"But the tongue can no man tame; {it is} an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." — James 3:8

James 3:8 · KJV

“But the tongue can no man tame; {it is} an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

— James 3:8

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: {kind: Gr. nature} {mankind: Gr. nature of man}

Verse 9

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

James 3 — Context

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. {course: Gr. wheel}

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: {kind: Gr. nature} {mankind: Gr. nature of man}

But the tongue can no man tame; {it is} an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

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

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Cross References

Romans 3:13

Their throat {is} an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps {is} under their lips:

Psalms 140:3

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison {is} under their lips. Selah.

Psalms 55:21

{The words} of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war {was} in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet {were} they drawn swords.

James 3:6

Psalms 57:4

My soul {is} among lions: {and} I lie {even among} them that are set on fire, {even} the sons of men, whose teeth {are} spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Psalms 64:3-4

Who whet their tongue like a sword, {and} bend {their bows to shoot} their arrows, {even} bitter words:

Psalms 58:4

Their poison {is} like the poison of a serpent: {they are} like the deaf adder {that} stoppeth her ear; {like the poison: Heb. according to the likeness, etc} {adder: or, asp}

Psalms 59:7

Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords {are} in their lips: for who, {say they}, doth hear?