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James 3

James 3:5 KJV (With Strong’s)

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5
Even
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
so
houto (Greek #3779)
in this way (referring to what precedes or follows)
KJV usage: after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more, on this fashion(-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.
Pronounce: hoo'-to
Origin: οὕτως (hoo'-toce) adverb from 3778
the tongue
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
glossa (Greek #1100)
the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)
KJV usage: tongue.
Pronounce: gloce-sah'
Origin: of uncertain affinity
i is
esti (Greek #2076)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
KJV usage: are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Pronounce: es-tee'
Origin: third person singular present indicative of 1510
a little
mikros (Greek #3398)
small (in size, quantity, number or (figuratively) dignity)
KJV usage: least, less, little, small.
Pronounce: mik-ros'
Origin: μικρότερος (mik-rot'-er-os) apparently a primary word
member
melos (Greek #3196)
a limb or part of the body
KJV usage: member.
Pronounce: mel'-os
Origin: of uncertain affinity
, and
kai (Greek #2532)
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
KJV usage: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Pronounce: kahee
Origin: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force
boastethk great things
megalaucheo (Greek #3166)
to talk big, i.e. be grandiloquent (arrogant, egotistic)
KJV usage: boast great things.
Pronounce: meg-al-ow-kheh'-o
Origin: from a compound of 3173 and αὐχέω (to boast; akin to 837 and 2744)
. Behold
idou (Greek #2400)
second person singular imperative middle voice of 1492; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.
Pronounce: id-oo'
, how great
helikos (Greek #2245)
as big as, i.e. (interjectively) how much
KJV usage: how (what) great.
Pronounce: hay-lee'-kos
Origin: from ἧλιξ (a comrade, i.e. one of the same age)
τa matter
hule (Greek #5208)
a forest, i.e. (by implication) fuel
KJV usage: matter.
Pronounce: hoo-lay'
Origin: perhaps akin to 3586
a little
oligos (Greek #3641)
puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat
KJV usage: + almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
Pronounce: ol-ee'-gos
Origin: of uncertain affinity
fire
pur (Greek #4442)
"fire" (literally or figuratively, specially, lightning)
KJV usage: fiery, fire.
Pronounce: poor
Origin: a primary word
kindleth
anapto (Greek #381)
to enkindle
KJV usage: kindle, light.
Pronounce: an-ap'-to
Origin: from 303 and 681
!
i
Prov. 12:13• 13In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare;{HR}But a righteous [man] shall come out of trouble. (Prov. 12:13)
k
Psa. 12:3• 3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips,{HR}[The] tongue speaking great things. (Psa. 12:3)
τ
or, wood.

More on:

