James 3:11

11 Doth a fountayne sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also?

James 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

James 3:11

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place
"Or hole"; for at divers places, and at different times, as Pliny ^F13 observes, it may send forth

sweet [water] and bitter:
and it is reported ^F14, there is a lake with the Trogloditae, a people in Ethiopia, which becomes thrice a day bitter, and then as often sweet; but then it does not yield sweet water and bitter at the same time: this simile is used to show how unnatural it is that blessing and cursing should proceed out of the same mouth.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 103.
F14 Isodor. Hispal. Originum, l. 13. c. 13. p. 115.

James 3:11 In-Context

9 Therwith blesse we God the father and therwith cursse we me which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of one mouth proceadeth blessynge and cursynge. My brethren these thinges ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountayne sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also?

12 Can the fygge tree my Brethren beare olive beries: other a vyne beare fygges?

13 So can no fountayne geve bothe salt water and fresshe also. If eny man be wyse and endued with learnynge amonge you let him shewe the workes of his good conversacio in meknes that ys coupled with wisdome.