feminine of מוֹט; a pole; by implication, an ox-bow; hence, a yoke (either literal or figurative); bands, heavy, staves, yoke.
Transliteration:môwṭâh
Pronunciation:mo-taw'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term môwṭâh (מוֹטָה, `{{H4133}}`) is a feminine noun derived from the root môṭ (מוֹט, `{{H4132}}`), which primarily signifies a pole, bar, or staff, often carrying an underlying sense of instability or tottering. Môwṭâh extends this core meaning to denote a specific type of pole: an ox-bow, which is the curved wooden piece that fits over an animal's neck as part of a yoke. By implication, it refers to the entire yoke itself, whether literal (for animals) or figurative (for human burdens).
Its semantic range thus encompasses:
1. **A literal pole or staff:** Though less common than the related môṭ, the foundational sense of a rigid bar is present.
2. **An ox-bow:** The specific component of a yoke designed to fit an animal.
3. **A yoke:** The complete apparatus used to harness animals for work, symbolizing labor, control, and burden.
4. **Figurative burden/servitude:** Most significantly, môwṭâh is employed metaphorically to represent oppression, bondage, heavy labor, or the weight of divine judgment and its consequences. Terms like "bands," "heavy," and "staves" in the base definition reflect these extensions, often referring to the oppressive nature or components of the metaphorical yoke.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term môwṭâh appears frequently in the Old Testament, predominantly in its literal sense as an animal yoke and, more powerfully, in its figurative sense as a symbol of oppression.
In its literal usage, môwṭâh typically refers to the yoke placed on oxen for plowing or drawing carts. For instance, [[Leviticus 27:32]] mentions that every tenth animal passing under the "rod" (or staff, often associated with counting or tithing) would be holy to the Lord, and [[Numbers 19:2]] specifies a red heifer "on which a yoke has never come" as ritually pure for purification rites, emphasizing its unworked, unblemished nature. Similarly, [[Deuteronomy 21:3]] requires a heifer "which has not been worked and which has not pulled in a yoke" for the atonement ritual in cases of unsolved murder. These instances highlight the practical use of the yoke in ancient agricultural life and its significance in ritual purity.
However, the most profound use of môwṭâh is its metaphorical application to human experience, symbolizing servitude, affliction, and oppressive rule. This figurative usage is pervasive in prophetic and historical books:
* **Yoke of Oppression/Bondage:** Israel's experience under foreign domination is frequently described as bearing a môwṭâh. For example, [[Leviticus 26:13]] speaks of God breaking the "bars of your yoke" that bound Israel in Egypt, liberating them from slavery. Later, the prophets lament the "yoke of transgressions" ([[Lamentations 1:14]]) or the heavy yoke placed upon Judah by foreign invaders like Babylon ([[Jeremiah 27:2]], [[Jeremiah 28:10]], [[Jeremiah 28:14]]). The prophet Jeremiah even uses a literal wooden yoke to dramatize the impending servitude to Nebuchadnezzar ([[Jeremiah 27:2]], [[Jeremiah 28:10]]), and its subsequent breaking by Hananiah as a false prophecy of liberation ([[Jeremiah 28:10]], [[Jeremiah 28:12]]).
* **Divine Judgment:** The môwṭâh can also represent the burden of divine judgment or discipline upon a disobedient people. [[Lamentations 3:27]] suggests it is good for a man "to bear the yoke in his youth," implying the disciplining nature of hardship.
* **Promise of Deliverance:** Crucially, the breaking of the môwṭâh becomes a powerful motif for God's promised liberation and restoration. [[Isaiah 9:4]] (ESV) speaks of breaking "the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor." Similarly, [[Isaiah 10:27]] promises that "his burden will be removed from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck." This theme is echoed in [[Isaiah 14:25]] regarding the breaking of the Assyrian yoke, and most notably in [[Isaiah 58:6]], where true fasting is defined by "loosing the bonds of wickedness, undoing the straps of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free." [[Ezekiel 34:27]] promises that the restored flock of Israel will "know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them." This breaking signifies divine intervention and a return to freedom and blessing.
