YAC 3:5 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) So too the tongue is only small but can make extensive claims.
¶ Yes, a tiny flame can ignite an entire forest

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Thus also the tongue is a small member, but it boasts great things. Behold how small a fire kindles so large a forest.

UST Similarly, although our tongues are very small, we use them to brag that we have done great things. Note also that a fire that starts as a small flame can burn up many trees.

BSB In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, [but] it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest {ablaze}.

BLB Thus also the tongue is a small member, and boasts exceeding things. Behold a small fire, how great a forest it kindles.

AICNT So also the tongue is a small member and boasts great things.
¶  See how {great a forest a}[fn] fire ignites!

3:5, great a forest a: 𝔓72 ℵ(01) B(03) NA28 SBLGNT THGNT ‖ Later manuscripts read “a forest a small.” A(02) C(04) BYZ TR

OEB So it is with the tongue. Small as it is, it is a great boaster. Think how a tiny spark may set the largest forest ablaze!

WEBBE So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!

WMBB (Same as above)

NET So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.

LSV so also the tongue is a little member, and boasts greatly; behold, how much forest a little fire kindles!

FBV In just the same way the tongue is a very small part of the body, but it makes great boasts! Think how a big forest can be set on fire by a very small flame!

TCNT In the same way, the tongue is a small member, yet it makes great boasts.
¶ Consider how great a forest [fn]a little fire kindles.

3:5 a little ¦ such a small CT

T4T Similarly, although our tongues are very small, if we do not control them, we can harm many people by what we proudly say [MTY]. Think also about how just a small flame of fire can cause a large forest (OR, a large area of brushwood) to burn.

LEB So also the tongue is a small member of the body[fn] and boasts great things. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest!

3:5 *The words “of the body” are not in the Greek text but are supplied for clarity

BBE Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire!

Moff So the tongue is a small member of the body, but it can boast of great exploits. What a forest is set ablaze by a little spark of fire!

Wymth In the same way the tongue is an insignificant part of the body, but it is immensely boastful. Remember how a mere spark may set a vast forest in flames.

ASV So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

DRA Even so the tongue is indeed a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how small a fire kindleth a great wood.

YLT so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!

Drby Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!

RV So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

SLT So also the tongue is a small member, and vaunts itself. Behold, how great a wood a little fire inflames.

Wbstr Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

KJB-1769 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

KJB-1611 Euen so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things: behold, how great [fn]a matter a litle fire kindleth.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

3:5 Or, wood.

Bshps Euen so the tongue is a litle member also, & boasteth great thynges. Beholde how great a matter a litle fire kindleth.
(Even so the tongue is a little member also, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth.)

Gnva Euen so the tongue is a litle member, and boasteth of great things: beholde, howe great a thing a litle fire kindleth.
(Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth of great things: behold, how great a thing a little fire kindleth. )

Cvdl Euen so the toge is a lyttell member, and bosteth great thinges. Beholde how gret a thinge a lyttell fyre kyndleth,
(Even so the tongue is a lyttell member, and bosteth great things. Behold how great a thing a lyttell fire kindleth,)

TNT Even so the tonge is a lyttell member and bosteth great thinges. Beholde how gret a thinge a lyttell fyre kyndleth
(Even so the tongue is a lyttell member and bosteth great things. Behold how great a thing a lyttell fire kindleth )

Wycl So also the tunge is but a litil membre, and reisith grete thingis. Lo! hou litil fier brenneth a ful greet wode.
(So also the tongue is but a little membre, and raiseth/raises great things. Lo! how little fire brenneth a full great wode.)

Luth Also ist auch die Zunge ein klein Glied und richtet große Dinge an. Siehe, ein klein Feuer, welch einen Wald zündet‘s an!
(So is also the tongue a small member/element and directed large things at/to. See/Look, a small fire(n), which a forest zündet‘s an!)

