James 3:9

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Therewith {G1722}{G846} bless we {G2127} God {G2316}, even {G2532} the Father {G3962}; and {G2532} therewith {G1722}{G846} curse we {G2672} men {G444}, which {G3588} are made {G1096} after {G2596} the similitude {G3669} of God {G2316}.

With it we bless Adonai, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God.

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

James 3:9 serves as a powerful indictment of the hypocrisy that can exist in human speech, particularly within the Christian community. The verse highlights the stark contradiction of using the same tongue to offer praise to God and to utter curses against fellow human beings.

Context

In James Chapter 3, the apostle James dedicates significant attention to the immense power and potential destructiveness of the tongue. He describes it as a small member that can cause great damage, comparing it to a tiny bit controlling a large horse or a small rudder steering a massive ship (James 3:3-4). The tongue is portrayed as an "unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). Verse 9 directly precedes the rhetorical question in James 3:10, which asks how a fountain can produce both fresh and bitter water, underscoring the inconsistency of dual-natured speech.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy of Speech: The most striking theme is the blatant inconsistency of blessing God while simultaneously cursing people. This exposes a disconnect between outward religious devotion and genuine inner transformation.
  • The Dignity of Humanity: The phrase "made after the similitude of God" is central. This refers to the imago Dei (image of God), a foundational biblical concept from creation (Genesis 9:6). Cursing a person, therefore, is not merely an offense against them, but an affront to God's creative work and the inherent worth He has bestowed upon every individual.
  • The Power of Words: James emphasizes that words are not neutral. They carry immense spiritual and relational weight, capable of expressing profound reverence or deep malice. This verse challenges believers to recognize the sacredness of human life and the impact of their verbal expressions.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "similitude of God" is homoíōsin theoú, which strongly echoes the Old Testament account of humanity being created in God's image and likeness (e.g., Genesis 1:26). This "similitude" implies that humans possess unique qualities that reflect God's nature, such as rationality, moral capacity, creativity, and the ability to relate to God. To "bless" (Greek: eulogoumen) means to speak well of or praise, while to "curse" (Greek: katarōmetha) means to invoke evil upon or revile. The sharp contrast highlights the moral absurdity of such contradictory speech.

Practical Application

James 3:9 serves as a profound call to self-examination for all believers. It challenges us to consider:

  • Consistency of Character: Do our words truly reflect the God we claim to worship? Genuine faith should produce consistent speech that honors both God and His creation.
  • Respect for Others: Recognizing that every person bears the image of God should fundamentally transform how we speak about and to others. Whether in public or private, our words should reflect respect for their inherent dignity.
  • Disciplining the Tongue: This verse underscores the ongoing need for spiritual discipline regarding our speech. It reminds us that life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and true worship extends to how we treat those around us. Our words should always build up, not tear down, reflecting the love of God.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 10:7

    His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.

  • Genesis 1:26

    ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

  • Genesis 1:27

    So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

  • Psalms 59:12

    [For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying [which] they speak.

  • Psalms 62:4

    They only consult to cast [him] down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • 2 Samuel 19:21

    But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

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