Santiago 3:2-12

2 Porque todos ofendemos en muchas cosas. Si alguno no ofende en palabra, éste es varón perfecto, que también puede con freno gobernar todo el cuerpo

3 He aquí, nosotros ponemos freno en la boca de los caballos para que nos obedezcan, y gobernamos todo su cuerpo

4 Mirad también las naves, siendo tan grandes, y siendo llevadas de impetuosos vientos, son gobernadas con un muy pequeño timón por dondequiera que quisiere la gana del que gobierna

5 Así también, la lengua es un miembro pequeñito, y se gloría de grandes cosas. He aquí, un pequeño fuego ¡cuán grande bosque enciende

6 Y la lengua es un fuego, un mundo de maldad. Así es la lengua entre nuestros miembros que contamina todo el cuerpo, e inflama el curso de nuestro naturaleza, y es inflamada del infierno

7 Porque toda naturaleza de bestias fieras, y de aves, y de serpientes, y de seres del mar, se doma, y es domada por el ser humano

8 pero ningún hombre puede domar la lengua, que es un mal que no puede ser refrenado, y está llena de veneno mortal

9 Con ella bendecimos al Dios, y Padre, y con ella maldecimos a los hombres, los cuales son hechos a la semejanza de Dios

10 De una misma boca proceden bendición y maldición. Hermanos míos, no conviene que estas cosas sean así hechas

11 ¿Echa alguna fuente por una misma abertura agua dulce y amarga

12 Hermanos míos, ¿puede la higuera producir aceitunas, o la vid higos? Así ninguna fuente puede dar agua salada y dulce

Santiago 3:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JAMES 3

In this chapter the apostle cautions against censoriousness, and reproving others with a magisterial air; advises to bridle the tongue, and guard against the vices of it; and shows what true wisdom is, and from whence it comes. He advises the saints not to arrogate too much to themselves, and take upon them to be the censorious reprovers of others; which he dissuades from, by the consideration of the greater damnation such shall receive, and by the frailty of all men, and a common proneness to offend by words; for he must be a very singular man indeed that does not offend by words, Jas 3:1,2 wherefore he exhorts them to watch over their words, and bridle their tongues; which he illustrates by the methods used with horses to keep them in subjection, and with ships, to turn them as occasion serves, and the master pleases, Jas 3:3,4 and though the tongue is a little member, and not comparable to a horse, or ship, for its bulk; yet it boasts of great things, has a world of iniquity in it, and much mischief is done by it, being influenced by the powers of hell; therefore care, and all possible means, should be used to restrain it, Jas 3:5,6 though it is not tameable by man, only by the Lord, when all sorts of creatures are, even the most fierce and savage, and therefore are worse than they, being an unruly evil, and full of deadly poison, Jas 3:7,8. And what is the most monstrous and shocking, blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth, are pronounced by the same tongue, which is used in blessing God, and cursing men made after his image, which by no means ought to be done, Jas 3:9,10 and which is not to be paralleled in nature; no instance like it can be given, no fountain sending forth, in the same place, water sweet and bitter, salt and fresh, or any fig tree bearing olives, or vine figs, Jas 3:11,12. And because all this evil springs from a vain opinion men have of their own wisdom, the apostle proceeds to give an account of true wisdom; and observes, that that shows itself in good works, in a holy conversation, attended with meekness and humility, and not in envying, strife, and lies, Jas 3:13,14. Such sort of wisdom is not from heaven, but of the earth; it is not rational; it is no better than that of brutes; yea, no other than that of devils, since where the above sins prevail, it is a hell on earth, there is nothing but confusion, and everything that is vile and wicked, Jas 3:15,16 but, on the other hand, true wisdom is of an heavenly original, of a pure, peaceable, gentle, and tractable nature, and is full of good fruits or works in its effects, particularly mercy, and is clear of partiality and hypocrisy, Jas 3:17 and as one of its fruits is righteousness, that is sown in peace by the peacemaker, and produces it, Jas 3:18.