James 3 9

James 3:9 kjv

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

James 3:9 nkjv

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

James 3:9 niv

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.

James 3:9 esv

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James 3:9 nlt

Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.

James 3 verses

James 3 9 Meaning

James 3:9 starkly exposes a profound contradiction in human behavior: the same tongue used to bless and praise God, our sovereign Lord and intimate Father, is simultaneously used to utter curses or hateful words against other human beings. The verse underscores the egregious spiritual inconsistency and hypocrisy of dishonoring people who have been uniquely created in the very image and likeness of God, thus implying a disrespect towards the Creator Himself.

James 3 9 Context

James Chapter 3 is a comprehensive and intense examination of the power and danger of the tongue. The preceding verses (James 3:1-8) introduce the tongue as a small but incredibly powerful instrument, likened to a bit in a horse's mouth that steers the whole body (v. 3), a rudder on a mighty ship (v. 4), and a tiny spark that can ignite a vast forest (v. 5-6). It is described as "a fire, a world of iniquity," capable of defiling the entire body, setting the whole course of one's life ablaze, and being itself set on fire by hell. James emphatically states that no human being can fully tame it (v. 7-8), calling it "a restless evil, full of deadly poison." Verse 9 then serves as the prime example of this "restless evil" and its paradoxical, contradictory nature. It provides a concrete instance of the untamable tongue's inconsistency, which verse 10 declares should unequivocally "not be so," followed by natural analogies emphasizing consistency (salt vs. fresh water, fig tree vs. olive tree). The broader context of James's epistle stresses living out one's faith consistently through deeds, not just words, making the control of the tongue a litmus test for genuine spiritual maturity and authentic belief.

James 3 9 Word analysis

• With it: Refers directly back to "the tongue" (γλῶσσα, glōssa) mentioned explicitly in verse 8. It signifies the singular instrument responsible for both actions, emphasizing the inconsistency.
• we bless (εὐλογέω, eulogeō): From eu (good) and logos (word). It means to speak well of, to praise, to give thanks, or to invoke divine favor upon. This term denotes worshipful, reverential speech directed towards God.
• our Lord and Father: A dual appellation for God. "Lord" (Κύριος, Kyrios) signifies divine sovereignty, authority, and ultimate mastership. "Father" (πατήρ, patēr) highlights God's intimate, personal, and loving relationship with believers, emphasizing adoption and familial connection. The combined titles elevate the divine object of blessing.
• and with it: Repetition of the phrase from the beginning of the verse, reinforcing that it is the same tongue being used for diametrically opposed purposes. This structural parallelism highlights the extreme incongruity.
• we curse (καταράομαι, kataraomai): From kata (down) and araomai (to invoke or imprecate). This means to call down evil upon, to invoke divine judgment, to condemn, revile, or speak evil of. It is the antithesis of blessing, denoting destructive and hostile speech.
• men (ἀνθρώπους, anthrōpous): General term for human beings, humanity. James makes it clear this applies to all people, highlighting the universal nature of the prohibition. It implies that cursing any human being is condemned.
• who have been made in the likeness of God (γεγονότας καθ' ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ, gegonotas kath' homoiōsin Theou): This is the critical qualifying clause, the foundation of James's argument.
  • have been made (gegonotas): A perfect active participle, signifying a state of being that came into existence in the past and continues in the present; "having come into being" or "who are existing" in this condition. This emphasizes a fixed, established divine design.
  • in the likeness (kath' homoiōsin): Directly echoing Gen 1:26-27 (the Septuagint uses similar terminology). While the Greek word for "image" (eikōn) denotes a representation or copy (which Genesis also uses), homoiōsis focuses on similarity or resemblance in quality. It means sharing attributes with God, such as rationality, moral capacity, spiritual potential, creativity, and the ability to love and relate.
  • of God (Theou): Points directly to the Divine origin and connection. To curse a human being, therefore, is to implicitly assault the character or dignity of the God whose likeness they bear. It’s an act of contempt against the Creator through contempt for His creation. This transforms personal offense into a theological affront.

James 3 9 Bonus section

The juxtaposition in James 3:9 is not just about poor manners or ill-tempered speech; it strikes at the core of theological and ethical consistency. The argument of the Imago Dei (image of God) elevates every human being, regardless of their status, race, beliefs, or moral standing, to a position of inherent dignity. This dignity is derived directly from their creator, not from their accomplishments or worthiness in the eyes of man. Therefore, to curse "men" is not simply to harm another person; it is to diminish or profane what God Himself has honored by stamping His likeness upon it. This makes the sin of cursing deeply personal against God. The passage strongly implies that how one treats—especially how one speaks about—their fellow humans is a direct reflection of their actual reverence for God. A lack of consistency here points to a lack of genuine understanding or application of the Gospel.

James 3 9 Commentary

James 3:9 cuts to the heart of Christian integrity, revealing the inherent absurdity and moral offense of professing reverence for God while simultaneously debasing His creation. The passage argues that the tongue's capacity for both blessing God and cursing humans who bear His image is a profound spiritual inconsistency that should not exist among believers. True worship and love for the Creator must extend to His handiwork, particularly to humanity, who are designed to reflect His attributes. To verbally assault a fellow human being is to cheapen the divine imprint within them and, by extension, to show disrespect to the One who imprinted it. This spiritual hypocrisy betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of God's character and the sanctity of life He bestows. For James, genuine faith produces a unified heart and consistent conduct, particularly in one's speech, which serves as a potent indicator of inner spiritual health.

• Example 1: A worship leader sings praises to God during a Sunday service but then, online, uses harsh and demeaning language to criticize a public figure or a group of people he disagrees with.
• Example 2: Someone teaches their children about God's love and kindness, while regularly using sarcastic, belittling, or angry words towards their spouse or family members in private.
• Example 3: A believer offers a public prayer for national healing but privately engages in gossip or slander about members of their community or church.