James 3:9

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. GOD. 'Aleph (') A B C read 'Lord' [ ton (G3588) kurion (G2962) kai (G2532) patera (G3962)]; 'Him who is Lord, and Father.' The uncommon application of 'Lord' to the Father doubtless caused the change to "God" (James 1:27). But as Messiah is called "Father" (Isaiah 9:6), so, the Father is called the Son's title, 'Lord:' showing the unity of the Godhead. "Father" implies Hi...

9_Therewith_, or, _by it, bless we God_. It is a clear instance of its deadly poison, that it can thus through a monstrous levity transform itself; for when it pretends to bless God, it immediately curses him in his own image, even by cursing men. For since God ought to be blessed in all his works, he ought to be so especially as to men, in whom his image and glory peculiarly shine forth. It is then a hypocrisy not to be borne, when man employs the same tongue in blessing God and in cursing men. There can be then no calling on God, and his praises must necessarily cease, when evil-speaking prevails; for it is impious profanation of God’s name, which the tongue is virulent towards our brethren and pretends to praise him. That he may therefore rightly praise God, the view of evil speaking as to our neighbor must especially be corrected....

1-12 We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men. Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public, affords examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tame the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does not represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sins decay with age, this many times gets worse; we grow more froward and fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure. When other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words used become more passiona...

Verse 9. _THEREWITH BLESS WE GOD_] The tongue is capable of rehearsing the praises, and setting forth the glories, of the eternal King: what a pity that it should ever be employed in a contrary work! It can proclaim and vindicate the truth of God, and publish the Gospel of peace and good will among men: what a pity that it should ever be employed in falsehoods, calumny, or in the cause of infidelity! _AND THEREWITH CURSE WE MEN_] In the true Satanic spirit, many pray to God, the _Father_, to destroy those who are objects of their displeasure! These are the _common swearers_, whose mouths are generally full of direful imprecations against those with whom they are offended. The consideration that _man is made after the image of God_ should restrain the tongue of the swearer; but there are many who, while they pretend to _sing the high praises of God_, are ready to wish the direst imprec...

THEREWITH BLESS WE GOD - We men do this; that is, all this is done by the tongue. The apostle does not mean that the same man does this, but that all this is done by the same organ - the tongue. EVEN THE FATHER - Who sustains to us the relation of a father. The point in the remark of the apostle is, the absurdity of employing the tongue in such contradictory uses as to bless one who has to us the relation of a father, and to curse any being, especially those who are made in his image. The word bless here is used in the sense of praise, thank, worship. AND THEREWITH CURSE WE MEN - That is, it is done by the same organ by which God is praised and honored. WHICH ARE MADE AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF GOD - After his image, Genesis 1:26. As

EXPOSITION JAMES 3:1 WARNING AGAINST OVER-READINESS TO TEACH, LEADING TO A DISCOURSE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GOVERNMENT OF THE TONGUE. JAMES 3:1 (1) _Warning_. BE NOT MANY TEACHERS. The warning is parallel to that of our Lord in Matthew 23:8, _seq._,_ _"Be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher [διδάσκαλος,_ _and not, a

THEREWITH BLESS WE GOD, EVEN, THE FATHER,.... Of Jesus Christ, and of spirits, and of mercies: this is the instrument that is used in blessing God daily every meal that is eaten; and in joining with the saints, though only verbally and outwardly, in blessing God for all spiritual blessings in Christ, both in prayer, and in singing psalms: AND THEREWITH CURSE WE MEN: make imprecations, and wish evils upon them: WHICH ARE MADE AFTER THE SIMILITUDE OF GOD as man was originally, Genesis 1:26 and though sin has greatly defaced it, yet there are still some remains of it: and now, what an absurd and monstrous thing is this, that one and the same instrument should be used in blessing God, the Father of all creatures, and in cursing his children, his offering, as all men are by creation, and bear some resemblance to him....

JAMES 3:9 ku,rion {A} Instead of ku,rion, the Textus Receptus reads qeo,n, with K L most of the minuscules vg syrh copsa, bo _al_. The reading ku,rion is to be preferred (_a_) because the combination “Lord and Father” is unusual (it occurs nowhere else in the Bible) and would more likely be changed to “God and Father” than vice versa, and (_b_) because the external evidence supporting ku,rion is decidedly superior (a A B C P 33 623 1739 1852 itff vgms syrp copbomss arm _al_)....

III. THE EVILS OF THE TONGUE CORRECTED CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The tongue and its work (James 3:1)_ 2. The wisdom which is earthly and the wisdom that is from above (James 3:13) James 3:1 The practical character of this Epistle is still more evidenced by the contents of this chapter. The tongue is the member of the human body which is made prominent. The human tongue is a great and wonderful gift of the Creator; with which no other earthly creature is endowed. It is written: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” It therefore reveals the real ‘condition of the heart and by what it is governed. The opening verse exhorts to caution as to teaching: “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowi

Do not crowd into the ranks of the teachers, my brothers. You know that we teachers shall be judged more severely than other men; and there are many things in which all of us stumble. This leads to the discussion of the snare of speech, into which those who talk much are peculiarly liable to fall. The words rendered now if (James 3:3) should be taken as one word meaning see, and the conjunction for inserted. Now with horses, for example, it is in their mouths, look you, that we put the bit when we want them to obey us. In James 3:4 the word impulse may be the pressure of the steersman's hand on the tiller. To the small bridle and the small rudder the tongue is compared as an insignificant part of man's equipment, but one that can boast of great power. See what a spark it takes to kindle what a mass of wood! And the tongue is fire