King James Version

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.

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The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) does not include “decides” (βούλεται.) after is steering here. The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) adds “ever” (ἂν) before the here. The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) adds “may decide” (βούληται) after is steering here. The KJV’s Greek text (Textus Receptus) word order differs here.

ἰδοὺidouBeholdἰδούparticle — “Behold”G2400See! Lo! Behold! Look!.Beholdκαὶkaialsoκαίadverb — “also”G2532and, even, also, namely.This verse uses “also”.alsoτὰtatheὁ (ho)article, nominative, plural, neuter — “the”, the subject formG3588the, the definite article.πλοῖαploiashipsπλοῖον (ploion)noun, nominative, plural, neuter — “ships”, the subject formG4143a ship, vessel, boat.the shipsτηλικαῦταtēlikautaso greatτηλικοῦτος (tēlikoutos)demonstrative pronoun, nominative, plural, neuter — “so great”, the subject formG5082so great, so large, important.so greatὄνταontato beεἰμί (eimi)verb, present active participle, nominative, plural, neuter — “to be”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1510I am, exist.καὶkaiandκαίconjunction — “and”G2532and, even, also, namely.This verse uses “and”.andὑπὸhupoofὑπόpreposition — “of”G5259by, under, about.ofἀνέμωνanemōnwindsἄνεμος (anemos)noun, genitive, plural, masculine — “winds”, the of-formG417the wind; fig: applied to empty doctrines.windsσκληρῶνsklērōnhardσκληρός (sklēros)adjective, genitive, plural, masculine — “hard”, the of-formG4642hard, violent, harsh, stern.This verse uses “hard”.ἐλαυνόμεναelaunomenato driveἐλαύνω (elaunō)verb, present passive participle, nominative, plural, neuter — “to drive”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1643(a) trans: I drive (on), propel, (b) intrans: I row.μετάγεταιmetagetaiyet are they turned aboutμετάγω (metagō)verb, present passive indicative, 3rd person singular — “yet are they turned about”, an ongoing or repeated actionG3329(usually: transfer, transport, and met: to a better mind), I turn about, change the position of; pass: I am brought back.yet are they turned aboutὑπὸhupowithὑπόpreposition — “with”G5259by, under, about.withἐλαχίστουelachistoua very smallἐλάχιστος (elachistos)adjective, superlative, genitive, singular, neuter — “a very small”, the of-formG1646least, smallest, but perhaps oftener in the weaker sense: very little, very small.a very smallπηδαλίουpēdaliouhelmπηδάλιον (pēdalion)noun, genitive, singular, neuter — “helm”, the of-formG4079the rudder of a ship.helmὅπουhopouwhithersoeverὅπουconjunction — “whithersoever”G3699where, whither, in what place.whithersoeverἡhētheὁ (ho)article, nominative, singular, feminine — “the”, the subject formG3588the, the definite article.ὁρμὴhormēlistethὁρμήnoun, nominative, singular, feminine — “listeth”, the subject formG3730a rush, violent assault, impulse.listethτοῦtoutheὁ (ho)article, genitive, singular, masculine — “the”, the of-formG3588the, the definite article.εὐθύνοντοςeuthunontosto straightenεὐθύνω (euthunō)verb, present active participle, genitive, singular, masculine — “to straighten”, an ongoing or repeated actionG2116(a) I make straight (of the direction, not the surface, of a road), (b) I guide, steer.βούλεταιbouletaito planβούλομαι (boulomai)verb, present middle indicative, 3rd person singular — “to plan”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1014I will, intend, desire, wish.

Textus Receptus Words Not in the SBL Text

ἂνanifἄνparticle — “if”G302an untranslatable word (under the circumstances, in that case, anyhow), the general effect of which is to make a statement contingent, which would otherwise be definite: it is thus regularly used with the subjunctive mood.βούληταιboulētaimay decideβούλομαι (boulomai)verb, present middle or passive indicative, 3rd person singular — “may decide”, an ongoing or repeated actionG1014I will, intend, desire, wish.

Literal (Young’s Literal Translation)

lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Young’s Literal Translation

lo, also the ships, being so great, and by fierce winds being driven, are led about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the helmsman doth counsel,

World English Bible

Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires.

Darby Translation

Behold also the ships, which are so great, and driven by violent winds, are turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the pleasure of the helmsman will.

Douay-Rheims

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.

American Standard Version (1901)

Young’s Literal Translation

World English Bible

Darby Translation

Douay-Rheims

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