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Yoke in the Bible – Definition | Word Study

What does bible say about Yoke? What does it mean to be under the Yoke of Bondage, How has Jesus Christ set us free from the Yoke? This is a word study of Yoke from the bible.

yoke in the bible word picture

Definition of Yoke:

  • In a literal sense, the word ‘Yoke‘ means a bar of wood, so constructed as to unite two animals (usually oxen), enabling them to work in the fields, drawing loads, pulling instruments used for farming.
  • In Bible, it is figuratively used as a symbol of
    • Slavery (1 Tim 6:1)
    • Servanthood (Lev 26:13:”I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” Also Jer 27:8-12)
    • Submission, Forced Subjection
    • Burden, Load
    • Oppression (Is 9:4)
    • Bondage to Sin (Lam 1:14: “My sins have been bound into a yoke, by his hands, they were woven together…”)
  • The Plowman (farmer) binds the yoke upon the neck of the oxen, so that it would not fall off or be shaken off. Yoke bound around the neck of man would cause his strength to diminish, one can waver and fall under the load of yoke.

Yoke in the Bible (NT):

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ~Mat 11:28-30

 

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ~ Acts 15:10

 

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ~ 2 Cor 6:14

 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” ~ Gal 5:1

  • Paul in Gal 5:1 and Peter in Acts 15:10 talk about the yoke of bondage that the Law brings, the yoke that no one can carry. The requirements of the Law are beyond our capacity.

“Because through Christ Jesus, the law of spirit has set me free from the law of sin and death.” ~ Rom 8:2

  • Christ Jesus has set us free from the yoke of bondage through the law. Jesus took upon himself the yoke of Law and fulfilled it. Therefore, through him, we can be set free from the yoke of sin and death.
  • Jesus invites all who are under the yoke of Law or sin and offers the true rest for their souls.
  • We may visualize this as Jesus being the master or a farmer and us being yoked with a lighter load. But that is NOT the right picture.
  • Farmers used to yoke the young ox with the old experienced ox to train them. The old ox will take the major load and the young one will be walking along and learning from him. If you read this verses in light of this, it gives a wonderful picture.
  • Jesus is helping those who are exhausted, weary and burdened from carrying the load by themselves! What a comfort, peace and rest to know that Jesus is right with us, walking with us, teaching us and strengthening us side by side!
  • We may be under the yoke of sin, oppression, guilt, failures, anxieties (1 Pet 5:7), or worries. But Jesus has set us free from the yoke, we just need to come to him and cast our heavy burden on him. And he will give the rest for our souls.

(Also check out: Yeast in the Bible, Salt in the Bible)

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Check out our eBook, The Miracles of Jesus Christ – 7-part Bible Study Series on the Healing Miracles of Jesus Christ for Small Groups & Personal Study.

By Amit Christian

Founder and Author of BibleSEO (Bible Study Exposition Online), Bible study topics website, which offers free small group bible studies on various topics. His passion is to train, equip and inspire individual and small groups for life-changing bible study experience.
(Check my Google+ Profile at https://plus.google.com/u/0/108196373225656079903/)

29 replies on “Yoke in the Bible – Definition | Word Study”

Thank you for the clear exposition. May I add: The yoke of sin and Law was burdensome; the yoke that Jesus gives us is ‘grace’ through faith in HIs finished work. God bless you.

Mt. 11:29 take my yoke upon you…11:30 for my yoke is easy…
When we allow Jesus Christ to control ourlives, every struggles that we have will be easy to take. Heavy burdens will become light ‘coz there is someone who can take that burden for us. It’s about trusting our cares unto the Lord and standing on His promises. Only through him we can find rest to our weary souls,,unto Him an empty heart will be filled,,unto Him there is peace to a troubled mind….How amazing to know that Jesus never leave us nor forsake us,,but someone needs to believe in Him and choose to allow Him to enter into his/her life…God be with you!

Thank You Mariejoy,

You have said it wonderfully. Truly, we can find true rest and renewal of our souls through Him only. Thank you for your insightful comment.

[…] Yoke in the Bible – Definition and Word Study: Matthew 11:28-30 …Jun 12, 2011 … Yoke in the Bible, Definition, What does Yoke mean in the Bible, … walking with us, teaching us and strengthening us side by side! … […]

YOKE IS UNAVOIDABLE IN LIFE. EITHER ONE LIKE IT OR NOT YOU MUST BE UNDER ONE YOKE. THE ONE THAT IS EASY (JESUS) OR THE HARD ONE (DEVIL)

Hello Rosa,

Thanks for the encouraging words. May God be praised.

I was looking for a picture of a yoke and came across your article. Thanks so much for the great “word-picture” of how Jesus invites to allow Him to come alongside of us, bearing the majority of our load of cares.

Thanks Evangeline. Yes, it is a beautiful word picture of Jesus carrying burden right along with us.

Amit, came across your article researching on Isaiah 58, thanks for writing, was very useful in understanding yoke. Appreciate your work, God bless:)

YES JESUS IS ABLE TO CARRY OUR BURDEN ”NUMBERS 23:19” SAYS HE IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE SURE HE IS ABLE.

l am greatful because I have known what a yoke is and I understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 11:29.

Thank you for all the comments that I read about the yolk. It really gave me a better understanding. Especially The older Oxon that has more experience than the younger oxen and the older oxen carries more of the weight then they younger . And gave me a Picture in my mind that Jesus is telling me he wants to walk side by side with me but he’s going to carry the heavy yolk and give me more Grace
#prayandslay?

To the one who wants to know the yoke for marriage
It talks about being un equally yoked
In other words make sure your beliefs are the same with your relationships
Just like she wrote on the cattle bar imagine if you dont believe the same thing the stronger one will win
Being with a godly man make a huge difference in a marriage
Christ married the church(we are yhe church) and the devil is the oposite we are his and see how stronge the devil can work in our lives even when we have christ who is above all
Having an unbeliever and a believer is hard
Hope that helps

I found this resource helpful. And I would want to be part of the good things that the platform provides in terms of Bible knowledge and service as a pastor.

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