Devine Scripture

James 3:10

What does James 3:10 mean?

A plain-English look at James 3:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 3:10 means

Blessing and cursing coming from the same mouth should not be so among believers. James is not merely expressing disappointment; he is asserting a moral imperative. The community that confesses God must grow into consistency, where worship and everyday speech harmonize. This involves repentance for harmful words and a commitment to transformed patterns of speaking. The verse implies that, by God’s grace, better speech is possible and expected. It calls us to examine how quickly we shift from praise to put‑downs, recognizing that the gospel aims to bring our tongues into line with our professed devotion to the Lord and Father.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

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

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Out of the same mouth goes forth blessing and cursing. It is not right, my brethren, that these things should be thus.

Context

This conclusion to the paradox in verse 9 presses it home: the inconsistency is intolerable. Verses 11–12 will support the admonition with images from nature that make the point intuitive—sources produce according to their nature. These illustrations prepare the reader to look beneath speech to its source in the heart’s wisdom, which the next section (verses 13–18) will contrast as earthly versus from above. Thus, verse 10 is a hinge, urging change before James explains how such change is rooted in true wisdom.

v.9Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

v.10This passage

v.11Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet water and bitter?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Micah 3:11

    The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us.

  • 1 Peter 3:9

    not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  • 2 Samuel 13:12

    And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?

  • Romans 12:14

    Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.

  • 1 Timothy 5:13

    And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

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