James 3:9

King James Version

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people who were created in God's likeness.

Revised Standard Version
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therwith blesse we God the father and therwith cursse we me which are made after the similitude of God.

Hebrew Names Version
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

New American Standard Bible
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God;

New Century Version
We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself.

Update Bible Version
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God:

Webster's Bible Translation
With this we bless God, even the Father; and with this we curse men, who are made after the similitude of God.

English Standard Version
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

World English Bible
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therewith bless we God the Father, and therewith curse we man, made after the likeness of God.

Weymouth's New Testament
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
In it we blessen God, the fadir, and in it we cursen men, that ben maad to the licnesse of God.

English Revised Version
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God:

Berean Standard Bible
With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

Contemporary English Version
My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right.

Amplified Bible
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.

American Standard Version
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

Bible in Basic English
With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.

Complete Jewish Bible
With it we bless Adonai , the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God .

Darby Translation
Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after [the] likeness of God.

International Standard Version
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God's likeness.Genesis 1:26; 5:1; 9:6;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For by it we bless the Lord and the Father, and by it we curse men who in the likeness of Aloha were made;

Murdock Translation
For with it, we bless the Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who were made in the image of God:

King James Version (1611)
Therewith blesse wee God, euen the Father: and therewith curse wee men, which are made after the similitude of God.

New Living Translation
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

New Life Bible
With our tongue we give thanks to our Father in heaven. And with our tongue we speak bad words against men who are made like God.

New Revised Standard
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Therewith blesse we God euen the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

George Lamsa Translation
By it we bless the LORD and the Father; and by it we curse men, who are made in the image of God:

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therewith, are we blessing our Lord and Father, and, therewith, we are cursing the men who, after the likeness of God, have been brought into being!

Douay-Rheims Bible
By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men who are made after the likeness of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therwith blesse we God the father: and therwith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Good News Translation
We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God.

Christian Standard Bible®
With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.

Lexham English Bible
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Literal Translation
By this we bless God and the Father; and by this we curse men having come into being according to the image of God. Gen. 1:26

Young's Literal Translation
with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therwith blesse we God the father, and therwith cursse we men which are made after the similitude of God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
By that we give praises to God the father: and that pronounces curses even against men, who are form'd after the divine resemblance.

New English Translation
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image.

New King James Version
With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
We pray to God with one side and then turn right around and talk crap about those who were made in his very image.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

Contextual Overview

¹ My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. ² 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. ³ Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Therewith: Psalms 16:9, Psalms 30:12, Psalms 35:28, Psalms 51:14, Psalms 57:8, Psalms 62:4, Psalms 71:24, Psalms 108:1, Acts 2:26

bless: 1 Chronicles 29:10, 1 Chronicles 29:20, Psalms 34:1, Psalms 63:4, Psalms 145:1, Psalms 145:21, Isaiah 29:13, Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:3

therewith curse: Judges 9:27, 2 Samuel 16:5, 2 Samuel 19:21, Psalms 10:7, Psalms 59:12, Psalms 109:17, Psalms 109:18, Ecclesiastes 7:22, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 26:74, Romans 3:14

made: Genesis 1:26, Genesis 1:27, Genesis 5:1, Genesis 9:6, 1 Corinthians 11:7

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:13 - and curse me Job 31:30 - mouth Ephesians 2:18 - the Colossians 1:12 - the Father 1 John 2:1 - Father

Cross-References

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:13
And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Genesis 3:17
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 3:20
And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Genesis 4:9
And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Genesis 11:5
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Genesis 16:8
And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Therewith bless we God, even, the Father,.... Of Jesus Christ, and of spirits, and of mercies: this is the instrument that is used in blessing God daily every meal that is eaten; and in joining with the saints, though only verbally and outwardly, in blessing God for all spiritual blessings in Christ, both in prayer, and in singing psalms:

and therewith curse we men: make imprecations, and wish evils upon them:

which are made after the similitude of God as man was originally, Genesis 1:26 and though sin has greatly defaced it, yet there are still some remains of it: and now, what an absurd and monstrous thing is this, that one and the same instrument should be used in blessing God, the Father of all creatures, and in cursing his children, his offering, as all men are by creation, and bear some resemblance to him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therewith 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 those who are made in his image. The word bless here is used in the sense of praise, thank, worship.

And therewith curse we men - That is, it is done by the same organ by which God is praised and honored.

Which are made after the similitude of God - After his image, Genesis 1:26-27. As we bless God, we ought with the same organ to bless those who are like him. There is an absurdity in cursing men who are thus made, like what there would be in both blessing and cursing the Creator himself.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. Therewith 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 pray to God, the Father, to destroy those who are objects of their displeasure! These are the common swearers, whose mouths are generally full of direful imprecations against those with whom they are offended.

The consideration that man is made after the image of God should restrain the tongue of the swearer; but there are many who, while they pretend to sing the high praises of God, are ready to wish the direst imprecations either on those who offend them, or with whom they choose to be offended.