Parallel Verses
Lexham Expanded Bible
Behold also ships: [although they] are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes.
New American Standard Bible
Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
King James Version
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Holman Bible
And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
International Standard Version
And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs.
A Conservative Version
Behold also the ships, being so great and driven by fierce winds, are guided about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the man who steers determines.
American Standard Version
Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.
Amplified
And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
An Understandable Version
Look, even though ships are huge and are driven by strong winds, still their direction can be governed by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires to sail.
Anderson New Testament
Behold also the ships, which are very great, and are driven by violent winds; yet they are turned about by a very small helm, to whatever point the will of him that directs it may determine.
Bible in Basic English
And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.
Common New Testament
Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
Daniel Mace New Testament
a ship too of the greatest burthen, tho' the wind bears hard, by means of an inconsiderable helm, veers about as the hand of the pilot directs her.
Darby Translation
Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.
Godbey New Testament
behold also the ships, being so great, and driven by fierce winds, are managed by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the will of the steersman prefers;
Goodspeed New Testament
Even ships, great as they are, and driven by strong winds, are steered with a very small rudder wherever the pilot pleases.
John Wesley New Testament
Behold also the ships, tho' they are so great, and driven by fierce winds, yet are turned about by a very small helm, whithersoever the pilot listeth.
Julia Smith Translation
Behold also ships, being so great, and driven by hard winds, are led by the smallest rudder, wherever the desire of him steering should will.
King James 2000
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
Modern King James verseion
Behold also the ships being so great, and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small rudder, where the impulse of him steering desires.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the violence of the governor will:
Moffatt New Testament
Look at ships too; for all their size and speed under stiff winds, they are turned by a tiny rudder wherever the mind of the steersman chooses.
Montgomery New Testament
Look at the ships too, though they are so large, even when driven by fierce winds they are turned by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the helmsman wills.
NET Bible
Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot's inclination directs.
New Heart English Bible
Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
Noyes New Testament
Behold also the ships, which, though they are so great, and driven by fierce winds, are yet turned about with a very small rudder, whithersoever the steersman chooseth.
Sawyer New Testament
behold also the ships, though of so great size and driven by powerful winds, are directed by a very small helm wherever the will of the pilot chooses;
The Emphasized Bible
Lo! the ships also, large as they are, and, by rough winds, driven along, are turned about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the steersman inclineth.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Behold also the ships, though so great, and driven by tempestuous winds, are turned about by the smallest rudder, whithersoever the inclination of the pilot pleaseth.
Twentieth Century New Testament
Again, think of ships. Large as they are, and even when driven by fierce winds, they are controlled by a very small rudder and steered in whatever direction the man at the helm may determine.
Webster
Behold also the ships, which though they are so great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm, withersoever the governor willeth.
Weymouth New Testament
So too with ships, great as they are, and often driven along by strong gales, yet they can be steered with a very small rudder in whichever direction the caprice of the man at the helm chooses.
Williams New Testament
Look at ships, too; though great and driven by violent winds, they are steered with a tiny rudder wherever the pilot pleases.
World English Bible
Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.
Worrell New Testament
Behold also the ships, large as they are, and driven along by fierce winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wheresoever the impulse of the steersman wills.
Worsley New Testament
Behold also the ships which are of so great bulk, and even when they are driven by hard winds, yet are turned about by a very small helm which way soever the pilot pleaseth.
Youngs Literal Translation
lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,
Themes
Ships » Parts of, mentioned » The rudder or helm
Ships » Governed and directed by the helm
Speech/communication » The tongue
Speech/communication » Bridling your tongue
Topics
Interlinear
Hopou
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in James 3:4
Images James 3:4
Prayers for James 3:4
Verse Info
Context Readings
Restraining The Tongue
3 And if we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies. 4 Behold also ships: [although they] are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot wishes. 5 So also the tongue is a small member [of the body] and boasts great [things]. Behold how small a fire sets ablaze how great a forest!
Cross References
Psalm 107:25-27
For he spoke and raised up a stormy wind, and it whipped up its waves.
Jonah 1:4
And Yahweh hurled a great wind upon the sea, and it was a great storm on the sea, and the merchant ship {was in danger of breaking up}.
Matthew 8:24
And behold, a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being inundated by the waves, but he himself was asleep.
Acts 27:14-38
But not long afterward a wind like a hurricane, called the northeaster, rushed down from it.