James 3:10
New International Version
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

New Living Translation
And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

English Standard Version
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Berean Standard Bible
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

Berean Literal Bible
Out of the same mouth proceed forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

King James Bible
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

New King James Version
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

New American Standard Bible
from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.

NASB 1995
from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

NASB 1977
from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Legacy Standard Bible
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Amplified Bible
Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].

Christian Standard Bible
Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.

American Standard Version
out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

English Revised Version
out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Praise and curses come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!

Good News Translation
Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen!

International Standard Version
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers!

Majority Standard Bible
Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

NET Bible
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.

New Heart English Bible
Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Webster's Bible Translation
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Weymouth New Testament
Out of the same mouth there proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be.

World English Bible
Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing; it does not need, my brothers, these things to so happen;

Berean Literal Bible
Out of the same mouth proceed forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Young's Literal Translation
out of the same mouth doth come forth blessing and cursing; it doth not need, my brethren, these things so to happen;

Smith's Literal Translation
Out of the same month comes forth blessing and cursing. There is no need, my brethren, for these things so to be.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Catholic Public Domain Version
From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!

New American Bible
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.

New Revised Standard Version
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Out of the same mouth proceed curses and blessings. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
From the mouth proceeds blessing and cursing, my brethren. These things ought not so to be done.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not so to be.

Godbey New Testament
out of the same mouth come forth blessing and scolding. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Haweis New Testament
Out of the same mouth goeth forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be thus.

Mace New Testament
from the same mouth shall blessing and cursing proceed? this ought not to be practis'd, my brethren;

Weymouth New Testament
Out of the same mouth there proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be.

Worrell New Testament
Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing! My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Worsley New Testament
out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not so to be.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Taming the Tongue
9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?…

Cross References
Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Matthew 12:34-37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. / But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ...

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Proverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

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

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

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

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.

Proverbs 4:24
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.


Treasury of Scripture

Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not so to be.

of.

Psalm 50:16-20
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? …

Jeremiah 7:4-10
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these…

Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

these.

Genesis 20:9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

2 Samuel 13:12
And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

1 Corinthians 3:3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

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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.














Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
This phrase highlights the inconsistency and duality of human speech. In biblical context, the mouth is often seen as a reflection of the heart (Matthew 12:34). The ability to both bless and curse with the same mouth underscores the struggle between the flesh and the spirit, a theme prevalent throughout the New Testament. The power of words is emphasized in Proverbs 18:21, which states that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." Historically, the Jewish culture placed a high value on spoken words, understanding them as binding and powerful. This duality can also be seen in the story of Balaam (Numbers 22-24), who was hired to curse Israel but ended up blessing them instead, illustrating God's sovereignty over human intentions.

My brothers, this should not be!
James addresses his audience as "my brothers," indicating a familial relationship among believers and emphasizing the unity and love that should characterize the Christian community. This phrase serves as a moral exhortation, urging believers to align their speech with their faith. The call for consistency in speech reflects the broader biblical principle of integrity, as seen in Psalm 19:14, which prays for words and meditations to be pleasing to God. The imperative "this should not be" is a call to repentance and transformation, echoing the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), where He calls for purity of heart and action. The expectation is that believers, as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), should exhibit a transformed life, including their speech.

Persons / Places / Events
1. James
The author of the epistle, traditionally identified as James, the brother of Jesus and a leader in the early Jerusalem church. He is known for his practical teachings on Christian living.

2. Early Christian Communities
The recipients of the letter, likely Jewish Christians scattered outside of Palestine, facing trials and needing guidance on living out their faith.

3. The Tongue
A central theme in James 3, representing human speech and its power to influence both positively and negatively.
Teaching Points
The Power of Speech
Our words have the power to build up or tear down. As Christians, we are called to use our speech to bless others and glorify God.

Consistency in Christian Living
Just as a spring cannot produce both fresh and saltwater, our speech should consistently reflect our faith and values.

Guarding the Heart
Since our words reflect our inner state, we must guard our hearts and minds, filling them with God's truth and love.

Repentance and Transformation
Recognize areas where our speech does not align with our faith, and seek God's help in transforming our hearts and tongues.

Community Accountability
Engage with fellow believers to hold each other accountable in speech, encouraging one another to speak life and truth.(10) Ought not.--The Greek equivalent for this is only found here in the New Testament, and seems strangely weak when we reflect on the usual vehemence of the writer. Was he sadly conscious of the failure beforehand of his protest? At least, there seems no trace of satire in the sorrowful cadence of his lines, "Out of the same mouth!"



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Out of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive 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.

same
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

mouth
στόματος (stomatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.

come
ἐξέρχεται (exerchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1831: To go out, come out. From ek and erchomai; to issue.

blessing
εὐλογία (eulogia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2129: Adulation, praise, blessing, gift.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

cursing.
κατάρα (katara)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2671: Cursing; a curse; meton: a doomed one. From kata and ara; imprecation, execration.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

brothers,
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

this
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

should
χρή (chrē)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5534: It is necessary, proper, fitting. Third person singular of the same as chraomai or chrao used impersonally; it needs be.

not
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

be!
γίνεσθαι (ginesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.


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NT Letters: James 3:10 Out of the same mouth comes forth (Ja Jas. Jam)
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