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Selected Verse: James 3:3 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Jas 3:3	King James	Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
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" [BENGEL].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

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" [BENGEL].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

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.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Behold Following the old reading, ἴδε. All the best texts read εἰ δὲ, now if. So Rev. Bits (χαλινοὺς) Only here and Rev 14:20. It may be rendered either bit, as A. V., or bridle, as Rev., but bridle is preferable because it corresponds with the verb to bridle (Jam 3:2) which is compounded with this noun. Horses The position in the sentence is emphatic. We turn about (μετάγομεν) Used by James only.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Behold

Following the old reading, ἴδε. All the best texts read εἰ δὲ, now if. So Rev.

Bits (χαλινοὺς)

Only here and Rev 14:20. It may be rendered either bit, as A. V., or bridle, as Rev., but bridle is preferable because it corresponds with the verb to bridle (Jam 3:2) which is compounded with this noun.

Horses

The position in the sentence is emphatic.

We turn about (μετάγομεν)

Used by James only.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
We - That is, men.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

We - That is, men.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

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.

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