Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of James 3:10
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
10. these things ought not so to be ] The verb, strictly. speaking, denotes not so much a state, as the coming into a state: these things ought not to occur in this way.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing – The meaning here may be, either that out of the mouth of man two such opposite things proceed, not referring to the same individual, but to different persons; or, out of the mouth of the same individual. Both of these are true; and both are equally incongruous and wrong. No organ should be devoted to uses so unlike, and the mouth should be employed in giving utterance only to that which is just, benevolent, and good. It is true, however, that the mouth is devoted to these opposite employments; and that while one part of the race employ it for purposes of praise, the other employ it in uttering maledictions. It is also true of many individuals that at one time they praise their Maker, and then, with the same organ, calumniate, and slander, and revile their fellow-men. After an act of solemn devotion in the house of God, the professed worshipper goes forth with the feelings of malice in his heart, and the language of slander, detraction, or even blasphemy on his lips.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be – They are as incongruous as it would be for the same fountain to send forth both salt water and fresh; or for the same tree to bear different kinds of fruit.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Out of the same mouth] This saying is something like that, Pr 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and on this, for an illustration of St. James’ words, hear Vayikra Rabba, sec. 33: “Rabbi Simeon, the son of Gamaliel, said to his servant Tobias, Go and bring me some good food from the market: the servant went, and he bought tongues. At another time he said to the same servant, Go and buy me some bad food: the servant went, and bought tongues. The master said, What is the reason that when I ordered thee to buy me good and bad food, thou didst bring tongues? The servant answered, From the tongue both good and evil come to man: if it be good, there is nothing better; if bad, there is nothing worse.”
A saying very like that of St. James as found in Rabbi Tanchum, fol. 10, 4: “The mouth desires to study in the law, and to speak good words; to praise God, to glorify him, and to celebrate him with hymns: but it can also slander, blaspheme, reproach, and swear falsely.” See Schoettgen.
To find a man who officiates in sacred things to be a common swearer, a slanderer, c., is truly monstrous but there have been many cases of this kind, and I have known several. Let me say to all such, My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He repeats here, by way of exaggeration, what he had said Jam 3:9, to show how exceedingly absurd it is that two such contrary actions should proceed from the same agent.
These things ought not so to be; there is a meiosis in the words; he means, things should be quite contrary. See the like expression, 1Ti 5:13; Tit 1:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. The tongue, says SOP,is at once the best and the worst of things. So in a fable, a manwith the same breath blows hot and cold. “Life and death are inthe power of the tongue” (compare Ps62:4).
brethrenan appeal totheir consciences by their brotherhood in Christ.
ought not so to beamild appeal, leaving it to themselves to understand that such conductdeserves the most severe reprobation.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing,…. Which is not only a contradiction, but unnatural, as well as wicked and sinful:
my brethren, these things ought not so to be: in any, and much less in professors of religion: such things are unbecoming men, are a scandal upon human nature, and exceeding unworthy of the Christian name; see Ps 50:16.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ought not ( ). The only use of this old impersonal verb (from ) in the N.T. It is more like (it is appropriate) than (it is necessary). It is a moral incongruity for blessing and cursing to come out of the same mouth.
So to be ( ). “So to keep on happening,” not just “to be,” present middle infinitive of .
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
James plainly says, brethren these things ought not to be (Gr. ginesthai), or to keep on happening like this. It is immoral -inconsistency for one to say. that he is a child of God and then pour forth out of his mouth both (Gr. eulogia) blessings and (Gr. katara) cursings.
