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Verse Takeaways
1
The Rudder's Power
Commentators unanimously highlight the central analogy: a tiny rudder steers a massive ship. This illustrates the disproportionate power of the tongue. Just as a small rudder determines the direction of a great vessel against strong winds, the small tongue directs the course of your entire life.
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Book Overview
James
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James 3:4
Commentaries
Albert Barnes
On James 3:4
18th Century
Theologian
Behold also the ships. This illustration is equally striking and obvious. A ship is a large object. It seems unmanageable due to its vastn…
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AT Robertson
On James 3:4
The ships also (κα τα πλοια). Old word from πλεω, to sail (Matthew 4:21). Another metaphor like "horses" (ιππο). "Ther…
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Charles Ellicott
On James 3:4
19th Century
Bishop
The governor—that is, the “helmsman,” from the Latin gubernator. The Venerable Bede, our earliest English translator, ref…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On James 3:4
The next illustration on the influence of the tongue is the rudder of a ship. Three factors made ships of that day difficult to control: they were …
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John Gill
On James 3:4
17th Century
Pastor
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great
Of so large a bulk, of such a prodigious size, and are such unw…
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Matthew Henry
On James 3:1–12
17th Century
Minister
We are taught to dread an unruly tongue as one of the greatest evils. The affairs of humankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of people. …
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