James 3:5 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

English (YLT) 1898 Young's Literal Translation by Robert Young

so also the tongue is a little member, and doth boast greatly; lo, a little fire how much wood it doth kindle!

So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

English Amplified

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

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.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

Thus also the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how little a fire, how large a wood it kindles!

English EASY 2024

In the same way, our tongue is a very small part of our body. But it speaks as if it is very great. Think about this. A very small fire can cause even a big forest to burn completely.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

It is the same with our tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it can boast about doing great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.

English ESV 2016 == The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

English GNT (Good News Translation)

So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things. Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame!

English God's Word - GW 1995

In the same way the tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things. A large forest can be set on fire by a little flame.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.

English KJV 1611

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Even so, the tongue is a little part of the body and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body. But it brags a lot. Think about how a small spark can set a big forest on fire.

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

English NKJ 1982

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

So also the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark.

English Tyndale 1537

even so the tongue is little member and boasteth great things. Behold how great a thing a little fire kindleth,