James 3:3

James 3:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
• New International Version (NIV)When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

Context of James 3:3

1My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgment. 2For in many things we all offend. If any man stumble not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they are so great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm, wherever the pilot willeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

James 3:3 word by word

Εἰ δὲ τῶν ἵππων τοὺς χαλινοὺς εἰς τὰ στόματα βάλλομεν εἰς τὸ πείθεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν, καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν μετάγομεν.Read the interlinear

• Beholdἰδούidou · look!G2400
• putβάλλωballō · to throw: putG906
• bitsχαλινόςchalinos · bridleG5469
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• horsesἵπποςhippos · horseG2462
• mouthsστόμαstoma · mouthG4750
• thatπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• obeyπείθωpeithō · to persuadeG3982
• usἡμῖνhēmin · to usG2254
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• aboutμετάγωmetagō · to turnG3329
• wholeὅλοςholos · allG3650
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983

Cross-references for James 3:3

• James 1:26If any man among you seemeth 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 my 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 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 to thee.
• Psalms 39:1I 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.
• Isaiah 37:29Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into my 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.

Commentaries on James 3:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths - In order to show the necessity of regulating the tongue, to which St. James was led by his exhortation to them who wished to thrust themselves into the teacher's office, supposing, because they had the gift of a ready flow of speech, that therefore they might commence teachers of Divine things; he proceeds to show that the tongue must be bridled as the horse, and governed as the ships; because, though it is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses” mouths … - The meaning of this simple illustration is, that as we control a horse by the bit - though the bit is a small thing - so the body is controlled by the tongue. He who has a proper control over his tongue can govern his whole body, as he who holds a bridle governs and turns about the horse.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Behold--The best authorities read, "but if," that is, Now whensoever (in the case) of horses (such is the emphatic position of "horses" in the Greek) we put the bits (so literally, "the customary bits") into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about also their whole body. This is to illustrate how man turns about his whole body with the little tongue. "The same applies to the pen, which is the substitute for the tongue among the absent"…Read the comment

Topics related to James 3:3

• Bit
• Horse

In the dictionaries

• Bit
• Course
• Governor
• Obey
• Offend
• Ought
• Tame
• Bit and Bridle
• Busybody
• Horse

Commentaries on James 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings