James 3:7

7 For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of beings in the sea may be tamed and is tamed by mankind,

James 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

James 3:7

For every kind of beasts, and of birds
Or the "nature" of them, as it is in the Greek text; however fierce, as beasts of prey are, or shy, as the fowls of the air be:

and of serpents and things in the sea;
the fishes there:

is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind,
or "by human nature": by the wit and industry of man; by the various ways, means, and methods devised by man. So Pliny ^F12 relates, that elephants lions and tigers among beasts, and the eagle among birds, and crocodiles, asps, and other serpents, and fishes of the sea, have been tamed: though some think this is only to be understood of their being mastered and subdued, by one means or another; or of their being despoiled of their power, or of their poison: and the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render it, "subjected to human nature".

---

FOOTNOTES:

F12 Nat. Hist. l. 8. c. 9. 16, 17. & 10. 5, 44.

James 3:7 In-Context

5 In the same manner, the tongue is a very small member and boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of our nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

7 For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of beings in the sea may be tamed and is tamed by mankind,

8 but no man can tame the tongue, which is an evil that cannot be restrained and is full of deadly poison.

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