Ministry of Grace Church

For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and creatures of the sea, is subdued and has been subdued by mankind.

Truth to Learn

Some things are hard to tame. Hard, but not impossible!

Behind the Words

The word “kind” is a translation of phusis, which is a derivative of phuō, meaning “to bring forth by natural birth.” It stands in opposition to that which has been created by or assisted by man. In other words, it’s natural. Hence, phusis refers to the nature of things. James is referring to all sorts, or kinds, of animals.

“Beast” is from the Greek word therion, which means a dangerous or venomous animal. It is one term that is used of the antichrist in the book of Revelation, indicating the beastly nature of this person. But, it is sometimes used to refer to any kind of beast including the tame species.

The word translated “creeping things” is herpeton, from herpō, meaning “to creep.” Hence, it refers to a creeping thing which could include insects and reptiles.

The phrase “creatures of the sea” is from enalion, which is made up of en, meaning “in” and a form of hals, meaning “the sea.” Therefore this word literally means “things in the sea.”

“Subdued” is translated from damadzō, which is from an obsolete word meaning “to reduce to stillness or quietness.” The first use of this word in this verse is in the present tense and passive voice meaning that it is something currently being done to something else (is being subdued). The second occurrence is in the perfect tense and passive voice, indicating something that has been done in the past with an ongoing effect in the present.

Meaning Explained

This is the fourth illustration from nature that James has used to help us understand the tongue (horse’s bridle, rudder of great ocean vessels, fast spreading fire, and wild animals). The wild animals, he says, have been tamed by man. He is not saying that every species of animal on earth has been tamed. He describes four classifications of animals, which is intended to show that all kinds of animals have been tamed by man.

Lest we think that we in the twenty-first century have excelled at taming animals above our ancestors, Pliny the Elder in the first century AD identified a list of animals which had been tamed at that time. This list includes: elephants, lions, and tigers, among beasts; the eagle, among birds; snakes and crocodiles among the creeping things; and various fishes, among the inhabitants of the water. Even the Egyptians did some remarkable animal taming, including lions which were used by them both in hunting and in warfare.

James is pointing out that we humans have been able to tame every kind of animal. He does not say that they have been easily tamed. In fact, he implies that it has been done with great difficulty, just as it is very difficult to tame the tongue, as we will see in the next verse.

Application

Do you feel like God, through the writings of James, is talking directly to you? If you do, that’s good. If you don’t, well, you should! Because of our sin nature, we all have a tongue taming challenge. Are you up to it? With God’s help, you are?