Bible Commentaries
James 3

Verse 1

masters = teachers. App-98 . James 3:4 .

knowing . App-132 .

condemnation . App-177 .

Verse 2

offend all = all stumble. See James 2:10 .

If . App-118 .

any man = any one. App-123 .

in . App-104 .

word . App-121 .

perfect . App-125 .

man . App-123 .

also . Should come after "body".

bridle . See James 1:26 .

Verse 3

Behold . App-133 .; but the texts read ei ( App-118 . a) de, "But if".

bits . Greek. chalinos. Here and Revelation 14:20 .

that = to the end that ( App-104 .), but the texts read eis (vi).

obey . App-150 .

turn about . Greek. metago. Only here and James 3:4 .

Verse 4

Behold . App-133 .

also the ships = the ships also.

of . App-104 .

fierce . Greek. skleros. Elsewhere translated "hard".

with . Same as "of".

helm . Greek. pedalion. Only here and Acts 27:40 .

the governor lusteth = the impulse (Greek. horme) Only here and Acts 14:5 ) of the governor wishes ( App-102 .)

governor = helmsman, the one who directs, or makes straight (Greek. euthuno) . Only here and John 1:23 .

Verse 5

boasteth . Greek. aucheo. Only here.

great, &c. = much wood. Greek. hule . Only here.

a little = how little a.

kindleth . See Acts 28:2 .

Verse 6

a = the.

world . App-129 . Used here in the sense of aggregate.

iniquity . App-128 .

is = is constituted or takes its place. Greek. kathistemi, as in James 4:4 .

among . App-104 .

that it defileth = the one defiling. Greek. spiloo. Only here and Jude 1:23 .

and setteth, &c . = setting on fire. Greek. phlogizo. Only in this verse. Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:8 .

course . Greek. troches. Only here.

nature . Greek. genesis. See James 1:23 .

it is = being.

hell . App-131 .

Verse 7

kind = nature. Greek. phusis. See Romans 1:26 .

beasts = wild beasts.

things in the sea . Greek. enalios. Only here.

tamed . Greek. damazo. Only here, James 3:8 , and Mark 5:4 .

of = by. No preposition. Dative case.

mankind = human (Greek. anthropinos. See Romans 6:19 ) nature (Greek. phusis, above).

Verse 8

no man = no one (Greek. oudeis) of men ( App-123 .)

unruly . Greek. akataschetos. Only here, but the texts read akatastatos, unstable, restless, as in James 1:8 .

evil . App-128 .

deadly . Greek. thanatephoros. Only here.

poison . Greek. ios. See Romans 3:13 .

Verse 9

There with = With ( App-104 .) it.

God . App-98 ., but the texts read "the Lord" ( App-98 . b).

Father . App-98 .

after . App-104 .

similitude . Greek. homoiosis. Only here. In the Septuagint in Genesis 1:26 . Ezekiel 1:10 . Daniel 10:16 ; &c.

Verse 10

Out of . App-104 .

these things, &c . = it is not fitting (Greek. chre. Only here) that these things should so be.

Verse 11

send forth . Greek. bruo . Only here.

at = out of. App-104 .

place = hole. Greek. ope . See Hebrews 11:38 (caves).

bitter . Greek. pikros. Only here and James 3:14 .

Verse 12

Can, &c . Question preceded by me .

olive berries = olives.

so, &c . The texts read "neither (Greek. oute) can salt water bring forth, or produce, sweet".

Verse 13

endued with knowledge . Greek. epistemon. Only here. Compare App-132 . See Deuteronomy 1:13 , Deuteronomy 1:15 ; Deuteronomy 4:6 . Isaiah 5:21 ; where the same word is used in the Septuagint

a = his.

conversation = behaviour. See Galatians 1:1 , Galatians 1:13 .

with . App-104 . as in James 3:9 .

meekness . See James 1:21 .

Verse 14

if . App-118 .

envying . Greek. zelos. See Acts 5:17 .

strife . Greek. eritheia. See Romans 2:8 .

glory = boast. Greek. katakauchaomai. See Romans 11:18 .

not . Does not appear in Greek text.

against . App-104 .

Verse 15

descendeth = is coming down.

from above . Greek. anothen. See James 1:17 . Compare James 1:5 .

earthly . Greek. epigeios. See 1 Corinthians 15:40 .

sensual . Greek. psuchikos. See 1 Corinthians 2:14 .

devilish = demoniacal. Greek. daimoniodes. Only here.

Verse 16

confusion = commotion, or unrest. Greek. akatastasia. See Luke 21:9 . Compare James 3:8 .

evil . Greek. phaulos . See John 3:20 .

Verse 17

pure . Greek. hagnos. See 2 Corinthians 7:11 .

peaceable . Greek. eirenikos. Only here and Hebrews 12:11 . Peace must not be sought at the expense of truth.

gentle . Greek. epieikes . See Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:5 .

easy, &c . Greek. eupeithes. Only here.

without partiality . Greek. adiakritos. Only here. Compare App-122 .

without hypocrisy . Greek. anupokritos. See Romans 12:9 ). Compare App-122 .

Verse 18

righteousness . App-191 .

of = by, or for. No preposition. Dative case.