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James 3:4

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.

KJV

ἰδοὺ καὶ τὰ πλοῖα, τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα, μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται·

Greek NT

Ecce et naves, cum magnæ sint, et a ventis validis minentur, circumferuntur a modico gubernaculo ubi impetus dirigentis voluerit.

Vulgate

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.

ASV

Behold also ships, whereas they are great and are driven by strong winds, yet are they turned about with a small helm, whithersoever the force of the governor willeth.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

17 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

βούλομαι
boulomai
verb · 36×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
εὐθύνω
euthuno
verb · 2×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
μετάγω
metago
verb · 2×
πηδάλιον
pedalion
noun · 2×
πλοῖον
ploion
noun · 66×
σκληρός
skleros
adjective · 5×
τηλικοῦτος
telikoutos
demonstrative · 4×
ἄνεμος
anemos
noun · 31×
ἐλάχιστος
elachistos
adjective · 13×
ἐλαύνω
elauno
verb · 5×
o
article · 19778×
ὁράω
orao
verb · 682×
ὁρμή
orme
noun · 2×
ὅπου
opou
adverb · 82×
ὑπό
upo
preposition · 221×

Textual variants

2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: ἀνέμων σκληρῶν | WH/Treg/NIV: ἀνέμων σκληρῶν | RP: σκληρῶν ἀνέμων
  • ἀνέμων σκληρῶνSBLGNT
  • ἀνέμων σκληρῶνWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • σκληρῶν ἀνέμωνRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται | WH/Treg/NIV: ἡ … βούλεται | RP: ἂν ἡ … βούληται
  • ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεταιSBLGNT
  • ἡ … βούλεταιWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ἂν ἡ … βούληταιRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Historic Christian voices

2 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

Cross-references

  • Col 3:8 — But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
  • Eph 5:4 — Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.