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Fire

Cross References

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Ministry on This Verse

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so.
Ex. 5:2• 2And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, neither will I let Israel go. (Ex. 5:2)
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Ex. 15:9• 9The enemy said, I will pursue,{HR}I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;{HR}My soul shall be sated upon them;{HR}I will unsheath my sword, my hand shall dispossess them.{HR} (Ex. 15:9)
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2 Kings 19:22‑24• 22Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed?{HR}And against whom hast thou exalted thy voice,{HR}And lifted up thine eyes on high?{HR}Even again the Holy One of Israel. {HR}
 23By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said,{HR}With the multitude of my chariots have I come up{HR}To the height of the mountain, to the recesses of Lebanon,{HR}And I will cut down its tall cedars, the choice of its cypresses;{HR}And I will enter into its furthest lodging-place,{HR}Into the forest of its fruitful field.{HR}
 24I have digged, and have drunk strange waters,{HR}And with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the streams of Matsor. (2 Kings 19:22‑24)
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Job 21:14‑15• 14Yet they say to God, Depart from us,{HR}For we desired not the knowledge of thy ways:
 15What [is] the Almighty that we should serve him?{HR}And what profit have we if we meet him? (Job 21:14‑15)
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Job 22:17• 17Who were saying to God, Depart from us,{HR}And what could the Almighty do for them? (Job 22:17)
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Psa. 10:3• 3For the wicked [man] boasteth of his soul's desire;{HR}He blesseth the plunderer, he despiseth Jehovah. (Psa. 10:3)
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Psa. 12:2‑4• 2They speak falsehood, every one with his neighbour;{HR}[With] a flattering lip, with a double heart do they speak.
 3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips,{HR}[The] tongue speaking great things.
 4Which have said, With our tongue will we be mighty;{HR}Our lips are our own: who is lord to us? (Psa. 12:2‑4)
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Psa. 17:10• 10Their fat they have closed;{HR}[With] their mouth they have spoken in pride. (Psa. 17:10)
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Psa. 52:1‑2• 1To the chief musician; an instruction of David, when Doeg the Edomite went in, and told Saul and said to him, David went to the house of Ahimelech.{HR}Why boastest thou thyself in evil, mighty man?{HR}The mercy of God [is] all the day.
 2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs,{HR}As a sharp razor, working deceit. (Psa. 52:1‑2)
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Psa. 73:8‑9• 8They mock and speak wickedly of oppression;{HR}From on high they speak.
 9They set their mouth in the heavens,{HR}And their tongue walketh in the earth. (Psa. 73:8‑9)
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Prov. 12:18• 18There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword;{HR}But the tongue of the wise [is] health. (Prov. 12:18)
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Prov. 15:2• 2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright;{HR}But the mouth of fools sputtereth out folly. (Prov. 15:2)
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Prov. 18:21• 21Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue;{HR}And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Prov. 18:21)
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Jer. 9:3‑8• 3And they bend their tongue, their bow of falsehood, and not for fidelity are they valiant in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.
 4Take ye heed every one of his friend, and confide not in any brother; for every brother only supplanteth, and every friend goeth about with slander.
 5And they act deceitfully every one with his neighbour, and speak not the truth: they teach their tongue to speak falsehood, they weary themselves with perverse dealing.
 6Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.
 7Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how else could I do for the daughter of my people?
 8Their tongue is a murderous arrow; it speaketh deceit. A man speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth his ambush. (Jer. 9:3‑8)
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Jer. 18:18• 18Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. (Jer. 18:18)
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Ezek. 28:2• 2Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God. (Ezek. 28:2)
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Ezek. 29:3• 3Speak and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself. (Ezek. 29:3)
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Dan. 3:15• 15Now, if ye be ready, that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image that I have made, well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? (Dan. 3:15)
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Dan. 4:30• 30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? (Dan. 4:30)
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2 Peter 2:18• 18For uttering overswellings of vanity, they allure in lusts of the flesh, by dissolutenesses, those that are just escaping from them that walk in error, (2 Peter 2:18)
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Jude 16• 16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts, and their mouth speaketh swelling things, admiring persons for the sake of profit. (Jude 16)
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Rev. 13:5‑6• 5And there was given him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemy; and there was given him authority to work forty-two months.
 6And he opened his mouth unto blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle [and] those that tabernacle in the heaven. (Rev. 13:5‑6)
matter.
or, wood.
• If not bridled, the tongue can become the means of expressing the vanity of our hearts by condemning others and exalting ourselves, for it can boast "great things". (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• Though "a little member", it resembles a little fire that is capable of destroying an entire forest. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• No member of the body so readily and easily expresses our will, exposes our weakness, and reveals the true state of our heart, as the tongue. It is easily inflamed by malice in the heart, and inflames others. (“The Evil of the Flesh: James 3-4” by H. Smith)
• The tongue is ordinarily used among men it is rightly declared by James to be “a fire, a world of iniquity” (ch. 3:6). Small as it is, it boasts great things. It may be like a little spark of fire, but how many a ruinous conflagration has been started by a little spark! (“James 3” by F.B. Hole)

J. N. Darby Translation

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5
Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wooda it kindles!

JND Translation Notes

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a
i.e. a forest. But some regard the expression as meaning "materials."

W. Kelly Translation

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5
So also the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. See how large a wooda how little a fire kindleth!

WK Translation Notes

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a
It may be observed that the word hylēn generally translated "wood" or "forest" is often in philosophical writings used to express "matter," and by historians or others, like "materia" in Latin authors, the stuff or material of anything, timber etc. The KJV had ground for its rendering, even if the preponderance lean to that view which is presented here.