James 3:8
Verse
Context
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
But the tongue wan no man tame - No cunning, persuasion, or influence has ever been able to silence it. Nothing but the grace of God, excision, or death, can bring it under subjection. It is an unruly evil - Ακατασχετον κακον· An evil that cannot be restrained; it cannot be brought under any kind of government; it breaks all bounds. Full of deadly poison - He refers here to the tongues of serpents, supposed to be the means of conveying their poison into wounds made by their teeth. Throughout the whole of this poetic and highly declamatory description, St. James must have the tongue of the slanderer, calumniator, backbiter, whisperer, and tale-bearer, particularly in view. Vipers, basilisks; and rattlesnakes are not more dangerous to life, than these are to the peace and reputation of men.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
no man--literally, "no one of men": neither can a man control his neighbor's, nor even his own tongue. Hence the truth of Jam 3:2 appears. unruly evil--The Greek, implies that it is at once restless and incapable of restraint. Nay, though nature has hedged it in with a double barrier of the lips and teeth, it bursts from its barriers to assail and ruin men [ESTIUS]. deadly--literally, "death-bearing."
John Gill Bible Commentary
But the tongue can no man tame,.... Either his own, or others; not his own, for the man that has the greatest guard upon himself, his words and actions; yet, what through pride or passion, or one lust or another in his heart, at one time or another, bolts out vain, idle, angry, and sinful words: and he that does not may be set down for a perfect man indeed: nor can he tame or restrain the tongues of others from detraction, calumnies, backbitings, and whisperings; who say, their lips are their own, and who is Lord over us? no man can, by his own power and strength, tame or subdue his tongue, or restrain it from evils it is habituated to, be it lying, cursing, swearing, or what else: God, by his Spirit, power, and grace, can, and often does, change the note of the curser, swearer, liar, and blasphemer; but no man can do this, though he can tame beasts, birds, serpents, and fishes; which shows the tongue to be worse than anything to be found in the whole compass of nature: it is an unruly evil: an evil it is, for it is a world of iniquity; and an unruly one, being more so than the horse and mule, which are without understanding, who are kept in and governed, and turned any way by the bit and bridle: but though in nature the tongue is fenced by a double fence of the lips and teeth, this is not sufficient to restrain it; it breaks all bounds, and is not to be kept in by nature, art, or argument: nothing but the grace of God can in any measure govern it, or lay an embargo on it: full of deadly poison, which, privately, secretly, and gradually, destroys the characters, credit, and reputation of men; and is of fatal consequence in families, neighbourhoods, churches, and states.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:8 no one can tame the tongue: The tongue has an astonishing capacity for committing evil. If its evil is motivated by hell (3:6), it certainly cannot be tamed by mere human effort. • full of deadly poison: This might allude to the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1), who is identified with the devil (Rev 20:2).
James 3:8
Taming the Tongue
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Learning the Fear of God (Telugu)
By Zac Poonen2.7K48:501SA 21:13JOB 1:1JOB 31:1PSA 16:8PSA 23:5PSA 34:11ACT 10:382TI 2:19JAS 3:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of fearing God and turning away from sin, drawing insights from the book of Job as the first book written by God in the Bible. It highlights the significance of immediately confessing sin, being sensitive to evil, and seeking the anointing of the Holy Spirit to do good, deliver the oppressed, and have God with us always.
John the Baptist
By Leonard Ravenhill2.3K1:55:04MAL 3:1LUK 1:10JHN 1:32JHN 17:6ACT 2:2EPH 5:18PHP 3:8HEB 1:3JAS 1:22JAS 3:8This sermon emphasizes the need for a sudden, unexpected visitation of the Holy Spirit to bring revival and transformation. It highlights the importance of seeking Christ above seeking miracles or manifestations, and the necessity of being stripped of self before being filled with the Holy Spirit. The speaker shares powerful testimonies of individuals encountering God's presence and experiencing radical life changes through surrender and seeking God wholeheartedly.
Doing the Work That Jesus Did (Hindi)
By Zac Poonen1.3K58:34JER 29:13MAT 8:9JHN 14:12ACT 2:17ROM 1:16JAS 3:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of believers understanding and applying the principle of being under authority, particularly the authority of the Holy Spirit. It highlights the need for believers to seek God with all their hearts to experience the fullness of His promises, including having a tongue controlled by the Holy Spirit. The sermon challenges Christians to move beyond the basics of faith, like forgiveness of sins, and to press on to deeper levels of faith and obedience to God's authority.
