James 3:6

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James 3:4–8 · Berean Standard Bible

4 Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

5 In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

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

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Judges 12:4

Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Judges 12:5

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,”

Judges 12:6

they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

2 Samuel 19:43

“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 20:1

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

2 Chronicles 10:13

And the king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders

2 Chronicles 10:14

and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

2 Chronicles 10:15

So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

2 Chronicles 10:16

When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home,

2 Chronicles 13:17

Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.

Psalms 64:3

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Psalms 140:3

They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 16:27

A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Proverbs 26:20

Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

Proverbs 26:21

Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Isaiah 30:27

Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire.

James 2:7

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?

Genesis 3:4

“You will not surely die,” the serpent told her.

Genesis 3:5

“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3:6

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

Leviticus 24:11

The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse. So they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)

Numbers 25:2

who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.

Numbers 31:16

“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 13:6

If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known,

Judges 16:15

“How can you say, ‘I love you,’” she asked, “when your heart is not with me? This is the third time you have mocked me and failed to reveal to me the source of your great strength!”

Judges 16:16

Finally, after she had pressed him daily with her words and pleaded until he was sick to death,

Judges 16:17

Samson told her all that was in his heart: “My hair has never been cut, because I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, my strength will leave me, and I will become as weak as any other man.”

Judges 16:18

When Delilah realized that he had revealed to her all that was in his heart, she sent this message to the lords of the Philistines: “Come up once more, for he has revealed to me all that is in his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came to her, bringing the money in their hands.

Judges 16:19

And having lulled him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his head. In this way she began to subdue him, and his strength left him.

Judges 16:20

Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.

1 Samuel 22:9

But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.

1 Samuel 22:10

Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

1 Samuel 22:11

Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king.

1 Samuel 22:12

“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul. “Here I am, my lord,” he replied.

1 Samuel 22:13

And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

1 Samuel 22:14

Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard who is honored in your house?

1 Samuel 22:15

Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair—not in part or in whole.”

1 Samuel 22:16

But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

1 Samuel 22:17

Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

2 Samuel 13:26

“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?” the king asked.

2 Samuel 13:27

But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons.

2 Samuel 13:28

Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!”

2 Samuel 13:29

So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule.

2 Samuel 15:2

He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”

2 Samuel 15:3

Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

2 Samuel 15:4

And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

2 Samuel 15:5

Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

2 Samuel 15:6

Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 16:20

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”

2 Samuel 16:21

Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

2 Samuel 16:22

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

2 Samuel 16:23

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 17:1

Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.

2 Samuel 17:2

I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king

1 Kings 21:5

Soon his wife Jezebel came in and asked, “Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat?”

1 Kings 21:6

Ahab answered, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ And he replied, ‘I will not give you my vineyard!’”

1 Kings 21:7

But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

1 Kings 21:8

Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

1 Kings 21:9

In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.

1 Kings 21:10

But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

1 Kings 21:11

So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them.

1 Kings 21:12

They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people.

1 Kings 21:13

And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

1 Kings 21:14

Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

1 Kings 21:15

When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

Proverbs 1:10

My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

Proverbs 1:11

If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

Proverbs 1:12

let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Proverbs 1:13

We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

Proverbs 1:14

Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—

Proverbs 6:19

a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

Proverbs 7:5

that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.

Proverbs 7:21

With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.

Proverbs 7:22

He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,

Proverbs 7:23

until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.

Jeremiah 20:10

For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”

Jeremiah 28:16

Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”

Matthew 12:24

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”

Matthew 12:32

Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.

Matthew 12:33

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

Matthew 12:34

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Matthew 12:35

The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Matthew 12:36

But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Matthew 15:11

A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Matthew 15:12

Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”

Matthew 15:13

But Jesus replied, “Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by its roots.

Matthew 15:14

Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 15:15

Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

Matthew 15:16

“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked.

Matthew 15:17

“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated?

Matthew 15:18

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man.

Matthew 15:19

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Matthew 15:20

These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

Mark 7:15

Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”

Mark 7:20

He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.

Mark 7:21

For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

Mark 7:22

greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.

Mark 14:55

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they did not find any.

Mark 14:56

For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.

Mark 14:57

Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him:

Acts 6:13

where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law.

Acts 20:30

Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Romans 3:13

“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The venom of vipers is on their lips.”

Romans 3:14

“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

Romans 16:17

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.

Romans 16:18

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Ephesians 5:3

But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

Ephesians 5:4

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:8

But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Colossians 3:9

Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

2 Thessalonians 2:10

and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

2 Thessalonians 2:11

For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,

2 Thessalonians 2:12

in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

Titus 1:11

who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

2 Peter 2:1

Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

2 Peter 2:2

Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.

2 Peter 3:3

Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

3 John 1:10

So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church.

Jude 1:8

Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.

Jude 1:9

But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

Jude 1:10

These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.

Jude 1:15

to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”

Jude 1:16

These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.

Jude 1:17

But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ

Jude 1:18

when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”

Revelation 2:14

But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:15

In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Revelation 13:1

Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

Revelation 13:2

The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Revelation 13:3

One of the heads of the beast appeared to be mortally wounded. But the mortal wound was healed, and the whole world marveled and followed the beast.

Revelation 13:4

They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?”

Revelation 13:5

The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.

Revelation 13:14

Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

Revelation 18:23

The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

Revelation 19:20

But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Luke 16:24

So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

Acts 5:3

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

2 Corinthians 11:13

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:14

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:15

It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

2 Thessalonians 2:9

The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder,

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.