H7448 H7448
bridle, halter, jaw (restraint for animals)
This noun primarily denotes a bridle or halter for restraining horses or mules, and possibly also the jaw it controls. Used literally for animal control and metaphorically for divine restraint on nations or human rebellion. The term appears in wisdom, prophetic, and poetic contexts emphasizing control and submission.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Designates a bridle or halter for controlling animals, with possible extended meaning of jaw. Psalm 32:9 pairs 'bridle and halter' (מֶתֶג וָרֶסֶן) for restraining horses and mules. Isaiah 30:28 uses 'a bridle on the jaws of peoples' (רֶסֶן עַל-לְחָיֵי עַמִּים) as metaphor for God's control of nations. Job 30:11 describes people throwing off restraint 'from before me' (רִסְנִי מִפָּנַי שִׁלֵּחוּ). Job 41:5 (41:13 Eng.) mentions 'the double of his jaw' (כֶּפֶל רִסְנוֹ) of Leviathan—though some question whether this means jaw or bridle. Multilingual glosses show the restraint sense: Spanish 'freno/cabestro/brida,' French 'bride,' German 'bridle'—all emphasizing the controlling function. 4×
AR["لِجَامِهِ", "وَ-اللِّجامَ", "وَ-لِجَامٌ", "وَرَسَنٍ"]·ben["আর-লাগাম", "ও-বল্গা", "ও-লাগাম", "তার-লাগাম"]·DE["[ורסן]", "[רסנו]", "und-bridle"]·EN["and-a-bridle", "and-bridle", "his-bridle"]·FR["[ורסן]", "et-bride", "et-ורסן", "son-רסנו-lui"]·heb["ו-רסן", "רסנו"]·HI["उसकी-लगाम-की", "और-लगाम", "और-लोहे"]·ID["dan-kekang", "kekangnya"]·IT["[ורסן]", "e-e-bridle", "his-bridle-suo"]·jav["kendalinipun", "lan-kendali", "lan-kendhali", "lan-tali-kekang"]·KO["굴레로", "그것-의-고삼의", "그리고-굴레가", "그리고-굴레를"]·PT["e-freio", "e-rédea", "seu-freio"]·RU["и-удилами", "и-узда", "и-узду", "узду-его"]·ES["su-brida", "y-cabestro", "y-freno"]·SW["na-hatamu", "na-lijamu", "ya-meno-yake"]·TR["dizginine", "ve-dizgin", "ve-dizgini"]·urd["اور-باگ-ڈور", "اور-لگام", "اُس-کی-لگام-کے", "میرے چہرے سے"]
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
† I. רֶ֫סֶן n.m. Is 30:28: 1. halter; 2. Jaw (?);— 1. abs. ר׳ ψ 32:9 restraining mouth of horse or ass (+ מֶתֶג); fig. of שֵׁם י׳, ר׳ עַל־לְחָיֵי עַמִּים Is 30:28; ר׳ מִפָּנַי שִׁלֵּ֑חוּ Jb 30:11, i.e. threw off restraint. 2. sf. כֶּפֶל רִסְנוֹ 41:5 the double of his jaw, his double jaws (of croc.), si vera l.; connexion of meanings strange, ‖ פְּנֵי לְבוּשׁוֹ, whence GHB Wright Du conj. סִרְיּנוֹ.