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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Psalms 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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Animals;   Bit;   Bridle;   Impenitence;   Self-Will;   Thompson Chain Reference - Animals;   Bridle;   Discernment-Dullness;   Horses;   Mules;   No;   Reason;   Restraints, Divine;   Stubbornness;   Understanding;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Beasts;   Horse, the;   Mule, the;   Self-Will and Stubbornness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Psalms, the Book of;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Guidance;   Knowledge;   Mind;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bit;   Bridle;   Horse;   Mule;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Titus;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Maschil;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Bit, Bridle;   Blessedness;   English Versions;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Horse;   Psalms;   Sin;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Mule;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Bless;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Psalms the book of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Horse;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bit and Bridle;   Horse;   Mule;   Psalms, Book of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bridle;   James, General Epistle of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Do not be like a horse or mule,without understanding,that must be controlled with bit and bridleor else it will not come near you.
Hebrew Names Version
Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
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 thee.
English Standard Version
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
New Century Version
So don't be like a horse or donkey, that doesn't understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you."
New English Translation
Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.
Amplified Bible
Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.
New American Standard Bible
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.
World English Bible
Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Be ye not like an horse, or like a mule, which vnderstand not: whose mouthes thou doest binde with bit and bridle, least they come neere thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,Whose harness are bit and bridle to control them,Otherwise they will not come near you.
Contemporary English Version
Don't be stupid like horses and mules that must be led with ropes to make them obey."
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't be like a horse or mule that has no understanding, that has to be curbed with bit and bridle, or else it won't come near you.
Darby Translation
Be ye not as a horse, as a mule, which have no understanding: whose trappings must be bit and bridle, for restraint, or they will not come unto thee.
Easy-to-Read Version
Don't be like a stupid horse or mule that will not come to you unless you put a bit in its mouth and pull it with reins."
George Lamsa Translation
Be not as the horse or as the mule, which have no understanding, which must be subdued with bit and bridle from their youth; no one goes near them.
Good News Translation
Don't be stupid like a horse or a mule, which must be controlled with a bit and bridle to make it submit."
Lexham English Bible
Do not be like a horse or like a mule, without understanding; that needs his tackle—bridle and rein—for restraint or he would not come near you.
Literal Translation
Be not like the horse, like the mule, with no understanding; with bit and bridle his gear to be held in, that they do not come near you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Sela. I wil enforme the, and shewe the the waye wherin thou shalt go: I wil fasten myne eyes vpon the.
American Standard Version
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, Else they will not come near unto thee.
Bible in Basic English
Do not be like the horse or the ass, without sense; Three dots are used where it is no longer possible to be certain of the true sense of the Hebrew words, and for this reason no attempt has been made to put them into Basic English.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding;
King James Version (1611)
Be yee not as the horse, or as the mule which haue no vnderstanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, least they come neere vnto thee.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Be ye not lyke a horse [or] lyke a mule whiche haue no vnderstanding: whose mouthes must be holden with bit and brydle, lest they fall vpon thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Be ye not as horse and mule, which have no understanding; but thou must constrain their jaws with bit and curb, lest they should come nigh to thee.
English Revised Version
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, else they will not come near unto thee.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Nile ye be maad as an hors and mule; to whiche is noon vndurstondyng. Lord, constreyne thou the chekis of hem with a bernacle and bridil; that neiyen not to thee.
Update Bible Version
Don't be as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, [Else] they will not come near to you.
Webster's Bible Translation
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 to thee.
New King James Version
Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
New Living Translation
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."
New Life Bible
Do not be like the horse or the donkey which have no understanding. They must be made to work by using bits and leather ropes or they will not come to you.
New Revised Standard
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Do not ye become like a horse, like a mule, without discernment, - With the bit and bridle of his mouth, hast thou to restrain him, - He will not come near unto thee.
Douay-Rheims Bible
(31-9) Do not become like the horse and the mule, who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who come not near unto thee.
Revised Standard Version
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you.
Young's Literal Translation
Be ye not as a horse -- as a mule, Without understanding, With bridle and bit, its ornaments, to curb, Not to come near unto thee.
THE MESSAGE
"Don't be ornery like a horse or mule that needs bit and bridle to stay on track."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Contextual Overview

