James 3:5
fEven so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a 2*matter a little fire kindleth!
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
οὕτω καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστί, καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖ. ἰδού, ὀλίγον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει.
Textual key: no entry
f:
Psalms 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Psalms 12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Psalms 12:3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
Psalms 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
Psalms 73:8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
Job 21:14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Proverbs 12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Proverbs 15:1 A SOFT answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Revelation 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
2:
Or, wood.
*:
matter-timber, forest, fuel.
The accommodation of the former similitudes.
i.e. one of the lesser, in comparison of the body.
the Greek word signifies, according to its derivation, the lifting up of the neck (as horses, mentioned Jas 3:3, are wont to do in their pride) in a way of bravery and triumph; and hence it is used to express boasting and glorying, but here seems to imply something more, viz. not only the uttering big words, but doing great things, whether good and useful, as in the former similitudes, or evil, as in what follows; or its boasting how great things it can do: q.d. The tongue, though little, is of great force and efficacy, and it will tell you so itself; it not only boasts what its fellow members can do, but especially what itself can.
Another similitude, in which he sets forth the evil the tongue, as little as it is, doth, where it is not well governed, as in the former he had shown the good it may do, when kept under rule.
the word signifies either any combustible stuff, or, as in the margin, wood, that being the ordinary fuel then in use.
even a spark, the smallest quantity or particle, which may do great mischief, when lighting in suitable matter.