James 3:4
ESV
Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
NIV
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
NASB
Look at the ships too: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are nevertheless directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot determines.
CSB
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.
NLT
And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.
KJV
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.
NKJV
Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
What does James 3:4 mean?
James continues to illustrate the point about how difficult our words are to control. In verse 2, he wrote that if a person could perfectly control his words, he would be perfect. He would be able to "bridle" or flawlessly control his entire body. But, while this is a noble goal, humans are fallible and sinful. All of us—including James himself—continue to stumble in many ways (James 3:2).James is making the point that just because the tongue is small does not mean it is weak. In fact, he brings three analogies to show how something small can be powerful. Another layer of James's teaching is that learning to control certain aspects of our lives will, by necessity, lead to control over all others. His first example, from verse 3, was how horses can be controlled a tiny bit in their mouths.
Here in verse 4, James points to huge ships at sea. The power behind those ships in James's era was the mighty wind, but nobody can control the wind. Wooden sailing ships full of cargo could weigh thousands of pounds. And yet, a pilot could alter the movement of the most massive boat using just a relatively small piece of wood: the rudder. A rudder is the paddle-like plank used to steer a ship.
James will write in the next verse that if we learn to control our tongues—meaning the words we say—we could control what we do with our entire bodies. The one who controls a bit controls the entire horse. The one who controls the rudder steers the entire ship. The man who learns to control his tongue is one who has gained control over his entire self.
This, of course, is neither easy (James 3:8), nor something we can expect to do with perfection (James 3:2).
James 3:1–12 discusses talking. This passage continues James's big idea that faith and works go together. Specifically, that what one does (or says) proves what they really believe. Those who trust God, who really believe Him, begin to be changed in their speech, as well. And yet, everyone still stumbles. The tongue is untamable, capable of great destruction. In fact, James calls it a fire and a restless evil that is itself set on fire by hell. We need to be changed. It shouldn't be that we praise God and curse the people made in His image. And yet, as fallen people, we do just that.
Human words are powerful. Our tongues are small, but they are capable of wreaking great havoc. Any person who could perfectly control their words would be in perfect control of their entire bodies. Instead, as sinful human beings, our tongues are untamable. Our words are fire, igniting the entire course of our lives. Blessing God and cursing people should not come out of the same mouth; we are corrupted. James concludes the chapter by exploring what it means to be truly wise. True wisdom is not necessarily found in those with the most education, money, or friends. Rather, wise people can be spotted living wisely in humility, participating in good works, enjoying peace, singleness of purpose, and gentle lifestyles.
