5 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.
James 3:5
Semantically similar passages
James 3:8–10
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should…
Proverbs 18:20–22
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Sirach 28:11–13
11 A contention begun in haste kindles a fire; and hasty fighting sheds blood. (WEB) 12 If you blow on a spark, it will burn; and if you spit upon it, it will be quenched. Both of these come out of your mouth. (WEB) 13 Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for he has destroyed ma… (WEB)
James 1:25–27
25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives…
Proverbs 12:17–19
17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. 18 Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Proverbs 15:3–5
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good. 4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
Sirach 37:17–19
17 As a token of the changing of the heart, (WEB) 18 four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue. (WEB) 19 There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. (WEB)
Sirach 11:31–33
31 For he lies in wait to turn things that are good into evil, and assigns blame in things that are praiseworthy. (WEB) 32 From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals is kindled, and a sinful man lies in wait to shed blood. (WEB) 33 Take heed of an evil-doer, for he plans wicked thi… (WEB)
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