{If we put} (ei ballomen). Condition of the first class
assumed as true. {The horses' bridles} (	(936e) hipp(936e) tous
chalinous). Hipp(936e) (genitive plural of hippos, horse, old
word, in N.T. only here except in the Apocalypse), put first
because the first of the several illustrations of the power and
the peril of the tongue. This is the only N.T. example of
chalinos, old word for bridle (from chala(935c) to slacken, let
down), except  Re 14:20 . {That they may obey us} (eis to
peithesthai autous h(886d)in). Present middle infinitive of peith(935c)
with eis to as a purpose clause with the dative h(886d)in after
peithesthai and autous the accusative of general reference.
{We turn about} (metagomen). Present active indicative of
metag(935c), late compound to change the direction (meta, ag(935c)),
to guide, in N.T. only here and verse  4 . The body of the horse
follows his mouth, guided by the bridle.