Word Study for H7448 (רֶסֶן) | Strong's Concordance

reçen /reh'-sen/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom an unused root meaning to curb

Meaninga halter (as restraining); by implication, the jaw

KJV usagebridle.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of reçen — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word reçen, represented by H7448, refers to a halter or bridle. Derived from a root meaning to curb, it signifies an instrument of restraint. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses, where it is used both literally as animal tack and metaphorically to represent control or guidance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7448 carries the consistent theme of control. It is used metaphorically in Isaiah to describe God placing a bridle in the jaws of the people to cause them to err as an act of judgment Isaiah 30:28. In contrast, Psalms warns against being like a horse or mule that lacks understanding and must be controlled with a bit and bridle Psalms 32:9. Job uses the term to describe his situation, stating his enemies have "let loose the bridle" before him, indicating a loss of restraint in their treatment of him Job 30:11. The word also appears in the description of a great beast, where the question is posed of who could approach it with a "double bridle," emphasizing the creature's untamable power Job 41:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help contextualize the meaning of restraint and control:

H5483 çûwç (a horse): This is one of the animals, along with the mule, that is explicitly mentioned as requiring a bit and bridle for control because it lacks understanding Psalms 32:9.
H6505 pered (a mule): Paired with the horse in Psalms 32:9, the mule serves as another example of a creature that must be physically restrained with a bridle.
H4964 metheg (a bit; bit, bridle): This word is used alongside H7448 in Psalms 32:9, as part of the complete apparatus ("bit and bridle") required to hold an animal in check.

Theological Significance

The theological and symbolic weight of H7448 is significant despite its infrequent use.

Divine Sovereignty: The bridle serves as a metaphor for God's absolute control over the nations and peoples. In Isaiah 30:28, it is an instrument of divine will, used to guide people toward a specific end.
Consequence of Lacking Understanding: Psalms 32:9 uses the bridle to create a clear distinction between wise obedience and the brute force needed to manage those who lack understanding H995. It is a call to not be like an animal that requires external coercion.
Social and Moral Restraint: In Job 30:11, a loosened bridle symbolizes a breakdown of order and respect. When divine affliction comes upon Job, human restraints are also removed, leading to further suffering.
Untamable Power: The concept of a creature that cannot be subdued with a "double bridle" Job 41:13 illustrates a power that is beyond human mastery, highlighting the limits of man's control.

Summary

In summary, H7448 is a potent symbol of control. While its literal meaning is a halter used on animals, its scriptural applications extend into the metaphorical realm. It illustrates themes of divine judgment, the importance of understanding, the breakdown of social order, and the existence of power that cannot be tamed by human means. Each of its four occurrences uses the image of the bridle to convey a powerful lesson about control and restraint.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

רֶסֶן
רִסְנ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

Job

Psalms

Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.