James 3:3
New International Version
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

New Living Translation
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.

English Standard Version
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

Berean Standard Bible
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

Berean Literal Bible
Now if we put bits into the mouths of the horses for them to obey us, we turn about even their whole body.

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

New King James Version
Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

New American Standard Bible
Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well.

NASB 1995
Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

NASB 1977
Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

Amplified Bible
Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.

Christian Standard Bible
Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.

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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And behold, we put a bridle in the mouths of horses, so that they will submit to us and we turn their whole bodies.

Contemporary English Version
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.

English Revised Version
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we have control over everything they do.

Good News Translation
We put a bit into the mouth of a horse to make it obey us, and we are able to make it go where we want.

International Standard Version
Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well.

Literal Standard Version
behold, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and we direct their whole body;

Majority Standard Bible
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.

New American Bible
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.

NET Bible
And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.

New Revised Standard Version
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

New Heart English Bible
Now if we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we guide their whole body.

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

Weymouth New Testament
Remember that we put the horses' bit into their mouths to make them obey us, and so we turn their whole bodies round.

World English Bible
Indeed, we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body.

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;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Taming the Tongue
2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. 4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.…

Cross References
Psalm 32:9
Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding; they must be controlled with bit and bridle to make them come to you.

James 3:4
Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.


Treasury of Scripture

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

James 1:26
If 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 19:28
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.

Psalm 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.

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Animal Bit Bits Bodies Body Bridles Complete Control Direct Entire Guide Guided Horses Indeed Iron Mouths Obey Obeying Remember Round Turn Whole
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Animal Bit Bits Bodies Body Bridles Complete Control Direct Entire Guide Guided Horses Indeed Iron Mouths Obey Obeying Remember Round Turn Whole
James 3
1. We are not rashly or arrogantly to reprove others;
5. but rather to bridle the tongue, a little member,
9. but a powerful instrument of much good, and great harm.
13. The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envy and strife.














(3) Behold.--A more clumsy reading is insisted upon here: but if, instead of "behold." The supporters of such curious corrections argue that the least likely is the most so; and thus every slip of a copyist, either in grammar or spelling, becomes more sacred in their eyes than is the Received text with believers in verbal inspiration.

Three comparisons of the tongue are now introduced; the bit (James 3:3), the rudder (James 3:4), and a fire (James 3:6): the two former to show what mastery may be gained by self-discipline, the latter to warn us of a danger which may quickly spread beyond our power to quell.

Verse 3. - Illustration of the last statement of ver. 2. The bit in the horse's mouth enables us to turn about the whole body. So the man who can govern his tongue has the mastery over the whole body. A remarkable parallel is afforded by Sophocles, 'Antigone,' 1. 470, Σμικρῷ χαλινῷ δ οῖδα τοὺς θυμουμένους ἵππους καταρτυθέιτας. So also Philo, 'De Op. Mundi,' p. 19, Τὸ θυμικώτατον ζῶον ἵππος ῤᾳδίως ἄγεται χαλινωθείς. The manuscript; authority is overwhelming in favor of εἰ δὲ (A, B, K, L; א, εἰδε γάρ, etc.; and Vulgate, si autem) instead of ἰδού of the Received Text (C has ἴδε, and the Syriac ecce): thus the apodosis is contained in the words, καὶ ὅλον κ.τ.λ. Translate, with R.V., now if we put the horses bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. (For a similar correction of ἰδέ to εἰ δέ, see Romans 2:17.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When]
Εἰ (Ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

we put
βάλλομεν (ballomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 906: (a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.

bits
χαλινοὺς (chalinous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5469: A bridle, bit. From chalao; a curb or head-stall.

into
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

mouths
στόματα (stomata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4750: The mouth, speech, eloquence in speech, the point of a sword.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

horses
ἵππων (hippōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 2462: A horse. Of uncertain affinity; a horse.

to make
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

them
αὐτοὺς (autous)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

obey
πείθεσθαι (peithesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 3982: A primary verb; to convince; by analogy, to pacify or conciliate; reflexively or passively, to assent, to rely.

us,
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

we can guide
μετάγομεν (metagomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 3329: From meta and harmozo; to lead over, i.e. Transfer.

the
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

whole
ὅλον (holon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3650: All, the whole, entire, complete. A primary word; 'whole' or 'all', i.e. Complete, especially as noun or adverb.

animal.
σῶμα (sōma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.


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NT Letters: James 3:3 Indeed we put bits into the horses' (Ja Jas. Jam)
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