Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

YOKE

A mechanism for harnessing the power of domesticated animals (Heb. ʿōl, ṣemeḏ, môṭâ; Gk. zugós). Most often the ox and donkey (1 Sam. 11:7; 1 Kgs. 19:19, 21; Job 1:3; Luke 14:19), but also cattle (Num. 19:2; Deut. 21:3; 1 Sam. 6:7), were yoked plowing (Deut. 22:10 forbids yoking an ox and a donkey together).

Because the yoke was such a common agricultural implement, it became a vivid symbol with many nuances. Sometimes it was used to describe oppression and servitude, politically (Gen. 27:40; Lev. 26:13; 1 Kgs. 12:4-14 = 2 Chr. 10:4-14; Isa. 58:6, 9; Jer. 28:1-14) and religiously (Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1; 1 Tim. 6:1). Lam. 1:14 employs the figure to describe the negative results of sin. The figure of humans yoked usually represents an unhealthy relationship (2 Cor. 6:14; cf. Ps. 106:28).

Elsewhere the metaphor of yoke is used in a very positive way. Lam. 3:27 refers to the yoke as correction administered by God. Even more striking is Jeremiah’s use of the term as a metaphor for God’s authority, probably as expressed in the covenant and the word of God (Jer. 2:20; 5:5). Jesus’ shorthand use of the term in Matt. 11:28-30 refers to the rabbinic concepts of “the yoke of the kingdom of heaven/Torah/commandments” (cf. m. Ber. 2:2, 5; b. Sanh. 94b; Sir. 6:24-30; Pss. Sol. 7:9).

W. E. Nunnally

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

YOKE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)