Heart-Faith and Not Mind-Faith - Part 4
By Zac Poonen1.1K10:051SA 17:52PRO 3:5MRK 9:23ROM 6:14ROM 10:91CO 15:17HEB 11:6JAS 2:19JAS 3:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of true faith in God, contrasting mere mental belief with heartfelt conviction. It warns against being absorbed in religious activities without genuine connection to God and highlights the significance of believing in the resurrection of Jesus for salvation. The message stresses the need to have faith in the heart, not just the mind, and to understand that Jesus conquering death is the solution to all our problems, making it crucial to seek God and trust in His power to overcome life's challenges.
(1 Timothy) Being an Example of the Believer
By Brian Brodersen1.0K51:24PRO 20:7MAT 6:33ROM 12:21TI 4:71TI 4:12JAS 3:81PE 2:12In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being examples of faith to others. He highlights the trust and confidence that comes from being a child of God and how it can be a powerful witness to those around us. The speaker also discusses the need to be examples of purity in a morally corrupt world, emphasizing the importance of integrity in our relationships and conduct. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to live a distinct and faithful life that reflects the teachings of the Scriptures and the example set by Jesus.
The Hearing of Faith
By Alan Martin74500:00FaithMRK 4:17LUK 8:16LUK 8:18JHN 8:12ROM 10:17JAS 3:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not hiding the light of Christ but letting it shine for all to see. He uses the analogy of a lamp that is not covered but placed on a lampstand to illuminate a room. The speaker also shares a personal experience of encountering Jesus and being transformed by faith in Him. He highlights the need for believers to have a zeal for justice and to see Christ formed in their lives. The sermon concludes with a discussion on the significance of learning obedience and the role of the Word of God in overcoming the evil one.
Superabounding Love
By Lewis Gregory65433:44LoveISA 6:5ISA 6:7MRK 15:30JAS 3:2JAS 3:8In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of encountering a seemingly rough and troubled individual. Despite initial judgments, the speaker reached out to this person in light of God's love and prayed for him. Miraculously, the person was both physically and spiritually healed, experiencing a transformation through an encounter with God's love. The sermon emphasizes the importance of truly understanding and embodying the love of God, as demonstrated in 1 John 4:8, and encourages believers to extend this love to others, regardless of their deservingness or worthiness. The sermon also references the story of Isaiah's encounter with God's love and forgiveness in Isaiah 6:1-7. Additionally, the sermon highlights the ultimate manifestation of God's love through the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world for the purpose of bringing life to humanity.
All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 18
By Zac Poonen62125:57ISA 66:2MAL 2:16MAT 5:20ROM 8:2PHP 2:3JAS 3:8This sermon emphasizes the importance of adhering to all that Jesus taught, particularly focusing on the deeper spiritual implications behind commands such as avoiding adultery. It delves into the necessity of overcoming lustful thoughts and radical actions to combat sin, highlighting the need for genuine fullness of the Holy Spirit for true transformation and victory over sins like anger and lust. The message stresses the seriousness of adultery, both in the context of lusting after women and divorce, urging believers to tremble at God's word and pursue a righteousness that surpasses external observance of commandments.
(Through the Bible) James
By Zac Poonen61854:43JAS 1:22JAS 2:14JAS 3:8JAS 4:6JAS 5:15This sermon by James emphasizes the importance of faith that produces works, highlighting the need for genuine faith to be demonstrated through actions. James addresses various topics such as victory over temptation, love towards all, controlling the tongue, humility, and caring for the poor. He stresses the significance of humility, patience in suffering, and persistent prayer for healing. The sermon concludes with a call to manifest faith through righteous works and helping those in need.
Learning to Tame the Tongue
By David Wilkerson0Heart TransformationTaming the TonguePSA 19:14MAT 12:34JAS 3:8David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound connection between our words and the condition of our hearts, reminding us that our speech reveals our inner selves. He highlights the biblical truth that while taming the tongue is a daunting task, it is essential for living a life pleasing to God. Wilkerson urges believers to seek intimacy with Jesus, as this closeness brings about transformation and conviction regarding our speech. He stresses the importance of accountability for our words, as they will be judged, and encourages prayer for the right words and thoughts. Ultimately, he calls for a heart aligned with God's holiness to produce good fruit in our speech.
