H4964 H4964
meteg — bridle, bit; instrument of control for animals or (figuratively) people
This masculine noun denotes a bridle or bit—the device placed in an animal's mouth to control its movements. The term appears in both literal contexts (controlling horses and donkeys) and powerful metaphors (God controlling enemy kings, or the need to bridle fools). The imagery emphasizes control, restraint, and the submission of a willful creature to external direction. Proverbs and Psalms use it to picture the necessity of external restraint for those lacking internal wisdom, while prophetic texts employ it to show God's sovereign control over arrogant nations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A bridle or bit for controlling animals. Proverbs 26:3 lists instruments of discipline: 'a whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools'—parallel tools for controlling unreasoning creatures. Psalm 32:9 warns against being 'like the horse or mule that lacks understanding, whose trappings are bridle and halter'—needing external force rather than willing obedience. 2 Kings 19:28 and Isaiah 37:29 record God's word against Sennacherib: 'I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle (mitgi) in your lips,' treating the arrogant king like a beast to be forcibly led away. 2 Samuel 8:1 uses it enigmatically for 'authority of the mother city' (meteg ha-ammah), likely a figurative extension. 4×
AR["بِلِجَامٍ-", "لِجامٌ", "وَ-لِجَامِي", "وَلِجَامَتِي"]·ben["-লাগাম", "এবং-আমার-লাগাম", "ও-আমার-লাগাম", "লাগাম"]·DE["[ומתגי]", "[מתג]", "mit-bit", "und-mein-bridle"]·EN["a-bridle", "and-My-bit", "and-my-bridle", "with-bit"]·FR["[ומתגי]", "dans-bride", "et-mon-bridle", "מתג"]·heb["ב-מתג-", "ו-מתגי", "מתג"]·HI["और-मेरी-लगाम", "और-लगाम-मेरी", "में-लगाम", "लगाम"]·ID["dan-kekang-Ku", "kekang"]·IT["[במתג]", "[ומתגי]", "e-mio-bridle", "un-bridle"]·jav["kalayan-kendhali", "kendhali", "lan-cangkeman-Kula", "lan-kendhali-Kawula"]·KO["괴는", "그리고-고빠-나의", "그리고-나의-재갈을", "재갈"]·PT["com-freio", "e-freio-Meu", "e-freio-meu", "freio"]·RU["и-узду-Мою", "узда", "уздой"]·ES["con-freno", "freno", "y-mi-freno"]·SW["kwa-lijamu", "lijamu", "na-lijamu-yangu"]·TR["dizgin", "gem-", "ve-gem'i", "ve-gemimi"]·urd["-لگام-سے", "اور-اپنی-لگام", "اور-لگام-میری", "لگام"]
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H8504 1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† מֶ֫תֶג n.m. bridle (Aramaic (𝔗) מִתְגָּא; NH מֶתֶג of secondary accentֽ; מִתֵּג Pi. denom. put on a bridle);— 1. lit. bridle, for animals; מֶתֶג לַחֲמוֹר Pr 26:3 a whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, etc.; בְּמ׳ וָרֶסֶן ψ 32:9 with bridle and halter (on text of verse cf. Che); of י׳’s bridle for Sennach. (under fig. of beast), וּמִתְגִּי בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ 2 K 19:28 and I will put…