“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
King James Version (KJV)
3:6 A world of iniquity - Containing an immense quantity of all manner of wickedness. It defileth - As fire by its smoke. The whole body - The whole man. And setteth on fire the course of nature - All the passions, every wheel of his soul.
Jas 3:6 The tongue [is] a fire. It will kindle up anger. A word often causes a war. A world of iniquity. It can stir up a world of sinfulness. The tongue moves man, and he makes the world a world of sin. It defileth the whole body. Leads all the body into sin. And setteth on fire the course of nature. Literally, "wheel of nature". The idea is probably "putteth nature in a blaze", referring to the wars and commotions due to its influence. And it is set on fire from hell. It is often inspired by hell itself. A bad tongue is the organ of the devil.