Description and usage
The muzzle was a guard placed over or around the mouth of an animal to prevent it from biting or eating. It was made of rope or leather strips formed into a loose mesh; this allowed the animal to breathe while preventing it from getting anything into its mouth.
Translation
The two New Testament references are quotations from DEU 25:4 (where 1TI 5:18 follows the Septuagint and 1CO 9:9 uses an equivalent verb). In some languages it may be necessary to use some kind of descriptive equivalent of “to muzzle an ox,” for example, “to tie the mouth of an ox so that it cannot eat” or “to cover the mouth of an ox so that it cannot eat.” In PSA 39:2 the literal text “I will guard my mouth with a muzzle” may be rendered “I will keep silent” (compare GNT “I will not say anything”).