### Related Words & Concepts
Môwṭâh is deeply interconnected with several other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **Môṭ (מוֹט, `{{H4132}}`):** The masculine form of môwṭâh, meaning a bar, pole, staff, or even a shaking/tottering. The shared root emphasizes the physical object and its potential for instability or burden.
* **ʿŌl (עֹל, `{{H5923}}`):** This is another common and often synonymous Hebrew word for "yoke." While môwṭâh often emphasizes the physical pole or bow, ʿōl frequently highlights the burden or weight itself. Both are used interchangeably in contexts of servitude and oppression (e.g., compare môwṭâh in [[Jeremiah 27:2]] with ʿōl in [[Jeremiah 27:8]]).
* **Maśśāʾ (מַשָּׂא, `{{H4853}}`):** Meaning "burden" or "load," often used in conjunction with "yoke" to emphasize the weight of oppression.
* **Šebet (שֵׁבֶט, `{{H7626}}`):** "Rod" or "staff," often associated with the oppressor's instrument of control or the shepherd's staff, which can also be used to guide or discipline. In contexts like [[Isaiah 9:4]], "staff of his shoulder" is parallel to "yoke of his burden."
* **Concepts of Bondage and Liberation:** Môwṭâh is inherently linked to the broader biblical themes of slavery (e.g., Egypt, Babylon) and God's redemptive acts to free His people. It contrasts sharply with concepts of freedom, rest, and divine blessing.
* **Covenant and Obedience:** The imposition of a yoke often follows covenant disobedience, while its removal signifies a return to covenant faithfulness and divine favor.
### Theological Significance
The môwṭâh carries significant theological weight throughout the Old Testament:
1. **Symbol of Oppression and Sin's Consequence:** Primarily, môwṭâh serves as a powerful metaphor for the crushing weight of human oppression and the burdensome consequences of sin and unfaithfulness. It represents the loss of freedom, dignity, and self-determination, whether under foreign powers or the internal bondage of one's own transgressions. The "yoke of transgressions" in [[Lamentations 1:14]] vividly portrays the self-imposed burden of sin.
2. **Instrument of Divine Judgment and Discipline:** God, in His sovereignty, can allow or even impose a "yoke" upon His people as a form of judgment for their rebellion or as a means of discipline to bring them to repentance. The prophetic warnings often describe the coming foreign yoke as a direct consequence of Israel's idolatry and disobedience ([[Jeremiah 28:14]]).
3. **Promise of Divine Deliverance and Restoration:** Crucially, the breaking of the môwṭâh becomes a recurring and potent symbol of God's redemptive power and faithfulness to His covenant promises. The prophets consistently declare that God will intervene to "break the yoke" of the oppressor, bringing liberation, rest, and a return to the promised land. This act of breaking the yoke signifies God's justice, His compassion for the oppressed, and His ultimate victory over all forms of bondage.
4. **Messianic Hope:** The prophetic vision of a broken yoke often points forward to a future deliverer who will bring ultimate freedom. The breaking of the oppressor's yoke in [[Isaiah 9:4]] is set within a broader messianic prophecy, hinting at a coming king who will establish a reign of peace and justice, freeing His people from all burdens. This Old Testament imagery provides a rich backdrop for understanding the New Testament concept of Christ's "easy yoke" ([[Matthew 11:29-30]]), which stands in stark contrast to the heavy and oppressive yokes of human systems and legalistic burdens.
### Summary
The Hebrew word môwṭâh (מוֹטָה, `{{H4133}}`) fundamentally denotes a pole, specifically an ox-bow, and by extension, a yoke. While it appears literally in contexts of animal husbandry and ritual purity, its most profound use in the Old Testament is metaphorical. Môwṭâh serves as a potent symbol of oppression, servitude, and the heavy burden imposed by human oppressors or as a consequence of sin and divine judgment. Prophetic literature frequently employs the imagery of the môwṭâh to describe the plight of God's people under bondage, but also, and more significantly, to declare God's sovereign power and unwavering promise to "break" the yoke, bringing liberation, restoration, and a return to covenant blessing. This powerful image of bondage and ultimate deliverance resonates throughout biblical theology, anticipating the ultimate freedom found in God's redemptive acts.
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