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James 3

James 3:1 KJV (With Strong’s)

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1
My
mou (Greek #3450)
of me
KJV usage: I, me, mine (own), my.
Pronounce: moo
Origin: the simpler form of 1700
brethren
adephos (Greek #80)
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1)
KJV usage: brother.
Pronounce: ad-el-fos'
Origin: from 1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς (the womb)
, be
ginomai (Greek #1096)
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
KJV usage: arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
Pronounce: ghin'-om-ahee
Origin: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb
not
me (Greek #3361)
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
KJV usage: any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.
Pronounce: may
Origin: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial)
many
polus (Greek #4183)
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
KJV usage: abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare 4118, 4119.
Pronounce: pol-oos'
Origin: including the forms from the alternate πολλός
y masters
didaskalos (Greek #1320)
an instructor (genitive case or specially)
KJV usage: doctor, master, teacher.
Pronounce: did-as'-kal-os
Origin: from 1321
, knowing
eido (Greek #1492)
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
KJV usage: be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
Pronounce: i'-do
Origin: a primary verb
that
hoti (Greek #3754)
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
KJV usage: as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Pronounce: hot'-ee
Origin: neuter of 3748 as conjunction
we shall receive
lambano (Greek #2983)
to take (in very many applications, literally and figuratively (properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas 1209 is rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while 138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
KJV usage: accept, + be amazed, assay, attain, bring, X when I call, catch, come on (X unto), + forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away, up).
Pronounce: lam-ban'-o
Origin: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an alternate in certain tenses
the greater
megas (Greek #3173)
big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
KJV usage: (+ fear) exceedingly, great(-est), high, large, loud, mighty, + (be) sore (afraid), strong, X to years.
Pronounce: meg'-as
Origin: (including the prolonged forms, feminine μεγάλη, plural μεγάλοι, etc.; compare also 3176, 3187)
σcondemnation
krima (Greek #2917)
a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime"))
KJV usage: avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment.
Pronounce: kree'-mah
Origin: from 2919
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y
Matt. 23:8,14• 8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matt. 23:8,14)
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1 Peter 5:3• 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)
σ
or, judgment.

More on:

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Brethren,
Master

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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1-4:  We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5-12:  but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member, but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm.
13-18:  They who are truly wise are mild and peaceable without envying and strife.
be.
Mal. 2:12• 12The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts. (Mal. 2:12)
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Matt. 9:11• 11And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? (Matt. 9:11)
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Matt. 10:24• 24The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. (Matt. 10:24)
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Matt. 23:8‑10,14• 8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matt. 23:8‑10,14)
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John 3:10• 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:10)
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Acts 13:1• 1Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1)
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Rom. 2:20‑21• 20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
 21Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (Rom. 2:20‑21)
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1 Cor. 12:28• 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Cor. 12:28)
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Eph. 4:11• 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Eph. 4:11)
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1 Tim. 2:7• 7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. (1 Tim. 2:7)
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2 Tim. 1:11• 11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (2 Tim. 1:11)
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2 Tim. 1•  (2 Tim. 1)
:*Gr:;
1 Peter 5:3• 3Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)
knowing.
Lev. 10:3• 3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Lev. 10:3)
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Ezek. 3:17‑18• 17Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
 18When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. (Ezek. 3:17‑18)
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Ezek. 33:7‑9• 7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
 8When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
 9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. (Ezek. 33:7‑9)
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Luke 6:37• 37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (Luke 6:37)
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Luke 12:47‑48• 47And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
 48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:47‑48)
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Luke 16:2• 2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. (Luke 16:2)
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Acts 20:26‑27• 26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
 27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:26‑27)
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1 Cor. 4:2‑5• 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Cor. 4:2‑5)
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2 Cor. 5:10• 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)
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Heb. 13:17• 17Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Heb. 13:17)
condemnation.
or, judgement.
Matt. 7:1‑2• 1Judge not, that ye be not judged.
 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Matt. 7:1‑2)
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Matt. 23:14• 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matt. 23:14)
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1 Cor. 11:29‑32• 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Cor. 11:29‑32)
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1 Cor. 11•  (1 Cor. 11)
:*Gr:
• There is hardly anything here {James 3} which needs remark, although much that demands the hearing ear. (“James 3” by J.N. Darby)
• There are not to be (as to the inward disposition of the man) many teachers.… vanity can easily be fed in teaching others; and that is a very different thing from having the life quickened by the power of truth. (“James 3” by J.N. Darby)
• The Apostle is not speaking of the right use of the gift of teaching (Rom. 12:7), but of the propensity of the flesh to delight in teaching others, and of its eagerness to take part in ministry. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• "It is far easier to teach others than to govern ourselves," and again, "Humility in the heart makes a man slow to speak." To teach others and fail ourselves only increases our condemnation. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• The word translated “masters” really signifies “teachers,” and if we glance at Rom. 2:17-21 we shall see that the Jew especially fancied himself in this direction. (“James 3” by F.B. Hole)
• The verses before us ... warn us against the desire so natural to the flesh to be continually instructing and legislating for other people. (“James 3” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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1
Be not many teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment.

W. Kelly Translation

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1
Be not manya teachersb, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive greater judgmentc.

WK Translation Notes

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a
The proposed supply "of you," after "many" appears to encumber rather than help; it is sufficiently implied in the phrase itself.
b
It unequivocally ought to be "teachers." The connection with speaking confirms the required meaning, independent of philology, though this of course admits of nothing else. It would seem however that, in stages of our tongue the now obsolete word, "master" had not only the general sense of "superior" which is here quite out of place, but the special force of "teacher." So it was used in the English versions of the Gospels as the counterpart of the Hebrew "Rabbi."
c
In the RV "judgment" is correct.