3:3

Verse 3:3 reinforces and illustrates the point that James made in 3:2. Human beings are like horses: by controlling the mouth one can control the whole body.

In some languages, it may be natural to introduce this verse with a phrase that indicates that it is an illustration. For example:

To illustrate: when we put bits…
-or-
Consider how we put bits…
-or-
This is like putting bits….

3:3a

When we put bits into the mouths of horses: In Greek, the illustration of the horse is introduced with the word “if.” The Berean Standard Bible translates this word as When . Some ways to introduce this illustration are:

If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
We put bits in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and we have control over everything they do. (God’s Word)
-or-
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. (Contemporary English Version)

we put: The phrase we put is a general statement concerning what people habitually do. In some languages, it may be more natural to say:

people put
-or-
they put
-or-
you put

bits into the mouths of horses: In Greek, the words bits, mouths, and horses are plural. In some languages, it will be more natural to use singular words. For example:

We put a bit into the mouth of a horse (Good News Translation)

bits:The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bits is the noun form of the verb “bridle” in 3:2d. A bridle is a rope or strap that goes over the horse’s head to control it. (See the illustration of the horse above.) Attached to the bridle is a piece of metal that passes through the horse’s mouth. In English, there is a specific word for this piece of metal. It is called a bit.

The Greek word used here normally refers to the whole bridle: both the straps and the piece of metal. But if your language has a specific word for the piece of metal that is put into the horse’s mouth, you should use it here. That is what the Berean Standard Bible has done.

Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use a specific term for the thing that is put in the mouth of a horse to control it. For example, most English versions say:

bits

• Use a more general term for the things that people use to control a horse. In some cases, it will be more natural to leave the phrase into the mouths untranslated. For example:

bridles
-or-
reins on the head

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

When we put something into the mouths of horses to guide them

• Use a cultural substitute. For example:

rope around the neck
-or-
ring in the nose/snout

horses: Some people are not familiar with horses and have no word for them in their language. If that is the case in your language, you can:

• Use a generic term and describe the function of a horse. For example:

an animal one can ride

• Substitute a different animal that a person can ride and put a bridle on. For example:

an ox
-or-
a camel

3:3b

to make them obey us: The clause to make them obey us is the purpose of using a bit and a bridle. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

to cause them to obey/follow our will
-or-
to force/make them to do what we want

3:3c

we can guide: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as guide means to turn or change the direction of something that is moving. Some other ways to translate this word are:

we can turn
-or-
we guide (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
we can direct (Revised English Bible)
-or-
we are able to make it go where we want (Good News Translation)

whole animal: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as whole animal is literally “whole body.” It refers to the body of the horse. The same Greek words are found in 3:2d. When translating this phrase, it is best to use similar words in both verses so that the reader can see the connection between them. For example:

the whole body of the person (3:2d)

the whole body of the horse (3:3c)

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.