Careful: to teach is to play with fire

Think twice before becoming a teacher, since teachers are judged more strictly given the fact that everyone stumbles with his tongue and the tongue is extremely powerful.

Arc

James 3:1-5

esv

na28

mhnt

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers,

Μὴ πολλοὶ διδάσκαλοι γίνεσθε, ἀδελφοί μου,

אַחַי, אַל יִהְיוּ רַבִּים מִכֶּם לְמוֹרִים,

for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

εἰδότες ὅτι μεῖζον κρίμα λημψόμεθα.

שֶׁהֲרֵי יְדַעְתֶּם כִּי עָלֵינוּ יִהְיֶה הַדִּין חָמוּר יוֹתֵר.

ground

For we all stumble in many ways.

πολλὰ γὰρ πταίομεν ἅπαντες.

וַהֲלֹא כֻּלָּנוּ מַרְבִּים לְהִכָּשֵׁל.

And if anyone does not stumble in what he says,

εἴ τις ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει,

מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִכְשָׁל בְּדִבּוּר,

he is a perfect man,

οὗτος τέλειος ἀνὴρ

אִישׁ מֻשְׁלָם הוּא

able also to bridle his whole body.

δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα.

וְיָכוֹל לָשִׂים רֶסֶן לְכָל גּוּפוֹ.

conditional

concessive

If we put bits into the mouths of horses

εἰ δὲ τῶν ἵππων τοὺς χαλινοὺς εἰς τὰ στόματα βάλλομεν

הִנֵּה בְּפִי הַסּוּסִים שָׂמִים אָנוּ רֶסֶן

so that they obey us,

εἰς τὸ πείθεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν,

כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשָּׁמְעוּ לָנוּ,

actionpurpose

we guide their whole bodies as well.

καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν μετάγομεν.

וְכָךְ מְנַהֲגִים אָנוּ אֶת כָּל גּוּפָם.

Look at the ships also:

ἰδοὺ καὶ τὰ πλοῖα

וְהִנֵּה גַּם הָאֳנִיּוֹת,

though they are so large

τηλικαῦτα ὄντα

אַף שֶׁגְּדוֹלוֹת הֵן

and are driven by strong winds,

καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα,

וְנֶהְדָּפוֹת בְּרוּחַ עַזָּה,

series

they are guided by a very small rudder

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

הֶגֶה קָטָן יְנַהֵג אוֹתָן

wherever the will of the pilot directs.

ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται,

אֶל הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁיִּרְצֶה הַהַגַּאי.

locative

ideaexplanation

So also the tongue is a small member,

οὕτως καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα μικρὸν μέλος ἐστὶν

כֵּן גַּם הַלָּשׁוֹן אֵיבָר קָטָן הִיא,

yet it boasts of great things.

καὶ μεγάλα αὐχεῖ.

וּמְדַבֶּרֶת גְּדוֹלוֹת.

comparison

James assumes his readers already know that there is no perfect man (save Jesus) and thus is making the point here that everyone stumbles with his tongue.

na28

discourse

Comments

John A Loughlin

Yes. I've often wondered if a helpful "loose" translation of 1a could be, "Not every yahoo should be a teacher, boys."

Andy Hubert

Your translation captures the essence while at the same time being poetic. :)

Adnan

Thank you for this insight!

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