KJV King James Version
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
James 3:3
Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
WEB World English Bible
Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.
ASV American Standard Version
Now if we put the horses’ bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
Surrounding context — James 3
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
ΕἰG1487 · eiifδὲG1161 · dethenτῶνG3588 · hothe/this/whoἵππωνG2462 · hipposhorseτοὺςG3588 · hothe/this/whoχαλινοὺςG5469 · chalinosbridleεἰςG1519 · eistowardτὰG3588 · hothe/this/whoστόματαG4750 · stomamouthβάλλομενG906 · ballōto throw: throwεἰςG1519 · eistowardτὸG3588 · hothe/this/whoπείθεσθαιG3982 · peithōto persuadeαὐτοὺςG846 · autosit/s/heἡμῖν,G3165 · memeκαὶG2532 · kaiandὅλονG3650 · holosallτὸG3588 · hothe/this/whoσῶμαG4983 · sōmabodyαὐτῶνG846 · autosit/s/heμετάγομεν.G3329 · metagōto turn
Cross-references
Psalm 32:9Be 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 thee.Psalm 39:1To the chief Musician, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.James 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion [is] vain.2 Kings 19:28Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.Isaiah 37:29Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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