Devine Scripture

James 3:8

What does James 3:8 mean?

A plain-English look at James 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What James 3:8 means

Despite humanity’s achievements, “the tongue can no man tame.” It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James’s point is not to excuse sinful speech but to end human boasting. Techniques alone cannot master the tongue; its instability and toxicity outpace human resolve. The metaphors of restlessness and poison convey constant motion and destructive effect. Since no one can tame it, vigilant dependence on God’s wisdom and continual repentance are required. We must recognize our limits and the tongue’s danger, refusing to trust in mere habit or willpower. Only a transformed heart can regularly restrain and redirect the tongue’s natural drift toward harm.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the tongue no one of men is able to subdue, <FI>it is<Fi> an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but the tongue can no one among men tame; [it is] an unsettled evil, full of death-bringing poison.

Context

This verse completes the contrast introduced in verse 7 and deepens the sense of helplessness apart from divine aid. It sets the stage for exposing the tongue’s moral inconsistency in verses 9–10, which is then reinforced by images from nature in verses 11–12. The structure moves from the tongue’s nature (fire, poison), to human inability to tame it, to the evidence of its duplicity, before shifting in verses 13–18 to the root issue: the kind of wisdom—earthly or from above—governing the heart and thus the speech.

v.7For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind:

v.8This passage

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

Cross references

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

  • 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 tongue like a serpent; Adders’ poison is under their lips. [Selah

  • Psalms 58:4

    Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

  • Psalms 57:4

    My soul is among lions; I lie 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 55:21

    His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

  • Deuteronomy 32:33

    Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of asps.

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