4964. metheg

Lexicon

metheg: Bridle, control, restraint

Original Word: מֶתֶג
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: metheg
Pronunciation: meh'-theg
Phonetic Spelling: (meh-theg)
Definition: Bridle, control, restraint
Meaning: a bit

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bit, bridle

From an unused root meaning to curb; a bit -- bit, bridle.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
a bridle
NASB Translation
bit (1), bridle (3), control (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מֶ֫תֶג noun masculine bridle (Aramaic (ᵑ7) מִתְגָּא; Late Hebrew מֶתֶג of secondary accent ָֽ; מִתֵּג Pi`el denominative put on a bridle); —

1 literally bridle, for animals; מֶתֶג לַחֲמוֺר Proverbs 26:3 a whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, etc.; וָרֶסֶן ׳בְּמ Psalm 32:9 with bridle and halter (on text of verse compare Che); of ׳י's birdle for Sennach. (under figure of beast), וּמִתְגִּי בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ 2 Kings 19:28 and I will put (וְשַׂמְתִּי) my hook in thy nose and my bridle in thy lips = Isaiah 37:29 (see Dr^{Is. ed. 2, 220}).

2 figurative = control, authority, only in הָאַמָּה ׳מ 2 Samuel 8:1authority of the mother city, according to MV Buhl, of especially We Dr; Bu omit as corrupt (see I. אַמָּה, above); see, further, HPS.

מְתוּשָׁאֵל, מְתוּשֶׁ֫לַח see below מַת above

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to curb or restrain.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2759: καλαμός (kalamos) • A reed or a measuring rod, sometimes used metaphorically for control or authority.
• G5469: χαλινός (chalinós) • A bridle or bit, used in the New Testament to describe the control of the tongue or the restraint of one's actions, as seen in James 3:3, "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal."

The concept of a bit as a tool for control and guidance is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating the importance of restraint and the power of small instruments to direct larger entities.

Usage: The term מֶתֶג is used in the context of controlling or restraining, often metaphorically to describe the act of bringing something under control or subjection.

Context: מֶתֶג (meteg) appears in the Hebrew Bible in contexts that involve control and restraint, particularly in relation to horses. The bit is a small but powerful tool used to guide and direct horses, symbolizing the ability to control larger forces with a small instrument. In 2 Samuel 8:1, the term is used metaphorically to describe David's subjugation of the Philistines, indicating the imposition of control and authority over them. The imagery of a bit conveys the concept of dominion and the exertion of power, reflecting the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty and the subjugation of nations under His chosen leaders.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּמֶֽתֶג־ במתג־ וּמִתְגִּי֙ ומתגי מֶ֣תֶג מתג bə·me·ṯeḡ- bemeteg bəmeṯeḡ- me·ṯeḡ Meteg meṯeḡ ū·miṯ·gî umitGi ūmiṯgî

Englishman's Concordance

2 Kings 19:28
HEB: חַחִ֜י בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ וּמִתְגִּי֙ בִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲשִׁ֣בֹתִ֔יךָ
NAS: in your nose, And My bridle in your lips,
KJV: in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips,
INT: my hook your nose and my bridle your lips will turn

Psalm 32:9
HEB: אֵ֤ין הָ֫בִ֥ין בְּמֶֽתֶג־ וָרֶ֣סֶן עֶדְי֣וֹ
NAS: Whose trappings include bit and bridle
KJV: must be held in with bit and bridle,
INT: have understanding bit and bridle trappings

Proverbs 26:3
HEB: שׁ֣וֹט לַ֭סּוּס מֶ֣תֶג לַחֲמ֑וֹר וְ֝שֵׁ֗בֶט
NAS: is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
KJV: for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
INT: A whip the horse A bridle the donkey rod

Isaiah 37:29
HEB: חַחִ֜י בְּאַפֶּ֗ךָ וּמִתְגִּי֙ בִּשְׂפָתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔יךָ
NAS: in your nose And My bridle in your lips,
KJV: in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips,
INT: my hook your nose and my bridle your lips will turn

4 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4964
4 Occurrences

bə·me·ṯeḡ- — 1 Occ.
me·ṯeḡ — 1 Occ.
ū·miṯ·gî — 2 Occ.