James 3:5

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
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Original language and places

Reference data from open datasets, shown as published by their sources. Word-by-word English is a literal guide, not a translation.

Original language (Greek)

Οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστὶν καὶ μεγάλα αὐχεῖ. ἰδοὺ ἡλίκον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει·

  1. ΟὕτωςHoutōs“Thus”
    Adverb · from οὕτω, οὕτως · “thus(-ly)” · Strong's G3779
  2. καὶkai“also”
    Conjunction · from καί · “and” · Strong's G2532
  3. ἡhē“the”
    Article, nominative, singular, feminine · from ὁ · “the/this/who” · Strong's G3588
  4. γλῶσσαglōssa“tongue”
    Noun, nominative, singular, feminine · “tongue” · Strong's G1100
  5. μικρὸνmikron“a small”
    Adjective, nominative, singular, neuter · from μικρός · “small” · Strong's G3398
  6. μέλοςmelos“member”
    Noun, nominative, singular, neuter · “member” · Strong's G3196
  7. ἐστὶνestin“is”
    Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · from εἰμί · “to be” · Strong's G1510
  8. καὶkai“and”
    Conjunction · from καί · “and” · Strong's G2532
  9. μεγάλαmegala“exceeding things”
    Adjective, accusative, plural, neuter · from μέγας · “great” · Strong's G3173
  10. αὐχεῖ.auchei“it boasts.”
    Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · from αὐχέω · “to boast” · Strong's G6094
  11. ἰδοὺidou“Behold”
    Interjection · from ἰδού · “look!” · Strong's G2400
  12. ἡλίκονhēlikon“a great”
    Interrogative pronoun, nominative, singular, neuter · from ἡλίκος · “how great” · Strong's G2245
  13. πῦρpur“fire”
    Noun, nominative, singular, neuter · “fire” · Strong's G4442
  14. ἡλίκηνhēlikēn“how great”
    Interrogative pronoun, accusative, singular, feminine · from ἡλίκος · “how great” · Strong's G2245
  15. ὕληνhulēn“a forest”
    Noun, accusative, singular, feminine · from ὕλη · “forest” · Strong's G5208
  16. ἀνάπτει·anaptei“it kindles;”
    Verb, present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular · from ἀνάπτω · “to kindle” · Strong's G0381
  • Greek words: STEP Bible (STEPBible.org), based on work at Tyndale House, Cambridge. CC BY 4.0. Source (version ed476a8)