A selfish and greedy tongue can lead a community into chaos. James compares the tongue to the bit that controls a horse, the small rudder that steers a ship, and the tiny spark that starts a forest fire (3-5). Through these comparisons, he highlights five harmful traits of an uncontrolled tongue: it pollutes the entire person (6), feeds on hell (6), is impossible to tame (7f), is relentless in its evil, and is filled with deadly poison (8). James condemns the hypocrisy of the teachers in his community who praise God and curse their brothers with the same tongue (Ps 62:5).