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Read the Bible
Revised Standard Version
James 3:3
If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
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Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- EveryParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.
Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.
King James Version (1611)
Behold, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about their whole body.
Behold, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about their whole body.
King James Version
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
English Standard Version
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.
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.
Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their whole body as well.
New Century Version
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.
Berean Standard Bible
When we put bits into the mouths of the horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
When we put bits into the mouths of the horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
Contemporary English Version
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions.
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions.
Complete Jewish Bible
If we put a bit into a horse's mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well.
If we put a bit into a horse's mouth to make it obey us, we control its whole body as well.
Darby Translation
Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
Behold, we put the bits in the mouths of the horses, that they may obey us, and we turn round their whole bodies.
Easy-to-Read Version
We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us. With these bits we can control their whole body.
We put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us. With these bits we can control their whole body.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes, that they should obey vs, and we turne about all their bodie.
Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes, that they should obey vs, and we turne about all their bodie.
George Lamsa Translation
Behold, we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold, we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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.
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.
Lexham English Bible
And if we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.
And if we put bits in the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.
Literal Translation
Behold, we put bits in the mouths of the horses, for them to obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold, we put bits in the mouths of the horses, for them to obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Amplified Bible
Now if we put bits into the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.
Now if we put bits into the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.
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.
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
Bible in Basic English
Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.
Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies.
Hebrew Names Version
Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
International Standard Version
Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well.Psalm 32:9;">[xr]
Now if we put bits into horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can guide their whole bodies as well.Psalm 32:9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For, behold, bridles into the mouth of horses we throw that we may make them submissive to us, and their whole body we turn.
For, behold, bridles into the mouth of horses we throw that we may make them submissive to us, and their whole body we turn.
Murdock Translation
Behold, we put bridles into the mouth of horses, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Behold, we put bridles into the mouth of horses, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Beholde, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about all the body of them:
Beholde, we put bittes in the horses mouthes, that they may obey vs, and we turne about all the body of them:
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.
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths, that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
World English Bible
Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Behold we put bits into the horses mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Behold we put bits into the horses mouths, that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.
Weymouth's 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.
Remember that we put the horses' bit into their mouths to make them obey us, and so we turn their whole bodies round.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For if we putten bridlis `in to horsis mouthis, for to consente to vs, and we leden aboute al the bodi of hem.
For if we putten bridlis `in to horsis mouthis, for to consente to vs, and we leden aboute al the bodi of hem.
Update Bible Version
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.
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.
Behold, we put bits in the mouths of horses, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
New English Translation
And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.
And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.
New King James Version
Indeed, [fn] we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
Indeed, [fn] we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
New Living Translation
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.
New Life Bible
We make a horse go wherever we want it to go by a small bit in its mouth. We turn its whole body by this.
We make a horse go wherever we want it to go by a small bit in its mouth. We turn its whole body by this.
New Revised Standard
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, if, the horses bits, into their mouths, we thrust, to the end they may be yielding to us, their whole body also, do we turn about.
Now, if, the horses bits, into their mouths, we thrust, to the end they may be yielding to us, their whole body also, do we turn about.
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.
For if we put bits into the mouths of horses, that they may obey us: and we turn about their whole body.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Beholde we put bittes into ye horses mouthes that they shuld obeye vs and we turne aboute all the body.
Beholde we put bittes into ye horses mouthes that they shuld obeye vs and we turne aboute all the 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;
lo, the bits we put into the mouths of the horses for their obeying us, and their whole body we turn about;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes yt they shulde obeye vs, and we turne aboute all the body.
Beholde, we put bittes into the horses mouthes yt they shulde obeye vs, and we turne aboute all the body.
Mace New Testament (1729)
you see how manageable horses are made by the application of a bit, which makes them take what motion we please.
you see how manageable horses are made by the application of a bit, which makes them take what motion we please.
THE MESSAGE
A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats. Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats. Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Simplified Cowboy Version
You know that a bit in a horse's mouth can control his whole body.
You know that a bit in a horse's mouth can control his whole body.
Contextual Overview
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
James 1:26, 2 Kings 19:28, Psalms 32:9, Psalms 39:1, Isaiah 37:29
Reciprocal: Numbers 12:3 - above Job 41:13 - double
Cross-References
Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."
Genesis 3:13
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."
Genesis 3:16
To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."
Genesis 3:17
And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
Genesis 20:6
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
1 Chronicles 16:22
saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"
saying, "Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"
Job 1:11
But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face."
But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face."
Job 2:5
But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."
But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face."
Job 19:21
Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!
Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!
1 Corinthians 7:1
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman.
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths,.... By this, and the following simile, the apostle not only expresses the smallness of that member of the body, which is like the bit in the horse's mouth, and the helm of a ship, but the good use of it, and the great influence it has over the whole body. Horses are without understanding, and need direction in what path to go, and are strong, and would be truly and ungovernable unless bits and bridles were put into their mouths:
that they may obey us; and go in the way we would have them:
and we turn about the whole body of the horse, this way, and that way, as is thought best, by the help of the bit and bridle; and of such use is the tongue to the natural body, that being bridled itself, bridles, directs, and governs the whole body; and its influence on bodies, and societies of men, and Christians, is like that of the bit in the horse's mouth; who, like horses, would be unruly and ungovernable, were it not for the force of language, the power of words, and strength of argument.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Behold, 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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse James 3:3. Behold, 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 small, it is capable of ruling the whole man; and of irritating and offending others.