ClVg Ita et lingua modicum quidem membrum est, et magna exaltat. Ecce quantus ignis quam magnam silvam incendit ![fn]
(Ita and tongue/language modicum indeed membrum it_is, and big exalts. Behold quantus fire how great the_forestm incendit ! )

3.5 Et magna exaltat. ID. Præmia, si impetus dirigentis bene eam gubernat; si male, sibi suisque magnam perditionem exaltat, unde Salomon: Mors et vita in manibus linguæ Prov. 18.. Vitam exaltat, si bene docet Ecclesiam; mortem si male. Agitur namque contra illos qui, et vita et scientia destituti, docere præsumebant. Magna ergo exaltat lingua quæ cæterorum verba et sensus despiciens, singulariter se sapientiem jactat et facundam. Contra quod: Nolite multiplicare loqui sublimia gloriantes. Ecce quantus ignis. Sic et lingua incontinens magnam materiam bonorum operum perire facit, itaque, cum fere sit impossibile vitari peccatum linguæ etiam a perfectis, non quivis debet appetere magisterium.

3.5 And big exalts. ID. Præmia, when/but_if on_the_attacks directntis well her governs; when/but_if male, to_himself to_his_ownque great destruction exalts, from_where/who Salomon: Mors and life in/into/on hands tongues/languages Prov. 18.. Vitam exalts, when/but_if well teaches assembly/church; death when/but_if male. Agitur for_indeed/truly on_the_contrary those who, and life and knowledge/skill destituti, to_teach beforesumebant. Magna therefore exalts tongue/language which otherwiserum words and sense despiciens, uniquely/especially himself sapientiem yactat and facundam. Contra that: Don't multiplicare to_speak sublimia gloryntes. Behold quantus fire. So and tongue/language incontinens great materiam of_goods works to_perish he_does, therefore, when/with almost be impossible vitari sin tongues/languages also from perfectis, not/no quivis must appetere teacherium.

UGNT οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστὶν, καὶ μεγάλα αὐχεῖ.
¶  ἰδοὺ, ἡλίκον πῦρ, ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει.
(houtōs kai haʸ glōssa mikron melos estin, kai megala auⱪei.
¶  idou, haʸlikon pur, haʸlikaʸn hulaʸn anaptei.)

SBL-GNT οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστὶν καὶ ⸂μεγάλα αὐχεῖ⸃. Ἰδοὺ ⸀ἡλίκον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει·
(houtōs kai haʸ glōssa mikron melos estin kai ⸂megala auⱪei⸃. Idou ⸀haʸlikon pur haʸlikaʸn hulaʸn anaptei;)

RP-GNT Οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστίν, καὶ μεγαλαυχεῖ. Ἰδού, ὀλίγον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει.
(Houtōs kai haʸ glōssa mikron melos estin, kai megalauⱪei. Idou, oligon pur haʸlikaʸn hulaʸn anaptei.)

TC-GNT Οὕτω καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστί, καὶ [fn]μεγαλαυχεῖ.
¶ Ἰδού, [fn]ὀλίγον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει.
(Houtō kai haʸ glōssa mikron melos esti, kai megalauⱪei.
¶ Idou, oligon pur haʸlikaʸn hulaʸn anaptei. )

3:5 μεγαλαυχει ¦ μεγαλα αυχει CT

3:5 ολιγον ¦ ηλικον CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–12: Believers must be careful what they say

In this section, James warned believers to be careful with their speech. When believers do not control what they say, it can have a devastating, evil impact. This was an especially serious danger for those who taught others in the church. James reinforced his warning with a series of comparisons or illustrations to show how important it is that Christians control their speech.

Introduction

3:1–2a: Becoming a teacher in the church is a serious thing to do

The tongue is compared to small things which have large effects

3:2b–3	A small bit can turn a horse
3:4–5c	A small rudder can turn a sailing ship
3:5d–6	A small fire can destroy much
3:7–8	Animals can be tamed but not our tongues

Each of us should be consistent in using our tongue for good

3:9–10	The tongue should not be used for both blessing and cursing
3:11	Springs produce one kind of water
3:12	Trees produce one kind of fruit

Some other possible headings for this section are:

We must control our speechTranslator’s Handbook on James, page 100.