The Ninth Commandment
By A.W. Pink0TruthfulnessThe Power of WordsEXO 20:16PSA 31:5PSA 141:3PRO 15:4PRO 18:21ZEC 8:16MAT 12:36EPH 4:15JAS 3:8REV 21:8A.W. Pink emphasizes the significance of the Ninth Commandment, which prohibits bearing false witness against our neighbor, extending its meaning beyond perjury to encompass all forms of harmful speech. He highlights the importance of truthfulness in our communication, asserting that our words can either uplift or destroy reputations, and that we must speak truth in love. Pink warns against the dangers of lying, noting that it aligns us with the nature of the Devil and is contrary to God's character as the God of Truth. He encourages believers to be mindful of their speech, to avoid unnecessary criticism, and to uphold the truth in all circumstances. Ultimately, Pink calls for a commitment to veracity as foundational to righteousness and character.
Learn From Jesus to Speak Words of Encouragement
By Zac Poonen0PRO 15:4PRO 18:21LUK 6:45EPH 4:29JAS 3:8Zac Poonen emphasizes the importance of our speech reflecting what is in our hearts, as Jesus taught that our words reveal the abundance of our hearts. He challenges believers to examine why they may belittle or hurt others, stressing the need to be more like Christ. Poonen highlights the Holy Spirit's role in transforming our speech to mirror the purity, goodness, and love exemplified by Jesus, encouraging listeners to allow the Spirit to control their words and interactions with others.
Baptism in the Holy Ghost
By Robert Wurtz II0PRO 28:1ISA 59:19JOL 2:28LUK 3:162TI 3:5JAS 3:81JN 3:3Robert Wurtz II preaches about the significance of Baptism in the Holy Ghost, drawing parallels between the fires of hell and the fire of the Holy Ghost as emphasized by John the Baptist. He highlights the necessity of being filled with the Holy Spirit to effectively spread God's message and destroy the works of the Devil. Wurtz stresses the importance of repentance, surrender, and readiness for a true outpouring of the Holy Ghost, urging believers to seek God wholeheartedly and be willing to let go of sin to receive the baptism in the Holy Ghost.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
But the tongue wan no man tame - No cunning, persuasion, or influence has ever been able to silence it. Nothing but the grace of God, excision, or death, can bring it under subjection. It is an unruly evil - Ακατασχετον κακον· An evil that cannot be restrained; it cannot be brought under any kind of government; it breaks all bounds. Full of deadly poison - He refers here to the tongues of serpents, supposed to be the means of conveying their poison into wounds made by their teeth. Throughout the whole of this poetic and highly declamatory description, St. James must have the tongue of the slanderer, calumniator, backbiter, whisperer, and tale-bearer, particularly in view. Vipers, basilisks; and rattlesnakes are not more dangerous to life, than these are to the peace and reputation of men.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
no man--literally, "no one of men": neither can a man control his neighbor's, nor even his own tongue. Hence the truth of Jam 3:2 appears. unruly evil--The Greek, implies that it is at once restless and incapable of restraint. Nay, though nature has hedged it in with a double barrier of the lips and teeth, it bursts from its barriers to assail and ruin men [ESTIUS]. deadly--literally, "death-bearing."
John Gill Bible Commentary
But the tongue can no man tame,.... Either his own, or others; not his own, for the man that has the greatest guard upon himself, his words and actions; yet, what through pride or passion, or one lust or another in his heart, at one time or another, bolts out vain, idle, angry, and sinful words: and he that does not may be set down for a perfect man indeed: nor can he tame or restrain the tongues of others from detraction, calumnies, backbitings, and whisperings; who say, their lips are their own, and who is Lord over us? no man can, by his own power and strength, tame or subdue his tongue, or restrain it from evils it is habituated to, be it lying, cursing, swearing, or what else: God, by his Spirit, power, and grace, can, and often does, change the note of the curser, swearer, liar, and blasphemer; but no man can do this, though he can tame beasts, birds, serpents, and fishes; which shows the tongue to be worse than anything to be found in the whole compass of nature: it is an unruly evil: an evil it is, for it is a world of iniquity; and an unruly one, being more so than the horse and mule, which are without understanding, who are kept in and governed, and turned any way by the bit and bridle: but though in nature the tongue is fenced by a double fence of the lips and teeth, this is not sufficient to restrain it; it breaks all bounds, and is not to be kept in by nature, art, or argument: nothing but the grace of God can in any measure govern it, or lay an embargo on it: full of deadly poison, which, privately, secretly, and gradually, destroys the characters, credit, and reputation of men; and is of fatal consequence in families, neighbourhoods, churches, and states.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:8 no one can tame the tongue: The tongue has an astonishing capacity for committing evil. If its evil is motivated by hell (3:6), it certainly cannot be tamed by mere human effort. • full of deadly poison: This might allude to the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1), who is identified with the devil (Rev 20:2).