Bridle

A bridle is Scripture’s picture of restraint, used on animals, kings and tongues alike. The psalmist says, “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding”, held in with “bit and bridle.” Proverbs is blunter: “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.” David turns it inward: “I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” James notes that a small bit can “turn about their whole body.” God uses the image on a raging king in 2 Kings 19. James 3 is a good place to read more.

5 verses

2 Kings

2 Kings 19:28

Because 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.

Psalms

Psalms 32:9

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 thee.

Psalms 39:1

To 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.

Proverbs

Proverbs 26:3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

James

James 3:3

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

Three Hebrew words are thus rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Heb. mahsom’ signifies a muzzle or halter or bridle, by which the rider governs his horse (Ps.39:1).

(2.) Me’theg, rendered also “bit” in Ps. 32:9, which is its proper meaning. Found in 2 Kings 19:28, where the restraints of God’s providence are metaphorically styled his “bridle” and “hook.” God’s placing a “bridle in the jaws of the people” (Isa. 30:28; 37:29) signifies his preventing the Assyrians from carrying out their purpose against Jerusalem.

(3.) Another word, re’sen, was employed to represent a halter or bridle-rein, as used Ps. 32:9; Isa. 30:28. In Job 30:11 the restraints of law and humanity are called a bridle.

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