Controlling the things we say (NCV)

Paragraph 3:4–5b

In this paragraph, James used the illustration of how a small rudder can turn a large ship. In a similar way, the tongue, even though it is a small part of the body, can have enormous effects.

3:5a

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body,

In a similar way, the tongue is only a small part of the human body,
It is the same with our^(incl) mouths. Even though they are just a little part of our bodies,

In the same way: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as In the same way introduces the application of the ship illustration to the tongue. Some other ways to translate this word are:

Likewise (NIV)

So too (NET)

So it is with (GNT)

In some languages, it may be natural to make this word a separate sentence. For example:

It is the same with the tongue. (NCV)

the tongue: In some languages, it is difficult to say the tongue without saying whose tongue it is. In such cases, it may be better to say:

a person’s tongue

the tongue of people

our tongue(s)

In this passage, the tongue represents the words that a person says with his tongue. In some languages, “the lips” or “the mouth” represent the words that a person says.

a small part of the body: Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

is a very little part of our body

is very small

3:5b

but it boasts of great things.

but it can brag about doing important things. (GW)
we^(incl) use them to boast about the great things that we have done.

but: There is a contrast between the tongue (a small part of the body) and the great boasts that it can make. Some versions do the same as the BSB and use the word but to indicate this contrast. It is also possible to show the contrast without a conjunction. For example:

So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things. (GNT)

it boasts of great things: The phrase it boasts of great things here indicates that the person’s tongue boasts or brags about the great things that it has done.

Notice that this is a personification. The meaning is that people use their tongues to boast about the great things they have done. There are at least two ways to translate this phrase:

Keep the personification. For example:
it can brag about doing important things (GW)
Translate the meaning. For example:
people use their tongue to boast about the great things that they have done.

Paragraph 3:5c–6

Many versions begin a new paragraph in the middle of 3:5.

This paragraph illustrates the power of the tongue by comparing it with a small fire.

3:5c

Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

¶ Think^(plur) about how a large forest can be burned by a very small flame/fire.
¶ Look^(plur) at this example: a small fire can burn a large forest.

Consider: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Consider is literally “behold!” or “look!” It is the same word as in 3:4a. This word introduces the next comparison and calls attention to it.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Just think (GNT)

Let us consider

Look

how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze: This sentence is more literally “Look how a small fire burns a great forest.”

James was probably referring to a small fire that a person may light in a wooded area. If he does not control the fire, it will set fire to a large area. This is something that can happen and does sometimes happen. James was not referring to any specific event.

a spark: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as how small a spark means “a small fire” (as in the RSV).

sets a great forest ablaze: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sets…ablaze is an active verb meaning “kindle,” “cause to burn” or “ignite.” The small fire ignites or sets fire to the forest.

Translate this in the way that best emphasizes the contrast between the large size of the forest and the small size of the fire that starts burning it.

a great forest: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as a great forest refers to a large area where there are lots of trees. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

many trees

a large area full of trees

lots of brush/grass

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

οὕτως καὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡ γλῶσσα μικρόν μέλος ἐστίν καί μεγάλα αὐχεῖ Ἰδού ἡλίκον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει)

James uses the words Thus also to introduce a simile or comparison between the human tongue and the small items he discussed in the previous two verses, a horse’s bit and a ship’s rudder. Alternate translation: [In the same way] or [Likewise]

μικρὸν μέλος

Alternate translation: [a small part of the body]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

(Occurrence 2) καὶ

Here, but introduces a contrast between the small size of the tongue and the great things that people use their tongues in speech to boast about.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

μεγάλα αὐχεῖ

great_‹things› ˓is˒_boasting

James is saying that the tongue is a living thing that boasts. Alternate translation: [with it people boast great things]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

μεγάλα αὐχεῖ

great_‹things› ˓is˒_boasting

James is using the adjective great in the plural as a noun. (ULT adds things to show this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate the term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [with it people boast that they have done great things]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Alternate translation: [Consider]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἰδοὺ

The implication is that James is offering his readers a further analogy. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [Consider as a further example]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

ἡλίκον πῦρ, ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει

how_much fire how_much ˓a˒_forest ˓is˒_kindling