Teks -- James 3:9 (NET)

3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Jam 3:9 - Therewith

Therewith ( en autēi ).

This instrumental use of en is not merely Hebraistic, but appears in late Koiné writers (Moulton, Prol. , pp. 11f., 61f.). See also Rom 15:6.

Robertson: Jam 3:9 - We bless

We bless ( eulogoumen ).

Present active indicative of eulogeō , old verb from eulogos (a good word, eu , logos ), as in Luk 1:64 of God. "This is the highest function of speech"(Hort).

Robertson: Jam 3:9 - The Lord and Father

The Lord and Father ( ton kurion kai patera ).

Both terms applied to God.

Robertson: Jam 3:9 - Curse we

Curse we ( katarōmetha ).

Present middle indicative of the old compound verb kataraomai , to curse (from katara a curse), as in Luk 6:28.

Robertson: Jam 3:9 - Which are made after the likeness of God

Which are made after the likeness of God ( tous kath' homoiōsin theou gegonotas ).

Second perfect articular participle of ginomai and homoiōsis , old word from homoioō (to make like), making like, here only in N.T. (from Gen 1:26; Gen 9:6), the usual word being homoiōma , resemblance (Phi 2:7). It is this image of God which sets man above the beasts. Cf. 2Co 3:18.

Vincent: Jam 3:9 - God, even the Father

God, even the Father ( τὸν Θεὸν καὶ πατέρα )

The proper reading is τὸν Κύριον , the Lord, and the καὶ , and, is simply connective. Read, therefore, as Rev., the Lord and Father. This combination of terms for God is uncommon. See Jam 1:27.

Vincent: Jam 3:9 - Which

Which

Not who, which would designate personally certain men; whereas James designates them generically.

Wesley: Jam 3:9 - Men made after the likeness of God

Indeed we have now lost this likeness; yet there remains from thence an indelible nobleness, which we ought to reverence both in ourselves and others.

JFB: Jam 3:9 - God

The oldest authorities read, "Lord." "Him who is Lord and Father." The uncommonness of the application of "Lord" to the Father, doubtless caused the change in modern texts to "God" (Jam 1:27). But as Messiah is called "Father," Isa 9:6, so God the Father is called by the Son's title, "Lord": showing the unity of the Godhead. "Father" implies His paternal love; "Lord," His dominion.

JFB: Jam 3:9 - men, which

Not "men who"; for what is meant is not particular men, but men genetically [ALFORD].

JFB: Jam 3:9 - are made after . . . similitude of God

Though in a great measure man has lost the likeness of God in which he was originally made, yet enough of it still remains to show what once it was, and what in regenerated and restored man it shall be. We ought to reverence this remnant and earnest of what man shall be in ourselves and in others. "Absalom has fallen from his father's favor, but the people still recognize him to be the king's son" [BENGEL]. Man resembles in humanity the Son of man, "the express image of His person" (Heb 1:3), compare Gen 1:26; 1Jo 4:20. In the passage, Gen 1:26, "image" and "likeness" are distinct: "image," according to the Alexandrians, was something in which men were created, being common to all, and continuing to man after the fall, while the "likeness" was something toward which man was created, to strive after and attain it: the former marks man's physical and intellectual, the latter his moral pre-eminence.

Clarke: Jam 3:9 - Therewith bless we God

Therewith bless we God - The tongue is capable of rehearsing the praises, and setting forth the glories, of the eternal King: what a pity that it should ever be employed in a contrary work! It can proclaim and vindicate the truth of God, and publish the Gospel of peace and good will among men: what a pity that it should ever be employed in falsehoods, calumny, or in the cause of infidelity

Clarke: Jam 3:9 - And therewith curse we men

And therewith curse we men - In the true Satanic spirit, many pray to God, the Father, to destroy those who are objects of their displeasure! These are the common swearers, whose mouths are generally full of direful imprecations against those with whom they are offended

The consideration that man is made after the image of God should restrain the tongue of the swearer; but there are many who, while they pretend to sing the high praises of God, are ready to wish the direst imprecations either on those who offend them, or with whom they choose to be offended.

