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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• 8{i}But ye , be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your instructor, and all ye are brethren.{/i}
 14(Verse not included in this translation). (Matt. 23:8,14)
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1 Peter 5:3• 3nor as lording it over your allotments, but becoming models of 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•  (Mal. 2:12)
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Matt. 9:11• 11{i}And the Pharisees seeing [it], said to his disciples, Why does your teacher eat with tax-gatherers and sinners?{/i} (Matt. 9:11)
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Matt. 10:24• 24{i}The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the bondman above his lord.{/i} (Matt. 10:24)
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Matt. 23:8‑10,14• 8{i}But ye , be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your instructor, and all ye are brethren.{/i}
 9{i}And call not [anyone] your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, he who is in the heavens.{/i}
 10{i}Neither be called instructors, for one is your instructor, the Christ.{/i}
 14(Verse not included in this translation). (Matt. 23:8‑10,14)
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John 3:10• 10Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou the teacher of Israel and knowest not these things? (John 3:10)
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Acts 13:1• 1Now there were at Antioch in the assembly that was [there] prophets and teachers; Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenean, and Manaen foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1)
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Rom. 2:20‑21• 20an instructor of foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law:
 21thou then that teachest another, dost thou not teach thyself? thou that preachest not to steal, dost thou steal? (Rom. 2:20‑21)
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1 Cor. 12:28• 28And God set some in the assembly, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then powers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, kinds 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• 7to which I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I speak truth, I lie not), a teacher of Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Tim. 2:7)
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2 Tim. 1:11• 11whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher [of Gentiles]. (2 Tim. 1:11)
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2 Tim. 1•  (2 Tim. 1)
:*Gr:;
1 Peter 5:3• 3nor as lording it over your allotments, but becoming models of the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)
knowing.
Lev. 10:3•  (Lev. 10:3)
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Ezek. 3:17‑18•  (Ezek. 3:17‑18)
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Ezek. 33:7‑9•  (Ezek. 33:7‑9)
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Luke 6:37• 37{i}And{/i} judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall in nowise be condemned. Remit, and it shall be remitted unto you. (Luke 6:37)
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Luke 12:47‑48• 47But that bondman who knew his own lord's will, and had not prepared [himself], nor done his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes].
 48But he who knew [it] not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. And to everyone to whom much is given, much shall be required from him: and to whom [men] have committed much, they will ask from him the more. (Luke 12:47‑48)
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Luke 16:2• 2And having called him, he said to him, What [is] this that I hear of thee? Give the reckoning of thy stewardship, for thou canst be no longer steward. (Luke 16:2)
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Acts 20:26‑27• 26Wherefore I testify to you this day that I am pure from the blood of all.
 27For I shrank not from announcing to you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:26‑27)
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1 Cor. 4:2‑5• 2Here a moreover it is sought in stewards that one be found faithful,
 3but to me it amounteth to very little that I be examined by you, or by man's day.
 4Nay, I do not examine even myself, for I am conscious to myself of nothing, yet I am not justified by this, but he that examineth me is the Lord.
 5So then judge nothing prematurely until the Lord shall have come, who shall both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall each have his praise from God. (1 Cor. 4:2‑5)
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2 Cor. 5:10• 10For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, that each may receive the things [done] in the body according to what he did, whether good or evil. (2 Cor. 5:10)
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Heb. 13:17• 17Obey your leaders, and be submissive, for they watch over your souls, as those that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not groaning, for this [were] 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 measure, it shall be measured to you. (Matt. 7:1‑2)
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Matt. 23:14• 14(Verse not included in this translation). (Matt. 23:14)
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1 Cor. 11:29‑32• 29For he that eateth and drinketh eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body.
 30For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and rather many are falling asleep.
 31But if we were discerning ourselves, we should not be judged;
 32but when judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may 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.