james-3:11-12

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 3:12

James 3:12. So can no fountain both yield, &c.— "Full as inconsistent is it to suppose, that a man's heart, the fountain whence all his words proceed, should habitually vent itself in ways of talking, which are of as directly contrary a nature, as the salt water of the sea, and the sweet water of the finest spring, are one to the other." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 3:11

11. fountain—an image of the heart: as the aperture (so the Greek for "place" is literally) of the fountain is an image of man's mouth. The image here is appropriate to the scene of the Epistle, Palestine, wherein salt and bitter springs are found. Though "sweet" springs are sometimes found near, yet "sweet and bitter" (water) do not flow "at the same place" (aperture). Grace can make the same mouth that "sent forth the bitter" once, send forth the sweet for the time to come: as the wood... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 3:12

12. Transition from the mouth to the heart. Can the fig tree, c.—implying that it is an impossibility: as before in :- he had said it "ought not so to be." James does not, as Matthew (Matthew 7:16 Matthew 7:17), make the question, "Do men gather figs of thistles?" His argument is, No tree "can" bring forth fruit inconsistent with its nature, as for example, the fig tree, olive berries: so if a man speaks bitterly, and afterwards speaks good words, the latter must be so only seemingly, and in... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 3:1-12

A. Controlling the Tongue 3:1-12It is particularly the misuse of the tongue in Christian worship that James addressed (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 14:27-39). From the subject of idle faith, James proceeded to discuss idle speech.". . . in his usual ’rondo’ manner [James] returns to the theme of speech (James 1:19; James 1:26) and warns his true Christians of the dangers of the tongue . . ." [Note: Adamson, p. 138.] "It [this chapter] is also connected with that overvaluation of theory... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 3:9-12

5. The inconsistency of the tongue 3:9-12 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 3:11-12

Illustrations highlight this natural inconsistency (cf. Matthew 7:16). A water source can yield only one kind of water. A tree can only produce fruit of its own kind. A salt spring cannot produce fresh water any more than a fallen human nature can naturally produce pure words. A fountain, a tree, and the tongue all have power to delight (cf. James 3:5; James 3:8)."Small and influential, the tongue must be controlled; satanic and infectious, the tongue must be corralled; salty and inconsistent,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:1-18

The Control of the Tongue1, 2. Warning against undue eagerness to teach: cp. Matthew 12:37; Matthew 23:7; Romans 2:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:26-40; Ephesians 4:11. Masters] better, ’teachers.’ The position of a teacher is one of great responsibility. Greater condemnation] RV ’heavier judgement’ (Luke 12:48). We all frequently err (RV ’stumble,’ better than AV offend). There is no such thing as human infallibility. That which is most likely to cause us to err is the tongue... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 3:11

(11) Doth a (or, the) fountain send forth (literally, spurt) at the same place (or, hole, see margin) sweet water and bitter (i.e., fresh water and salt)?—A vivid picture, probably, of the mineral springs abounding in the Jordan valley, near the Dead Sea; with which might be contrasted the clear and sparkling rivulets of the north, fed by the snows of Lebanon. Nature had no confusion in her plans; and thus to pour out curse and blessing from the same lips were unnatural indeed. Or, again— read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 3:12

(12) Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?—Read, Can a fig-tree bear olives, or a vine, figs? The inquiry sounds like a memory of our Lord’s, “Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:16.)So can no fountain . . .—This, the last clause of the sentence above in the Authorised version is very confused in the original, but seems to be merely this, Neither can salt (water) bring forth fresh; or, as Wordsworth renders it, Nor can water that is... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 3:1-18

James 3:2 She gossiped, like all the rest of Old Chester; but by some mysterious method, Susan Carr's gossip gave the listener a gentler feeling towards his kind. When she spoke of her neighbour's faults, one knew that somehow they were simply virtues gone to seed; and what was more remarkable, her praise had no sting of insinuation in it, no suggestion that she could speak differently if she chose. Margaret Deland, Philip and His Wife, p. 44. References. III. 2. J. Keble, Sermons for... read more

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - James 3:12

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 3:11

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - James 3:12

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 3:1-12

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 3:9-12

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - James 3:11-12

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - James 3:1-18

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 3:11

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - James 3:12

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - James 3:1-18

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