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James 3:6

James 3:6
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.

My Notes

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Baptist theologian, 1697–1771

Gill's Exposition

And the tongue is a fire,.... It is like to fire, very useful in its place, to warm and comfort; so is the tongue in Christian conversation, and in the ministry of the word; the hearts of God's…

Presbyterian pastor, 1798–1870

Barnes' Notes

And the tongue is a fire - In this sense, that it produces a “blaze,” or a great conflagration. It produces a disturbance and an agitation that may be compared with the conflagration often produced by…

Methodist theologian, 1762–1832

Adam Clarke

The tongue is a fire - It is often the instrument of producing the most desperate contentions and insurrections.

A world of iniquity - This is an unusual form of speech, but the meaning is plain…

Nonconformist minister, 1662–1714

Matthew Henry

James 3:1-12

The foregoing chapter shows how unprofitable and dead faith is without works. It is plainly intimated by what this chapter first goes upon that such a faith is, however, apt to make men conceited and…

Academic commentary, 1882–1921

Cambridge Bible

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity The last words are in apposition with the subject, not the predicate, of the sentence. The tongue is described as emphatically that world we should…