Jam 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell
James (the half brother of Jesus) portrays in extraordinary detail the intensity of the tongue. At a certain point, he and his family dismissed their Brother, they did not believe in Him. Indeed their language from the start was that of strong prejudice and suspicion (Joh 7:3-5). As a matter of fact, a dismissal is regularly joined by words.
James gives a few analogies to show that despite the tongue’s small size, it has the ability to control one’s entire being and life. He says the tongue resembles a fierce blaze looking to be unleashed. It is rarely fulfilled and it is continually searching for opportunities to be wild. It feels the need to have the last word, showing exactly its drive. We boast, blame, contaminate, slander, justify, lie, ruin, and etc. by it. Note this proverb, “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health” (Pro 12:18).
James unmistakably expresses that nobody can tame the tongue. People have succeeded in taming wild animals but have failed to tame their tongue. God through His Word has given us enough to work with, and its all focused on the shrewdness that comes about when men fear God (Pro 9:10) “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (Pro 15:2).