רֶסֶן
𐤓𐤎𐤍
reçen
H7448 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A device made of straps, cords, or rope, typically part of a harness, placed on the head of an animal—most often an equid such as a horse or donkey—to control or restrain it via pressure on or around the mouth. By extension, refers metonymically to restraint or control, especially of speech or behavior in poetic or wisdom literature contexts.
Semantic Range
bridle, halter, restraint (literal), device for controlling animals, (metaphorical) control or restraint over speech or behavior
Root / Etymology
From the root רסן, meaning 'to restrain, control, hold back,' though no verbal form is directly attested in the Hebrew Bible. רֶסֶן is the noun form denoting a physical implement used to control animals; the root conveys the core semantic idea of restriction or regulation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רֶסֶן appears primarily in poetic, wisdom, or prophetic passages (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Job) rather than narrative texts. Its primary reference is literal: a bridle or halter fitted to animals to allow a human to direct their movement. Figuratively, it was used as a metaphor for restraint—especially in the regulation of speech, thoughts, or moral behavior (e.g., Psalm 39:2 'I will keep a bridle on my mouth'). The word should not be confused with מֶתֶג (meteg), which is more specific to reins or bits, but can overlap in meaning. In later Hebrew, the meaning of restraint (especially on speech) persisted. English translations as 'bridle' or 'halter' usually capture the literal meaning, but some translations extend to 'control' or 'restraint' where used metaphorically. The word is not specific to any one animal, but in the biblical context, horses, donkeys, or mules are typically implied. Use of this term does not distinguish periods within biblical Hebrew, but its figurative usage is more pronounced in later poetic and wisdom literature. No association with later religious symbolism or identity should be assumed.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to curb; a halter (as restraining); by implication, the jaw; bridle.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רסן (r-s-n) — restrain, control, hold back
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7449 | רֶסֶן | Resen |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7448-03 |
וְ/רֶ֣סֶן | veresen | HC/Ncmsa |
and bridle | and bridle | 2 |
H7448-02 |
וָ/רֶ֣סֶן | varesen | HC/Ncmsa |
and bridle | bridle | 1 |
H7448-01 |
רִ֝סְנ֗/וֹ | riseno | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
maidens | his bridle | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7448-03 |
Isaiah 30:28 | וְ/רֶ֣סֶן | veresen | HC/Ncmsa |
and-bridle | and bridle |
H7448-02 |
Psalms 32:9 | וָ/רֶ֣סֶן | varesen | HC/Ncmsa |
and bridle | bridle |
H7448-03 |
Job 30:11 | וְ֝/רֶ֗סֶן | veresen | HC/Ncmsa |
and bridle | and bridle |
H7448-01 |
Job 41:5 | רִ֝סְנ֗/וֹ | riseno | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
maidens | his bridle |