MIND THAT TONGUE
John Wesley was preaching. He was wearing a new bow tie with two streamers hanging down from it. There was a sister in the meeting who didn’t hear a word about Jesus, but sat with a long face and saw nothing but those two streamers. When the service was over she went up and said, “Pardon me, Mr. Wesley, will you suffer a little criticism?” “Yes,” replied Mr. Wesley. ‘Well,” she said, “Mr. Wesley, your bow tie is too long and it is an offense to me.” He said, “Have you a pair of shears?” After receiving the shears he handed them to her saying that she would know how they would look best. She reached over and clipped off the streamers. Then he, said, “Is that all right now?” “Yes, that is much better.” He said, “Do you mind letting me have those shears? Would you mind a little criticism? Your tongue is a great offense to me – it is a little too long. Please stick it out while I take some off.” Of course she resented the suggestion.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
This particular truth ought also to be borne in mind, that severe censors discover their own virulence, which they suddenly vomit forth against their brethren whatever curses they can imagine, after having in sweet strains offered praises to God. Were any one to object and say, that the image of God in human nature has been blotted out by the sin of Adam; we must, indeed, confess that it has been miserably deformed, but in such a way that some of its lineaments still appear. Righteousness and rectitude, and the freedom of choosing what is good, have been lost; but many excellent endowments, by which we excel the brutes, still remain. He, then, who truly worships and honors God, will be afraid to speak slanderously of man.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(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!
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Same mouth Thus far these contrasts have illustrated the versatile power of the tongue. They will now serve to enforce the wickedness of such inconsistency.
My brethren ought not And cannot, just so far as they are true brethren, that is, true Christians, or true people of the Messiah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.’
So the same mouth produces blessing and cursing. How treacherous the tongue is. One moment it is full of joy and praise, singing in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, and the next it is spreading poison and doing dreadful harm. And the question is how can the same spring produce both life-giving water and brackish water? It is unnatural. As James says, ‘These things ought not to be!’
‘My brothers.’ Indicating that he is now coming to a kind of summary of what he has been saying.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jam 3:10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth, &c. So that “out of one and the same mouth come forth blessings and praises in one mood, and curses in another. Certainly, my Christian brethren, these contrary uses of the same tongue are monstrously incongruous and absurd; and ought, by no means, to have any place in those who make a profession of Christ and his gospel.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jas 3:10 . First a repetition of the saying in brief expressive combination, by which the accent is placed on . With the words , James adds the condemnation of the conduct described.
The impersonal verb is in the N. T. . .; the usual word is , from which it does not differ in meaning.
] The union of these two words serves for the sharpening of the idea; designates the contents; , the form of the action; incorrectly Bengel: bona; adjunctis malis.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Ver. 10. Out of the same mouth ] As it did once out of the mouth of Pope Julius II, who in the battle of Ravenna on Easter Day, between him and the French, as he sat by the fire reading his prayers, and having news of the defeat, he flung away his book, saying, Sit ergo Gallus in nomine diabolorum, Let Gaul be in the name of the demons. The devil take the French. (Annal. Gallic.) Is not this that mouth that speaketh great things and blasphemies? Rev 13:5 . A loaf of the same bran was that foul mouthed cardinal, who entering the city of Paris, and being met by the people who begged his blessing, blessed them at first; but when they came thicker upon him, and hindered his passage, he cursed them as fast; using these words, Quandoquidem hic populus vult decipi, decipiatur in nomine diaboli, i.e. Since this people will needs be deceived, let them be deceived in the devil’s name. Os sceleratum et profanum! The mouth is wicked and imious! (Dr Prideaux, Lect.) Plutarch in Dion tells of a land about Athens, that brings forth the best honey and worst poison. In Polypidis capite bonum inest et malum. Lo, such is the tongue.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
10 .] Out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing (by this resuming and collocation of the two opposite acts, the inconsistency is further shewn). These things, my brethren, ought not ( is not elsewhere found in the N. T., but always ) so to take place .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Jas 3:10 . : This incongruity is often rebuked in Jewish literature; it was the more needed because in earlier days it was not regarded as reprehensible, cf. Pro 11:26 ; Pro 24:24 ; Pro 26:2 ; Pro 30:10 , etc. : this does not imply a combination of blessing and cursing, as though such a combination were condemned, while either by itself were allowable (Mayor); it simply means that the mouth which blesses God when uttering prayer, curses men at some other times, e.g. , during embittered controversy. : . . in N.T.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Out of. App-104.
