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BIT, BRIDLE.—The Hebrews were doubtless well acquainted with the bit, but there is no clear mention of it as distinct from the bridle, the words for which in Gr. and Lat. include bit, headstall, and reins. In Jam_3:3 the context is decisive for ‘bridle’ (RV [Note: Revised Version.] and AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ‘bit’); in Psa_32:9 for ‘bit and bridle’ we should probably render ‘bridle and halter,’ and so in the other passages where the two Hebrew words respectively occur, e.g. ‘bridle,’ Pro_26:3, but ‘halter,’ Job_30:11.
In Psa_39:1 ‘bridle’ should certainly be ‘muzzle’ (cf. the corresponding verb in Deu_25:4). The crocodile’s ‘double bridle’ (Job_41:13) is his jaws, but the text is doubtful.
A. R. S. Kennedy.