9

• Psalms 16:9So my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. My body also rests secure.
• Psalms 30:12You turned my mourning into dancing. You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
• Psalms 35:28Then my tongue will declare aloud Your justice and Your praises all day.
• Psalms 51:14Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.
• Psalms 57:8My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will make music.
• Psalms 62:4How long will all of you assault a man, to crush him, like a leaning wall, a fence to be torn down?
• Psalms 71:24Also my tongue will tell of Your righteousness all day. For those who seek my hurt have been put to shame and confusion.
• Psalms 108:1A song, a psalm of David.
• Acts 2:26Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my body also will live in hope,
• 1 Chronicles 29:10David blessed Adonai before the whole congregation saying, “Blessed are You, Adonai, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity!
• Psalms 34:1Of David, when he feigned insanity before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.
• Psalms 63:4Since Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.
• Psalms 145:1A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God, the King, and I will bless Your Name forever and ever.
• Isaiah 29:13So Adonai says, “Since these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, yet their hearts are far from Me, and their fear of Me is a mitzvah taught by men.
• Ephesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah.
• 1 Peter 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah! In His great mercy He caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Messiah Yeshua from the dead.

Commentaries on James 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Therewith bless we God - The tongue is capable of rehearsing the praises, and setting forth the glories, of the eternal King: what a pity that it should ever be employed in a contrary work! It can proclaim and vindicate the truth of God, and publish the Gospel of peace and good will among men: what a pity that it should ever be employed in falsehoods, calumny, or in the cause of infidelity! And therewith curse we men - In the true Satanic spirit, many…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Therewith bless we God - We men do this; that is, all this is done by the tongue. The apostle does not mean that the same man does this, but that all this is done by the same organ - the tongue. Even the Father - Who sustains to us the relation of a father. The point in the remark of the apostle is, the absurdity of employing the tongue in such contradictory uses as to bless one who has to us the relation of a father, and to curse any being, especially…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9Bless … curse: Blessing our Lord and Father is the best use of our tongues. Cursing people, who are made in God's image, is one of the worst. It indirectly curses God himself (Genesis 1:26–27; 9:6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. God--The oldest authorities read, "Lord." "Him who is Lord and Father." The uncommonness of the application of "Lord" to the Father, doubtless caused the change in modern texts to "God" (Jas 1:27). But as Messiah is called "Father," Is 9:6, so God the Father is called by the Son's title, "Lord": showing the unity of the Godhead. "Father" implies His paternal love; "Lord," His dominion. men, which--not "men who"; for what is meant is not particular men…Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:9

• God
• Image
• Man
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Anthropology
• 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