these things, &c. = it is not fitting (Greek. chre. Only here) that these things should so be.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
10.] Out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing (by this resuming and collocation of the two opposite acts, the inconsistency is further shewn). These things, my brethren, ought not ( is not elsewhere found in the N. T., but always ) so to take place.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Jam 3:10. , out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing) Psa 62:4. (Septuagint) , , they blessed with their mouth, but in their heart they cursed.- , there is no need) that is, it is by no means becoming.- , these things so) these good things, with the evils mixed up with them in such a manner.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
of: Psa 50:16-20, Jer 7:4-10, Mic 3:11, Rom 12:14, 1Pe 3:9
these: Gen 20:9, 2Sa 13:12, 1Co 3:3, 1Ti 5:13
Reciprocal: Gen 34:7 – thing Lev 4:2 – which ought Num 23:13 – and curse me Deu 22:9 – shalt not sow Job 31:30 – mouth Jer 6:7 – a fountain Luk 6:28 – Bless Luk 9:55 – Ye know Rom 3:14 – General 1Ti 3:8 – doubletongued
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jas 3:10. This repeats the thought of the preceding verse in another form of expression. The words same mouth emphasize the inconsistency in a more direct way.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jas 3:10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. There is here a moral incongruity. The annals of Christendom, observes Dean Plumptre, show that the necessity for the warning has not passed away. Councils formulating the faith, and uttering their curses on heretics; Te Deums chanted at an Auto da Fe, or after a massacre of St. Bartholomew; the railings of religious parties who are restrained from other modes of warfare, present the same melancholy inconsistency.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
“Blessing” is the term we gain eulogy from. It means speech, blessing, bounty, praise or fair. It is the giving of good words, not speaking with forked tongue as the old western movies put it. This is contrasted with the word for the opposite of blessing, that which is a curse. Two ends of the spectrum. The best and the worst of man’s mind can come forth by way of his tongue.
James has a simple statement – “these things ought not so to be.”
Think about that the next time you lie – “these things ought not so to be.”
Think about that the next time you degrade – “these things ought not so to be.”
Think about that the next time you give false witness – “these things ought not so to be.”
Think about that the next time you gossip – “these things ought not so to be.”
Think about that the next time you ……. – “these things ought not so to be.”
These things are wrong – all that should come from our tongue is good, uplifting, and blessed.
There is a man on one of the internet forums where I read a lot. He is a wise man, a reserved man, intelligent man – a real Christian from all appearances. Recently I found that he posts on another board. I went to that board out of curiosity and I found the same man that had none of the qualities that I knew him for. He was caustic, confrontive, nasty, and as pagan an acting man as you can find.
What a contrast between the two personas – the perfect illustration of James words and “these things ought not so to be.” He would make good sweet and sour sauce.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
3:10 {8} Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(8) Secondly, because the order of nature which God has set in things, will not allow things that are so contrary to one another, to stand with one another.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Not only is this contradictory phenomenon contrary to the will of God, it is also contrary to the natural order of things.
"Although the believer has in the indwelling Holy Spirit the potential for controlling the tongue, he may not be appropriating this potential." [Note: Burdick, p. 188.]
"To the person who speaks praise to God in the worship service and then abuses people verbally at home or at work, James commands, ’Purify your speech through the week.’ With the person who says, ’Oh, I know I talk too much,’ and laughs it off, James is not amused. He insists, ’Be quick to listen, slow to speak.’ By the person who boasts, ’I always speak my mind, no matter who gets hurt,’ James is not impressed. He commands, ’Discipline your speaking.’ Of the person who says, ’I know I gossip too much, but I just can’t help it,’ James still requires, ’Control your tongue.’ Of the person who is in the habit of speaking with insults, ridicule or sarcasm, James demands, ’Change your speech habits.’ He expects discipline to be happening in the life of a Christian. Any Christian can ask for the grace needed, for God gives good gifts (Jas 1:17) and gives them generously (Jas 1:5). There is, then, no justification for corrupt habits of speech in our churches today." [Note: Stulac, p. 130.]
". . . the Bible nowhere places much value on knowledge that remains merely cerebral or credal [sic]. Nothing is known until it also reshapes the life." [Note: Motyer, p. 130.]
"The reference is not to the use of profanity in vulgar speech but apparently seems to envision angry disputes and slanderous remarks in inner-church party strife (cf. Jas 4:1-2; Jas 4:11-12)." [Note: Hiebert, James, p. 201.]