The Meaning of James 3:12 Explained

James 3:12

KJV: Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

YLT: is a fig-tree able, my brethren, olives to make? or a vine figs? so no fountain salt and sweet water is able to make.

Darby: Can, my brethren, a fig produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water make sweet water.

ASV: Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither can'salt water yield sweet.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Can  the fig tree,  my  brethren,  bear  olive berries?  either  a vine,  figs?  so  [can] no  fountain  both yield  salt  water  and  fresh. 

What does James 3:12 Mean?

Context Summary

James 3:1-12 - Bridle The Tongue
It is much easier to teach people what they should be and do than to obey our own precepts. Even the best of us stumble in many respects; but our most frequent failures are in speech. If we could control our tongues, we should be masters of the whole inner economy of our natures. The refusal to express a thought will kill the thought. Let Christ bridle your mouth, and He will be able to turn about your whole body. Let Him have His hand on the tiller of your tongue, and He will guide your life as He desires.
A single spark may burn down a city. The upsetting of an oil lamp in a stable led to the burning of Chicago. Lighted at the flames of hell, the tongue can pass their, vitriol on to earth. Man cannot tame the tongue, but Christ can. He goes straight for the heart, for, as He said long ago, the seat of the mischief is there. See Mark 7:14-15; Psalms 51:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: James 3

1  We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5  but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member,
9  but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm
13  The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife

Greek Commentary for James 3:12

Can? [μη δυναται]
Negative answer expected. See the same metaphor in Matthew 7:16. [source]
Fig-tree [συκη]
Old and common word (Matthew 21:19.).Figs (συκα — suka). Ripe fruit of η συκη — hē sukē (ελαιας — elaias). Elsewhere in the N.T. for olive-trees as Matthew 21:1.Vine Old word (Matthew 26:29).Salt water (αλυκον — halukon). Old adjective from αλς — hals (αλας — halas salt), here only in N.T. [source]
Figs [συκα]
Ripe fruit of η συκη — hē sukē Elsewhere in the N.T. for olive-trees as Matthew 21:1. [source]
Vine [αμπελος]
Old word (Matthew 26:29).Salt water (αλυκον — halukon). Old adjective from αλς — hals (αλας — halas salt), here only in N.T. [source]
Salt water [αλυκον]
Old adjective from αλς — hals (αλας — halas salt), here only in N.T. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for James 3:12

James 1:26 While he bridleth not his tongue [μη χαλιναγωγων γλωσσαν εαυτου]
“Not bridling his own tongue.” A reference to James 1:19 and the metaphor is repeated in James 3:12. This is the earliest known example of the compound χαλιναγωγεω — chalinagōgeō It occurs also in Lucian. The picture is that of a man putting the bridle in his own mouth, not in that of another. See the similar metaphor of muzzling Present active participle from απατη — apatē (deceit). He plays a trick on himself.Religion Later form of τρησκιη — thrēskiē (Herodotus) from τρησκος — thrēskos above. It means religious worship in its external observances, religious exercise or discipline, but not to the exclusion of reverence. In the N.T. we have it also in Acts 26:5 of Judaism and in Colossians 2:18 of worshipping angels. It is vain (ματαιος — mataios feminine form same as masculine) or empty. Comes to nothing. [source]

What do the individual words in James 3:12 mean?

Not is able brothers of me a fig tree olives to produce Or a vine figs Nor a salt [spring] fresh water
μὴ δύναται ἀδελφοί μου συκῆ ἐλαίας ποιῆσαι ἄμπελος σῦκα οὔτε ἁλυκὸν γλυκὺ ὕδωρ

δύναται  is  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
ἀδελφοί  brothers 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀδελφός  
Sense: a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother.
μου  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
συκῆ  a  fig  tree 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: συκῆ  
Sense: a fig tree.
ἐλαίας  olives 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐλαία  
Sense: an olive tree.
ποιῆσαι  to  produce 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
ἄμπελος  a  vine 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: ἄμπελος  
Sense: a vine.
σῦκα  figs 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: σῦκον  
Sense: a fig, the ripe fruit of a fig tree.
οὔτε  Nor 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: οὔτε  
Sense: neither, and not.
ἁλυκὸν  a  salt  [spring] 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἁλυκός  
Sense: salt.
γλυκὺ  fresh 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: γλυκύς  
Sense: sweet.
ὕδωρ  water 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὕδωρ  
Sense: water.