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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Bit and Bridle
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brı̄´d'l (מתג־ורסן, methegh waÌ„-resÌ£en): The two words occur in conjunction ( the King James Version, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto theeâ€; the Revised Version (British and American) “else they will not come near unto thee,†margin, “that they come not near.†Methegh, translated “bit†above, is properly a bridle or halter in which the bit was a loop passed round the under jaw of the animal; resÌ£en has a similar meaning. The counsel in the verse is that men should render a willing obedience to God and not be like the animals that man has to bridle and curb in order to get them to do his will. Compare , where we have “bit†as translation of chalinoÌs, “a bit†or “curb,†“We put bits (the Revised Version (British and American) “bridlesâ€) in the horses' mouths that they may obey us.†“Bridle†occurs separately as translation of methegh (), “David took Metheg-ammah,†King James Version margin “the bridle of Ammah,†the Revised Version (British and American) “the bridle of the mother city,†margin, as the King James Version; the meaning may be that he took the control or dominion of it; “I will put ... my bridle in thy lips†(; ); “a bridle for the ass†(); of resÌ£en (), “They have also let loose the bridle before me,†the Revised Version (British and American) “and they have cast off the bridle before me†(acted in an unbridled (unrestrained) manner); , said of “leviathan†(the Revised Version (British and American) “the hippopotamusâ€), “Who can come to him his double bridle?†the American Standard Revised Version “within his jaws?†the English Revised Version “within his double bridle,†others, “into the double row of his teethâ€; , “a bridle in the jaws of the people causing them to err,†the Revised Version (British and American) “a bridle that causeth to errâ€; of mahÌ£sÌ£oÌ„m, which means “a muzzle†(), “I will keep my mouth with a bridle,†King James Version margins “Hebrew, a bridle, or muzzle for my mouthâ€; so the Revised Version, margin.
To “bridle†occurs (, “bridleth not his tongueâ€; “able to bridle the whole bodyâ€; chalinagoÌ„geÌoÌ„, “to lead†or “guide with a bitâ€). In 1 Esdras 3:6, and 2 Macc 10:29, we have “bridles of gold†(chrusochalinoÌs).