James 3:6 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

⁶ And the tongue is [like] a fire [i.e., like that spark]. [For] the tongue, as a part of the body, is [like] the world of evil. It corrupts the entire life [of a person] and inflames the course of nature itself [i.e., it affects a person throughout his whole earthly existence], and is ignited by hell itself [i.e., the evil produced by the fiery tongue has hell as its source and destiny].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

⁶ And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).

American Standard Version (1901)

⁶ And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

Common English Bible

⁶ The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell.

Catholic Public Domain Version

⁶ And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell.

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is placed among our members, which defileth the whole body, and inflameth the wheel of our nativity, being set on fire by hell.

James 3:6 Cross References

Matthew 12:24

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man does not drive out evil spirits except by [the power of] Beelzebub, the chief of evil spirits.”

Matthew 5:22

But I say to you that every person who is angry toward his brother will be subject to judgment; and whoever calls his brother ‘stupid idiot’ is subject to [being sentenced by] the [Jewish] Council, and whoever says, ‘go to hell’ is subject to going to the fire of hell [himself].

Mark 7:15

There is nothing that enters a person’s body from the outside that can [spiritually] corrupt him, but it is what proceeds out of a person’s life that [spiritually] corrupts him.”

Luke 16:24

And he shouted out, ‘Forefather Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus [to me], so he can dip the tip of his finger in water [and touch] my tongue to cool it, because I am in agony in these flames.’

Acts 20:30

[Indeed, even] from among your own selves [i.e., the body of elders there in Ephesus] some men will arise and, by speaking false things, they will lead away the disciples, [influencing them] to follow them.

Acts 5:3

But Peter said to Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart [causing you] to deceive the Holy Spirit by keeping back part of the selling price of the land [while representing it as the full price]?

Acts 6:13

They had arranged for the false witnesses to say, “This man will not stop speaking against the Temple and the Law of Moses,

Titus 1:11

They must be silenced [because] they are upsetting entire families by teaching things they should not be for the shameful purpose of making money.

James 2:7

Do they not speak against the honorable name by which you are called? [i.e., the name “Christ” or “Christian”].

James 3:7

For all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and ocean creatures are being subdued and have been subdued by mankind,

2 Peter 3:3

First of all, you should understand that, in the final days, mockers with evil desires will come [to you] saying, mockingly,

3 John 1:10

So, if I come [to visit you], I will remind you of what he is doing, [such as] using wicked words to talk nonsense against us [apostles]. And, not being satisfied with that, he [also] refuses to welcome the [other] brothers, and prevents [other] people from doing so [i.e., from welcoming these brothers], and even kicks them out of the church [for trying to].

Revelation 12:9

Then the great dragon was thrown out [of heaven]; he is the snake from ancient times who is [also] called “the Devil,” and “Satan,” the deceiver of the entire world. He was thrown down to earth along with his angels.

Revelation 13:14

[And] by being given [power] to perform these signs in the sight of the [first] beast, he deceives the people on earth. He told them to make a statue to [honor] the [first] beast, which had been wounded by a sword and yet lived [through it].

Revelation 18:23

And the light of a lamp will never shine in you again. And the voices of the groom and bride will never be heard in you again. For your [retail] merchants were the great men of the earth, and all the nations were deceived by your sorceries.

Revelation 19:20

But the beast was captured, along with the false prophet [See 16:13], who performed [supernatural] signs in his presence. [He had performed these signs] to deceive those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his statue. [See 13:15-16]. The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.