James 3:2
in James 3We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
KJV
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
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This verse in James 3
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThe effective proof of a sound mind and perfect thought is to have nothing faulty on our tongue and to keep our mouths closed when necessary. For it is better to be guided by worthy speech, which is able to know and to express the fullness of all praise. For the most useful talent is to be able to speak wisdom when talking about how to live well. Foolish talk should be foreign to the saints.
This site's exposition
we offend all
For in many things we offend all admits universal failure before any particular sin is named, James numbering himself among the offenders with we rather than ye. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man measures maturity by the tongue specifically, the hardest member to govern. Able also to bridle the whole body sets up the chapter's own governing image, the tongue as the body's rudder before the rudder is even named.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The same is able to bridle the whole body - That is, the whole man. And doubtless some are able to do this, and so are in this sense perfect.
But, on the other hand, if a man seemeth to be religious (as was declared in the first chapter) and bridleth not his tongue, whatever profession he makes, that man's religion is vain. Further, he that offends not in word will not only prove himself a sincere Christian, but a very much advanced and improved Christian.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
In many things we offend all - Πταιομεν ἁπαντες· We all stumble or trip. Dr. Barrow very properly observes: “As the general course of life is called a way, and particular actions steps, so going on in a regular course of right action is walking uprightly; and acting amiss, tripping or stumbling.” There are very few who walk so closely with God, and inoffensively with men, as never to stumble; and although it is the privilege of every follower of God to be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, yet few of them are so.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πολλὰ | polla | In many ways | G4183 → | 367 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| πταίομεν | ptaiomen | we stumble | G4417 → | 5 times |
| ἅπαντες· | hapantes | all; | G537 → | |
| εἴ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| λόγῳ | logo | what he says | G3056 → | 329 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| πταίει, | ptaiei | does stumble, | G4417 → | 5 times |
| οὗτος | houtos | this one [is] | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| τέλειος | teleios | a perfect | G5046 → | 19 times |
| ἀνήρ, | aner | man, | G435 → | 216 times |
| δυνατὸς | dunatos | able | G1415 → | |
| χαλιναγωγῆσαι | chalinagogesai | to bridle | G5468 → | |
| καὶ | kai | indeed | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὅλον | holon | all | G3650 → | 109 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σῶμα.¶ | soma | body. | G4983 → | 142 times |
πολλὰIn many ways
pollaG4183 →367 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
πταίομενwe stumble
ptaiomenG4417 →5 times
ἅπαντες·all;
hapantesG537 →
εἴIf
eiG1487 →508 times
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
λόγῳwhat he says
logoG3056 →329 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
πταίει,does stumble,
ptaieiG4417 →5 times
οὗτοςthis one [is]
houtosG3778 →1381 times
τέλειοςa perfect
teleiosG5046 →19 times
ἀνήρ,man,
anerG435 →216 times
δυνατὸςable
dunatosG1415 →
χαλιναγωγῆσαιto bridle
chalinagogesaiG5468 →
καὶindeed
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὅλονall
holonG3650 →109 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
σῶμα.¶body.
somaG4983 →142 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 13:3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
it leads to
- Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
- Proverbs 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
- Proverbs 21:23
Through
James 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
it leads to
- Psalms 141:3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
- Psalms 141:3
Through
1 Peter 3:10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:12–16
Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days?
- James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 34:12–16
Through
Matthew 12:37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- Proverbs 13:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About James
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Cyril of Alexandria, CATENA; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.