OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to The Book of James Next 

JAMES 3:4

Victor M. Eskew

 

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm, withersoever the governor listeth.

 

1.    Behold

A.   Strong (2400):  lo!

B.    Thayer:  Behold, see, lo

C.   Vine:  to see, calling attention to what may be seen or heard or mentally appre-hended in any way…regularly rendered “behold”

 

2.    Ships

A.   Strong (4143):  a sailer, that is, vessel

B.    Thayer:  ship

C.   Vine:  to sail, a boat or a ship, always rendered appropriately “boat” in the R.V. in the gospels.

 

3.     So great

A.   Strong (5082):  so vast

B.    Thayer:  of so great in size

C.   Vine:  to drive…of the power of winds upon ships

 

4.    Driven

A.   Strong (1643):  to push

B.    Thayer:  to drive, of wind driving ships or clouds

C.   Vine:  to drive…of the power of winds upon ships

 

5.    Fierce

A.   Strong (4642):  …hard, touch, (figuratively, harsh, severe)

B.    Thayer:  hard, harsh, rough, stiff…of things:  violent, rough, offensive, intolerable

C.   Vine:  hard, rough, violent

 

6.    Wind

A.   Strong (417):  wind

B.    Thayer:  wind, a violent agitation and stream of air, a very strong tempestuous wind

C.   Vine:  wind

 

7.   Turned about

A.   Strong (846):  to lead over, that is, transfer

B.    Thayer:  to transfer, lead over, to direct

C.   Vine:  to move from one side to another

 

8.   Very small

A.   Strong (1646):  least (in size, amount, dignity, etc.)

B.    Thayer:  smallest, least, in size

C.   Vine:  least, is used of size in James 3:4

 

9.   Helm

A.   Strong (4079):  a “pedal,’ that is helm           :-  rudder

B.    Thayer:  a ship’s rudder

C.   Vine:  a rudder (akin to pedos, the blade of an oar)…the pedalia were actually steering paddles, two of which were used as rudders in ancient ships

 

10. Governor

A.   Strong (2116):  to straighten…technically to steer

B.    Thayer:  to lead or guide straight, to keep straight or direct, of the steersman or helmsman of a ship

C.   Vine:  to make straight or guide straight…denoting the “stearsman” (R.V.) a pilot of a vessel

 

11.  Listeth

A.   Strong (1014):  will, be willing             :-  be disposed, minded, intend

B.    Thayer:  to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded

C.   Vine:  to will, be minded (R.V., “willeth”)