3:6

In 3:6, James applied the illustration of 3:5c–d to the tongue. Like a fire, the tongue can be destructive.

In this verse, James made a general statement that applies to everyone. Some languages make general statements in other ways. For example:

A person’s tongue
-or-
Your tongues
-or-
Our tongues

3:6a

The tongue also is a fire: The clause The tongue also is a fire is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the tongue is compared to a fire. Some ways that they are similar are that both can destroy things and cannot be controlled.

In some languages, a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. Some other ways to translate it are:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

the tongue is like a fire (Good News Translation)

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make explicit the way that they are similar. For example:

the tongue can destroy like a fire
-or-
the words that the tongue says are like a fire because they can destroy
-or-
The words that we say with our tongue/mouth can cause much harm just like a fire can cause much harm

also: The word also indicates that, in addition to ordinary fires, there is another thing that has characteristics similar to a fire. It is the tongue.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

too
-or-
as well
-or-
similarly

3:6b

Some versions begin a new sentence here. For example:

It is a world… (Good News Translation)

a world of wickedness: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a world of wickedness means that the tongue can do much evil. (Differences of interpretation regarding the meaning of “world of evil” are reflected in English versions and discussed at length in commentaries. The two main views are:(1) “world” is used in the common biblical sense of the evil world-system that includes all that opposes God and his ways, and(2) “world” is used as sort of a metaphor for something huge that contains all sorts of things.According to interpretation (1), James was saying that the tongue is the part of our body that has the greatest tendency to serve the evil world-system that is opposed to God. According to interpretation (2), James was highlighting the tongue’s great capacity for all sorts of evil. The majority of English versions (which translate in a way similar to “the tongue … is a world of evil”) will be understood to follow interpretation (2). The majority of commentators (including Davids, page 142; Johnson, page 259; Laws, pages 149–150; Moo (2000), page 157; McCartney, page 187; Mitton, pages 126–127; Mayor, pages 114–115, Martin, page 114; SSA, pages 96–97; Translator’s Handbook, page 109) favor interpretation (1). They argue that this sense of “world” is common to the Bible and particularly to James, while the meaning of “world” according to interpretation (2) is extremely rare. The definite article “the” preceding “world,” they say, also supports understanding “world” in its common and specific sense as the evil world system.In the notes, we have chosen not to present this as an interpretation issue for the following reasons:a) the difference between the two interpretations is slight when one considers the meaning of the metaphor: the tongue has great capacity for evil.b) Many languages do not use the word “world” in a figurative sense to mean what is suggested for either interpretation (1) or (2). So giving translation models for each that do not use the word “world” is quite difficult.c) The idea that the tongue “represents” the evil world (as some would translate interpretation (1), see Revised English Bible, for example) and the idea that the tongue is a huge sphere/realm where evil takes place are both quite abstract. We preferred to present a more concrete and simple model for translation.) Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

it is very, very evil
-or-
It is an evil power (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
it is against God

among the parts of the body: James was comparing the tongue with the other parts of the body, like the nose, fingers, and legs. He said that it was the tongue that was causing the trouble.

Some languages do not have a general word or expression for “part of the body.” Another way to translate this word is:

in our bodies

3:6c

It pollutes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pollutes literally means “stains.” Here it is used in a figurative sense to refer to the tongue’s negative, evil effects on a person’s inner character.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

it corrupts (New International Version (2011 Revision))
-or-
it completely contaminates (God’s Word)
-or-
It stains (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
It can poison (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
and spreading evil (Good News Translation)
-or-
it makes dirty

A related Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “polluted” occurs in 1:27c.

the whole person: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the whole person is literally “all the body.” In this context, it is referring to the inner, moral being of the person, including his thoughts and emotions.

Some other ways to translate this are:

the whole body
-or-
all the parts of your being
-or-
the whole inner being

3:6d

sets the course of his life on fire: This clause is another description of the destructive power of the tongue. Here, James again used the metaphor of fire.

There are two main ways to interpret this clause:

(1) It refers to a person’s entire existence from birth to death. According to this interpretation, the evils of a person’s tongue have a destructive effect on every part of his life. (Huther, page 157; Mayor, page 113; Mitton, page 128; Hiebert, pages 217–218; Laws, page 150; Davids (1982), page 143; Moo (1985), page 125; Martin, page 115.) For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

sets a person’s entire life on fire

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, God’s Word, English Standard Version)

(2) It refers to the events of nature, for example, from one season to the next. According to this interpretation, the evils of a person’s tongue have a destructive effect on the whole created world. (Alford, page 306; Ropes, page 235.) For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

the cycle of nature

(King James Version, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

From the general context of James’ letter, it seems that he is concerned with relationships between human beings, not the rest of the created world. This is the view of the majority of commentators. Therefore it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

There are at least two ways to translate this clause:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

sets a person’s entire life on fire (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
burns every aspect of his life
-or-
turns his whole life to ashes

• Translate the meaning without keeping the figure of speech. For example:

ruins the whole life of a person
-or-
is able to destroy his entire life

3:6e

and is itself set on fire by hell: The pronoun itself refers to the tongue. The tongue gets its fire from hell. Hell is the source of the tongue’s destructive fire/power. This implies that hell has given to the tongue the power to ruin lives.

This clause does not mean that the tongue itself is burned or destroyed.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and it is as if the fire of hell is in it
-or-
with flames that come from hell itself (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and it gets its power to destroy from hell itself

by hell: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hell refers to the place where Satan, his demons, and ungodly people will be punished after the final Day of Judgment.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

eternal fire
-or-
the place of unending fire
-or-
Satan

© 2012 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.