Calvin: Jam 3:9 - Therewith

9.Therewith, or, by it, bless we God. It is a clear instance of its deadly poison, that it can thus through a monstrous levity transform itself; for when it pretends to bless God, it immediately curses him in his own image, even by cursing men. For since God ought to be blessed in all his works, he ought to be so especially as to men, in whom his image and glory peculiarly shine forth. It is then a hypocrisy not to be borne, when man employs the same tongue in blessing God and in cursing men. There can be then no calling on God, and his praises must necessarily cease, when evil-speaking prevails; for it is impious profanation of God’s name, which the tongue is virulent towards our brethren and pretends to praise him. That he may therefore rightly praise God, the view of evil speaking as to our neighbor must especially be corrected.

Defender: Jam 3:9 - similitude of God

This is a reference to Gen 1:26, Gen 1:27. Even though scarred by thousands of years of sin and the curse, man is still made in the image of God and should be respected as such. If they will only come to Christ for regeneration, even the most depraved of men can be "renewed" in that image (Col 3:10)."

TSK: Jam 3:9 - Therewith // bless // therewith curse // made

Therewith : Psa 16:9, Psa 30:12, Psa 35:28, Psa 51:14, Psa 57:8, Psa 62:4, Psa 71:24, Psa 108:1; Act 2:26

bless : 1Ch 29:10,1Ch 29:20; Psa 34:1, Psa 63:4, Psa 145:1, Psa 145:21; Isa 29:13; Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3

therewith curse : Jdg 9:27; 2Sa 16:5, 2Sa 19:21; Psa 10:7, Psa 59:12, Psa 109:17, Psa 109:18; Ecc 7:22; Mat 5:44, Mat 26:74; Rom 3:14

made : Gen 1:26, Gen 1:27, Gen 5:1, Gen 9:6; 1Co 11:7

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Jam 3:9 - Therewith bless we God // Even the Father // And therewith curse we men // Which are made after the similitude of God

Therewith bless we God pray, and speak well of God.

Even the Father of Christ, and in him of all true believers.

And therewith curse we men rail on, revile, speak evil of, as well as wish evil to.

Which are made after the similitude of God either:

1. Saints in whom God’ s image is anew restored; or rather:

2. Men more generally, who, though they have lost that spiritual knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness in which that image of God, after which man was created, principally consists; yet still have some relics of his image continuing in them.

This is added to aggravate the sin; speaking evil of men made after God’ s image, is speaking evil of God obliquely, and by reflection.

Haydock: Jam 3:9-13 - By it we bless God // Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you?

By it we bless God, &c. Such different effects from the same cause, as of blessing God, and cursing men, created to the likeness of God, seem contrary to the ordinary course of nature; from a fountain from the same source doth not send forth both sweet and bitter streams. ---

Who is a wise man, and endued with knowledge among you? &c. This seems to be connected with the admonition given at the beginning of the chapter, be not many masters; let none pretend to this but who have wisdom and knowledge, which also may be known by their prudent and mild conversation.

Gill: Jam 3:9 - Therewith bless we God, even, the Father // and therewith curse we men // which are made after the similitude of God

Therewith bless we God, even, the Father,.... Of Jesus Christ, and of spirits, and of mercies: this is the instrument that is used in blessing God daily every meal that is eaten; and in joining with the saints, though only verbally and outwardly, in blessing God for all spiritual blessings in Christ, both in prayer, and in singing psalms:

and therewith curse we men: make imprecations, and wish evils upon them:

which are made after the similitude of God as man was originally, Gen 1:26 and though sin has greatly defaced it, yet there are still some remains of it: and now, what an absurd and monstrous thing is this, that one and the same instrument should be used in blessing God, the Father of all creatures, and in cursing his children, his offering, as all men are by creation, and bear some resemblance to him.