7You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you. 9Do 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.10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD. 11Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Be ye: Proverbs 26:3, Jeremiah 31:18, James 3:3, James 4:7-10

no: Job 35:11, Jeremiah 4:22, Jeremiah 8:6, Jeremiah 8:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:12 - General 2 Kings 19:28 - I will put Job 41:13 - double Psalms 25:9 - guide Psalms 73:22 - as a Psalms 92:6 - A brutish Proverbs 10:13 - a rod Proverbs 12:1 - he that Isaiah 30:28 - a bridle Isaiah 37:29 - will I Jeremiah 35:13 - Will James 1:26 - bridleth

Cross-References

Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Genesis 28:13
And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
Genesis 31:3
Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you."
Genesis 31:13
I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and made a solemn vow to Me. Now get up and leave this land at once, and return to your native land.'"
Genesis 31:29
I have power to do you great harm, but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'
Genesis 31:42
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the One Feared by Isaac, had not been with me, surely by now you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and last night He rendered judgment."
Genesis 31:53
May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob swore by the One feared by his father Isaac.
Genesis 32:4
He instructed them, "You are to say to my master Esau, 'Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.
Genesis 32:6
When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau; he is coming to meet you-he and four hundred men with him."
Genesis 32:7
In great fear and distress, Jacob divided his people into two camps, as well as the flocks and herds and camels.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding,.... The design of this exhortation is to direct men how to behave under the instructions given; not as brutes, which have no rational faculties, but as men; that they should not show themselves thoughtless, stupid, and unteachable, as these animals, or worse than they; nor stubborn and obstinate, refractory and untractable, resolving not to be taught, stopping the ear, and pulling away the shoulder; nor ill natured and mischievous; not only hating instruction, casting away the law of the Lord, but kicking and spurning at, and persecuting such who undertake to instruct them; as these creatures sometimes attempt to throw their riders, and, when down, kick at them;

whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee; to do mischief, bite or kick; or "because they do not come near to thee" t; and that they may come near, and be brought into subjection, and become obedient; therefore such methods are used; see James 3:3; there is in the words a tacit intimation, that men are commonly, and for the most part, like these creatures, stupid, stubborn, and mischievous; and therefore severe methods are used by the Lord, sore chastenings, to humble and instruct them; see

Jeremiah 31:18; the mule, more especially, is remarkable for its stupidity u; and though the horse is docile, yet he is sometimes stubborn and refractory.

t בל קרב אליך "quia non accedunt ad te", Grotius. u "Mule, nihil sentis----", Catullus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Be ye not as the horse - The horse as it is by nature - wild, ungoverned, unwilling to be caught and made obedient. The counsel referred to in the previous verse is here given; and it is, that one who wishes to obtain the favor of God should not be as the wild and unbroken horse, an animal that can be subdued only by a curb, but should evince a calm, submissive spirit - a spirit “disposed” to obey and submit. If he becomes a subject of God’s government, he is not to be subdued and held as the horse is - by mere force; there must be the cheerful submission of the will. People are not brought into the service of God by physical power; they are not kept there by an iron “curb.” They come and yield themselves willingly to his law; they “must” come with that spirit if they would find the favor of God.

Or as the mule - The mule is distinguished for its obstinacy, and this is evidently the ground of comparison here. The meaning is, be tractable, gentle, yielding; submit to the guidance and direction of God and his truth.

Which have no understanding - That cannot be controlled by reason and conscience. They are governed only by power and by fear. People have reason and conscience, and they should allow themselves to be controlled by appeals TO their reason and to their moral sense. They are not made to be governed as brutes are. Since they have a higher nature, they should permit themselves to be governed by it.

Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle - More literally, “in bit and bridle is their ornament to restrain them;” that is, the trappings or the ornaments of the horse and the mule consist of the bridle and the bit, the purpose of which is to restrain or control them. The allusion, however, is not to the bit and bridle as an “ornament,” but as the ordinary trappings of the mule and the horse.

Lest they come near unto thee - Or rather, “because of its not approaching thee;” that is, because the horse and the mule will not come to thee of their own accord, but must be restrained and controlled.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Psalms 32:9. Be ye not as the horse or as the mule — They will only act by force and constraint; be not like them; give a willing service to your Maker. "They have no understanding;" you have a rational soul, made to be guided and influenced by reason. The service of your God is a reasonable service; act, therefore, as a rational being. The horse and the mule are turned with difficulty; they must be constrained with bit and bridle. Do not be like them; do not oblige your Maker to have continual recourse to afflictions, trials, and severe dispensations of providence, to keep you in the way, or to recover you after you have gone out of it.


 
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