James 3:9 Parallel Translations

With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues we curse people, who were created in God's likeness.(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

ASV:

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

BBE:

With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image.

DBY:

Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after the likeness of God.

ERV:

Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the likeness of God:

WEY:

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.

WBS:

With this we bless God, even the Father; and with this we curse men, who are made after the similitude of God.

WEB:

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.

YLT:

with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;

James 3:9 Cross References

XREF:

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

1 Corinthians 11:7 For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

3:9 {6} Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the {7} similitude of God.
(6) Among other faults of the tongue, the apostle chiefly reproves slandering and speaking evil of our neighbours, even in those especially who otherwise will seem godly and religious.
(7) He denies by two reasons, that God can be praised by the man who uses cursed speaking, or slandering: first because man is the image of God and whoever does not reverence him, does not honour God.

PNT:

3:9 Therewith bless we God... [and] curse we men. Its opposite uses are shown. We use it to pray and to bless God, and, sometimes, the same tongue will be used to curse his creatures. James rebuked evils that he had observed.

WES:

3:9 Men made after the likeness of God - Indeed we have now lost this likeness; yet there remains from thence an indelible nobleness, which we ought to reverence both in ourselves and others.

MHC:

3:1-12 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 passionate. That man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to adore the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him; and at another time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words and expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how many sins would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious and edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified heart; and none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses, lies, boastings, and revilings from a true believer's mouth, any more than they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts prove that more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites, than in duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace, let us take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions.

CONC:

Bless Curse God's Image Likeness Praise Similitude Therewith

Bless Curse God's Image Likeness Praise Similitude Therewith Tongue

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