James 3:6
What does James 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at James 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What James 3:6 means
James declares the tongue to be a fire and “the world of iniquity” among our body’s members. It stains the whole person and sets on fire the entire course of life, being itself set on fire by hell. This is the deepest diagnosis in the passage: the tongue not only does damage; it is a ready conduit for evil’s influence. Its misuses defile us and can ignite cycles of destruction that roll through relationships and seasons. The reference to hell underscores that slander, lies, and hostility in speech do not arise from neutral ground. The tongue must be watched and cleansed because when it burns unchecked, it spreads flames that reach far and originate from below.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the tongue <FI>is<Fi> a fire, the world of the unrighteousness, so the tongue is set in our members, which is spotting our whole body, and is setting on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by the gehenna.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and the tongue [is] fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature, and is set on fire of hell.
Context
After building tension through images of small controls and sparks, James delivers the theological core of his warning. Verse 6 explains why the tongue deserves such attention: it can pollute the whole life and is vulnerable to hellish influence. Verses 7–8 will contrast humanity’s ability to tame creatures with its inability to tame the tongue, intensifying dependence on God’s grace and vigilance. Verses 9–12 will then expose the moral contradiction of a mouth that alternately blesses God and curses His image-bearers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.
- James 2:7
Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?
- 2 Chronicles 10:13
And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
- Psalms 140:3
They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders’ poison is under their lips. [Selah
- Luke 16:24
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.
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