SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:4
Mirad tambin las naves, siendo tan grandes, y siendo llevadas de impetuosos vientos, son gobernadas con un muy pequeo timn por dondequiera que quisiere la gana del que gobierna.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great , etc.] Of so large a bulk, of such a prodigious size, and are such unwieldy vessels: and are driven of fierce winds ; with great vehemence, rapidity, and swiftness: yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth ; the helm, or tiller of a ship, is a beam or piece of timber fastened into the rudder, and so coming forward into the steerage, where he that stands at helm steers the ship f29 , who is here called the governor; or he that directs, as the word may be rendered; that is, that steers; the word for helm is translated rudder in ( Acts 27:40), and the helm or tiller is sometimes, though improperly, called the rudder itself f30 ; and this is very small, in comparison of the bulk of the ship that is guided by it f31 . Aristotle calls it phdalion mikron , a small helm, as the apostle here does, and accounts for it how large ships should be moved and steered by it. And so, though the tongue is to the rest of the body as a small helm to a large ship, yet, like that, it has great influence over the whole body, to check it when it is carrying away with the force of its appetites and passions; and so churches, societies, and bodies of Christians, which are large and numerous, and are like ships upon the ocean, tossed to and fro with tempests, driven by Satan's temptations and the world's persecution, and ready to be carried away with the wind of false doctrine, yet are influenced and directed aright by those that are at the helm, the faithful ministers of the word, who say to them, this is the way, walk in it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - We are taught to dread an unruly tongue, as one of the greatest evils The affairs of mankind are thrown into confusion by the tongues of men Every age of the world, and every condition of life, private or public affords examples of this. Hell has more to do in promoting the fire of the tongue than men generally think; and whenever men's tongues ar employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of hell. No man can tam the tongue without Divine grace and assistance. The apostle does no represent it as impossible, but as extremely difficult. Other sin decay with age, this many times gets worse; we grow more froward an fretful, as natural strength decays, and the days come on in which we have no pleasure. When other sins are tamed and subdued by the infirmities of age, the spirit often grows more tart, nature being drawn down to the dregs, and the words used become more passionate That man's tongue confutes itself, which at one time pretends to ador the perfections of God, and to refer all things to him; and at anothe time condemns even good men, if they do not use the same words an expressions. True religion will not admit of contradictions: how man sins would be prevented, if men would always be consistent! Pious an edifying language is the genuine produce of a sanctified heart; an none who understand Christianity, expect to hear curses, lies boastings, and revilings from a true believer's mouth, any more tha they look for the fruit of one tree from another. But facts prove tha more professors succeed in bridling their senses and appetites, than i duly restraining their tongues. Then, depending on Divine grace, let u take heed to bless and curse not; and let us aim to be consistent in our words and actions.
Greek Textus Receptus
ιδου 2400 5628 και 2532 τα 3588 πλοια 4143 τηλικαυτα 5082 οντα 5607 5752 και 2532 υπο 5259 σκληρων 4642 ανεμων 417 ελαυνομενα 1643 5746 μεταγεται 3329 5743 υπο 5259 ελαχιστου 1646 πηδαλιου 4079 οπου 3699 αν 302 η 3588 ορμη 3730 του 3588 ευθυνοντος 2116 5723 βουληται 1014 5741
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. The ships. See Introduction, on James' local allusions. Dean Howson observes that "there is more imagery drawn from mere natural phenomena in the one short epistle of James than in all St. Paul's epistles put together."
So great. As the ship which conveyed Paul to Malta, which contained two hundred and seventy-six persons (Acts xxvii. 37).
Fierce (sklhrwn). More literally, and better, as Rev., rough. The word primarily means hard, harsh.
Helm (phdaliou). Better, rudder, as Rev. The rudder was an oar worked by a handle. Helm and rudder were thus one. The word occurs only here and Acts xxvii. 40.
The governor listeth (h ormh tou euqunontov bouletai). Lit., the impulse or desire of the steersman wisheth. 'Ormh, impulse, only here and Acts xiv. 5, of an assault, onset.
The governor (tou euqunontov). Rev., steersman. Lit., of him who is guiding. Only here and John i. 23. From 'Ormh, straight.
