or עוֹל; from עָלַל; a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively; yoke.
Transliteration:ʻôl
Pronunciation:ole
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H5923}}` (ʻôl), often transliterated as 'ol or 'ôl, fundamentally denotes a "yoke." Its base definition encompasses both a literal and figurative application. Literally, it refers to the wooden bar or frame placed over the necks of two draft animals, typically oxen, to enable them to pull a plow, cart, or other implement together. This physical implement facilitates shared labor and directs movement.
Figuratively, `{{H5923}}` extends its semantic range to symbolize a burden, servitude, oppression, or control imposed upon an individual or a people. The very act of being "under the yoke" implies a state of subjugation, hardship, or forced labor. The derivation from the root ʻālal (which can mean to deal severely with, to impose, or to glean) underscores this sense of something laid upon or inflicted, often with a connotation of hardship or constraint. Thus, the word powerfully conveys the idea of an external force or condition that limits freedom and demands effort or submission.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{H5923}}` appears numerous times throughout the Old Testament, consistently reflecting its literal and metaphorical meanings.
In its literal sense, `{{H5923}}` describes an agricultural tool. For instance, [[Numbers 19:2]] specifies "a red heifer, a perfect one, in which is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come," highlighting its use in labor. Similarly, [[Deuteronomy 21:3]] refers to a heifer "which has not been worked and has not pulled a yoke," emphasizing its untamed nature. [[1 Samuel 6:7]] mentions "two milk cows which have never been yoked" for pulling the ark. These passages ground the word in the practical realities of ancient agrarian life.
However, the vast majority of occurrences employ `{{H5923}}` metaphorically to depict various forms of burden and servitude:
* **Slavery and Oppression:** The yoke frequently symbolizes the heavy burden of slavery or foreign domination. [[Leviticus 26:13]] speaks of God breaking "the bars of your yoke" and enabling His people to walk erect, referencing liberation from Egyptian bondage. [[Jeremiah 28:14]] vividly portrays the "yoke of iron" that Nebuchadnezzar would impose, signifying severe subjugation.
* **Hardship and Affliction:** The yoke can represent general hardship or affliction, often as a consequence of sin or divine judgment. [[Lamentations 1:14]] laments, "The yoke of my transgressions is bound; by His hand they are knit together." [[Lamentations 3:27]] suggests it is "good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth," implying that early suffering can be formative.
* **Royal or Political Control:** The term is used to describe the burden of taxation or forced labor imposed by kings. [[1 Kings 12:4]] records the people's plea to Rehoboam: "Your father made our yoke heavy," referring to Solomon's oppressive policies.
* **Divine Deliverance:** Crucially, the breaking or removal of the yoke signifies liberation and salvation, often by divine intervention. [[Isaiah 10:27]] promises, "His burden will be removed from your shoulder and His yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of fatness." This imagery powerfully conveys God's redemptive power to free His people from all forms of bondage.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of the `{{H5923}}` (yoke) is closely intertwined with several other Hebrew terms and theological ideas:
* `{{H5448}}` (sābal) and `{{H5447}}` (sebel): These words refer to bearing a burden or forced labor, directly aligning with the oppressive aspect of a yoke.
* `{{H6186}}` (ʿēved): Servant or slave, a person under a yoke of servitude.
* `{{H6065}}` (ʿāmēl): Toil or labor, often associated with the burden of work.
* The broader concept of *bondage* or *slavery* (e.g., in Egypt or Babylon) is the primary context for the metaphorical use of `{{H5923}}`.
* In the New Testament, the Greek word `{{G2201}}` (zygos) carries a similar literal meaning of a yoke. However, its most profound theological application is found in [[Matthew 11:29-30]], where Jesus invites His followers to "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me... For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." This presents a stark contrast to the heavy, oppressive yokes of the Old Testament and the legalistic burdens imposed by human traditions. While the OT `{{H5923}}` often signifies external, burdensome imposition, Jesus' `{{G2201}}` represents a willing, internal submission to His gentle authority, leading to rest rather than weariness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5923}}` is multifaceted, serving as a potent symbol throughout biblical narrative and prophecy:
* **God as Liberator:** The repeated motif of God breaking the yoke (e.g., [[Leviticus 26:13]], [[Isaiah 10:27]], [[Jeremiah 28:2]]) underscores His character as the divine deliverer. He is not merely powerful but actively intervenes to free His people from the burdens of oppression, whether from human taskmasters or the consequences of their own sin. This theme is central to the Exodus narrative and prophetic messages of restoration.
* **Consequences of Disobedience:** Conversely, the imposition of a yoke is often presented as a consequence of Israel's disobedience and turning away from God. When the nation neglects its covenant obligations, God permits or orchestrates their subjugation under foreign powers, symbolized by the heavy yoke (e.g., [[Jeremiah 2:20]], [[Jeremiah 27:8]]). This highlights divine justice and the disciplinary aspect of God's relationship with His people.
* **Prophetic Metaphor:** Prophets like Jeremiah use the yoke as a powerful visual aid to convey messages of impending judgment or the necessity of submission to God's will. Jeremiah's symbolic act of wearing a wooden yoke ([[Jeremiah 27:2]]) and later an iron yoke ([[Jeremiah 28:13]]) dramatically illustrates the inescapable nature of Babylonian servitude and the folly of resisting divine decree.
* **The Nature of True Freedom:** By contrasting the oppressive yokes of this world with the freedom found in God's covenant and, ultimately, in Christ's "easy yoke," the concept of `{{H5923}}` illuminates the nature of true liberty. It is not an absence of all constraint but a willing submission to the righteous and benevolent authority of God, which paradoxically leads to true rest and liberation from the heavier burdens of sin and legalism.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H5923}}` (ʻôl) denotes a "yoke," functioning both as a literal agricultural implement and, more profoundly, as a powerful metaphor. Its primary metaphorical sense conveys a heavy burden, servitude, or oppression, whether imposed by human rulers, foreign powers, or as a consequence of divine judgment for disobedience. The Old Testament frequently depicts God as the one who breaks or removes these yokes, symbolizing His consistent role as the liberator of His people from bondage and affliction. This imagery underscores themes of divine justice, human responsibility, and God's redemptive power. When viewed in continuity with the New Testament's "light yoke" of Christ (`{{G2201}}`), the `{{H5923}}` provides a crucial backdrop, highlighting the transformative difference between external, burdensome legalism and the liberating, restorative submission to God's gracious will.
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