James 3:2
New International Version
We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

New Living Translation
Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

English Standard Version
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Berean Standard Bible
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

Berean Literal Bible
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, this one is a perfect man, able indeed to bridle the whole body.

King James Bible
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

New King James Version
For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

New American Standard Bible
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to rein in the whole body as well.

NASB 1995
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

NASB 1977
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

Legacy Standard Bible
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the entire body as well.

Amplified Bible
For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].

Christian Standard Bible
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.

American Standard Version
For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For all of us stumble much Everyone who does not slip in his speech is a perfect man who can subdue also his whole body.

Contemporary English Version
All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.

English Revised Version
For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn't make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does.

Good News Translation
All of us often make mistakes. But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect and is also able to control his whole being.

International Standard Version
For all of us make many mistakes. If someone does not make any mistakes when he speaks, he is perfect and able to control his whole body.

Literal Standard Version
for we all make many stumbles; if anyone does not stumble in word, this one [is] a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body;

Majority Standard Bible
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

New American Bible
for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.

NET Bible
For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.

New Revised Standard Version
For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.

New Heart English Bible
For in many things we all stumble. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

Webster's Bible Translation
For in many things we all offend. If any man offendeth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

Weymouth New Testament
For we often stumble and fall, all of us. If there is any one who never stumbles in speech, that man has reached maturity of character and is able to curb his whole nature.

World English Bible
For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

Young's Literal Translation
for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. 3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 6:36
When they sin against You--for there is no one who does not sin--and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,

Psalm 39:1
I said, "I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present."

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Matthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

James 1:4
Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.


Treasury of Scripture

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

in.

1 Kings 8:46
If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;

2 Chronicles 6:36
If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

Proverbs 20:9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

If.

James 3:5,6
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! …

See on ch.

James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

Psalm 34:13
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Proverbs 13:3
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

a perfect.

James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Matthew 12:37
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

to bridle.

1 Corinthians 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

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Able Body Bridle Check Complete Fall Fault Maturity Offend Often Perfect Reached Slip Speech Stumble Stumbles Talk Whole Word Wrong
James 3
1. We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5. but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member,
9. but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm.
13. The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife.














(2) For in many things we offend all.--Better thus, For in many things we all offend: not, what might be inferred, "we are an offence to all," as Matthew 24:9; 1Corinthians 4:13, et al. Humble, indeed, was the holy mind of James, but this confession of error uplifts him in all right appreciation, and in no way casts him down. The very human weakness of Peter, and Paul, and James, endears them to us; for so we know assuredly that they were "men of like passions" with ourselves (Acts 14:15), and, where they succeeded, we, by the like grace of God, may also win the crown.

If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.--If any man: much more one who fain would teach his fellows. To "offend" means to stumble over something, and fall, and in this sense we get the exact meaning of "offending" by an unguarded allusion to a subject painful in the mind of another. "A constant governance of our speech, according to duty and reason, is a high instance, and a special argument of a thoroughly sincere and solid goodness," says Isaac Barrow; but the meekest of men failed once, and blessed indeed is he who takes heed to his ways that he sins not with his tongue (Psalm 39:1).

Able also to bridle the whole body.--Not that if the tongue be stilled all the members of the body are consequently in peace; but, because the work of ruling the one rebel is so great, that a much less corresponding effort will keep the others in subjection.

Verse 2. - Γὰρ gives the reason for this κρίμα. We shall be judged because in many things we all stumble, and it is implied that teachers are in danger of greater condemnation, because it is almost impossible to govern the tongue completely. With the thought comp. Ecclesiastes 7:20, "There is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not." Πολλά is adverbial, as in Matthew 9:14, and may be either

(1) "in many things," or

(2) "oft." Ἅπαντες. No se ipsos quidem excipiunt apostoli (Bengel). If any stumbleth not in word (R.V.). "Control of speech is named, not as in itself constituting perfection, but as a crucial test indicating whether the man has or has not attained unto it" (Plumptre). Τέλειος (see James 1:4). Ξαλιναγωγεῖν (cf. James 1:26). It is only found in these two passages; never in the LXX.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
We all stumble
πταίομεν (ptaiomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4417: To stumble, fall, sin, err, transgress. A form of pipto; to trip, i.e. to err, sin, fail.

in many ways.
πολλὰ (polla)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

If
εἴ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

{is} never
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

at fault
πταίει (ptaiei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4417: To stumble, fall, sin, err, transgress. A form of pipto; to trip, i.e. to err, sin, fail.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

what he says,
λόγῳ (logō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

he [is]
οὗτος (houtos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

a perfect
τέλειος (teleios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5046: From telos; complete; neuter completeness.

man,
ἀνήρ (anēr)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 435: A male human being; a man, husband. A primary word; a man.

able
δυνατὸς (dynatos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1415: (a) of persons: powerful, able, (b) of things: possible. From dunamai; powerful or capable; neuter possible.

to control
χαλιναγωγῆσαι (chalinagōgēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 5468: To bridle, curb, restrain, sway. From a compound of chalinos and the reduplicated form of ago; to be a bit-leader, i.e. To curb.

[his]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

body.
σῶμα (sōma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.


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NT Letters: James 3:2 For in many things we all stumble (Ja Jas. Jam)
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