The Meaning of James 3:9 Explained

James 3:9

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

YLT: with it we do bless the God and Father, and with it we do curse the men made according to the similitude of God;

Darby: Therewith bless we the Lord and Father, and therewith curse we men made after the likeness of God.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does James 3:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We honor God with our words, but then we turn right around and dishonor other people with what we say. This is inconsistent because man is the image of God ( Genesis 1:27).
"To bless God is the sublimest function of the human tongue; thrice daily the devout Jew recited "the Eighteen Benedictions," with their ending "Blessed art Thou, O God."" [1]
"It was the pious practice among the Jews, both in speaking and in writing, to add "Blessed [2] He" after each utterance of the name of God. No doubt, the readers of this epistle still continued this practice whenever God was mentioned." [3]

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 3:9

Therewith [εν αυτηι]
This instrumental use of εν — en is not merely Hebraistic, but appears in late Koiné writers (Moulton, Prol., pp. 11f., 61f.). See also Romans 15:6. [source]
We bless [ευλογουμεν]
Present active indicative of ευλογεω — eulogeō old verb from ευλογος — eulogos (a good word, ευ λογος — euτον κυριον και πατερα — logos), as in Luke 1:64 of God. “This is the highest function of speech” (Hort).The Lord and Father (καταρωμετα — ton kurion kai patera). Both terms applied to God.Curse we Present middle indicative of the old compound verb καταρα — kataraomai to curse (from τους κατ ομοιωσιν τεου γεγονοτας — katara a curse), as in Luke 6:28.Which are made after the likeness of God (γινομαι — tous kath' homoiōsin theou gegonotas). Second perfect articular participle of ομοιωσις — ginomai and ομοιοω — homoiōsis old word from ομοιωμα — homoioō (to make like), making like, here only in N.T. (from Genesis 1:26; Genesis 9:6), the usual word being homoiōma resemblance (Philemon 2:7). It is this image of God which sets man above the beasts. Cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18. [source]
The Lord and Father [καταρωμετα]
Both terms applied to God. [source]
Curse we [καταραομαι]
Present middle indicative of the old compound verb καταρα — kataraomai to curse (from τους κατ ομοιωσιν τεου γεγονοτας — katara a curse), as in Luke 6:28.Which are made after the likeness of God (γινομαι — tous kath' homoiōsin theou gegonotas). Second perfect articular participle of ομοιωσις — ginomai and ομοιοω — homoiōsis old word from ομοιωμα — homoioō (to make like), making like, here only in N.T. (from Genesis 1:26; Genesis 9:6), the usual word being homoiōma resemblance (Philemon 2:7). It is this image of God which sets man above the beasts. Cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18. [source]
Which are made after the likeness of God [γινομαι]
Second perfect articular participle of ομοιωσις — ginomai and ομοιοω — homoiōsis old word from ομοιωμα — homoioō (to make like), making like, here only in N.T. (from Genesis 1:26; Genesis 9:6), the usual word being homoiōma resemblance (Philemon 2:7). It is this image of God which sets man above the beasts. Cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18. [source]
God, even the Father [τὸν Θεὸν καὶ πατέρα]
The proper reading is τὸν Κύριον , the Lord, and the καὶ , and, is simply connective. Read, therefore, as Rev., the Lord and Father. This combination of terms for God is uncommon. See James 1:27. [source]
Which []
Not who, which would designatepersonally certain men; whereas James designates them generically. [source]

What do the individual words in James 3:9 mean?

With it we bless our Lord and Father we curse - men those according to [the] likeness of God being made
Ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν τὸν Κύριον καὶ Πατέρα καταρώμεθα τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας

εὐλογοῦμεν  we  bless 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: εὐλογέω 
Sense: to praise, celebrate with praises.
τὸν  our 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Κύριον  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Πατέρα  Father 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
καταρώμεθα  we  curse 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Plural
Root: καταράομαι  
Sense: to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon.
τοὺς  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀνθρώπους  men 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
καθ’  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
ὁμοίωσιν  [the]  likeness 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ὁμοίωσις  
Sense: a making like.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
γεγονότας  being  made 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.