James 3:5

The tongue is a small body part that boasts great things, and a tiny spark can set a forest ablaze. Small words can produce enormous effects.

Cross-references · 22

• Prov 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
• Jer 9:3–8And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
• Prov 12:18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
• Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
• Ps 17:10They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
• Ps 73:8–9They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
• Ps 12:2–4They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
• Ps 52:1–2Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
• Jude 1:16These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
• Jer 18:18Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
• Rev 13:5–6And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
• Ps 10:3For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
• Ezek 28:2Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
• 2 Kgs 19:22–24Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
• 2 Pet 2:18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
• Exod 15:9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
• Job 22:17Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
• Dan 4:30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
• Job 21:14–15Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
• Dan 3:15Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
• Exod 5:2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
• Ezek 29:3Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.