### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻôl**, represented by `{{H5923}}`, is a term for a **yoke**, used both literally and figuratively. It appears **40 times** across **34 unique verses** in the Bible. While it can refer to the literal harness placed on an animal, its primary scriptural use is as a powerful metaphor for servitude, oppression, and the burden of divine judgment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H5923}}` is used in several key contexts. Literally, it describes animals not yet put to work, such as a heifer "upon which never came **yoke**" [[Numbers 19:2]] or one that has not "drawn in the **yoke**" [[Deuteronomy 21:3]]. Figuratively, it depicts the burden of political oppression, as when the people of Israel asked King Rehoboam to lighten the "heavy **yoke**" his father had imposed [[1 Kings 12:4]]. It also represents the consequences of sin, with God warning of a "**yoke** of iron" for disobedience [[Deuteronomy 28:48]] and the author of Lamentations mourning, "The **yoke** of my transgressions is bound by his hand" [[Lamentations 1:14]]. Conversely, the breaking of the yoke signifies God's deliverance, as when He promises to break the Assyrian's "**yoke** from off them" [[Isaiah 14:25]] or reminds Israel that He broke the bands of their "**yoke**" upon leaving Egypt [[Leviticus 26:13]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of the yoke and its effects:
* `{{H5448}}` **çôbel** (burden): This word for a "load" is often paired with `ʻôl` to emphasize the weight of oppression, as seen in the promise that God will break "the **yoke** of his **burden**" [[Isaiah 9:4]].
* `{{H7665}}` **shâbar** (to break): This verb is frequently used to describe God's act of deliverance. God promises to "**break**" the yoke of the king of Babylon [[Jeremiah 28:2]] and reminds Israel that He has "**broken** the bands of your **yoke**" [[Leviticus 26:13]].
* `{{H5647}}` **ʻâbad** (to serve): This term defines the state of being under a yoke. It describes serving an enemy as punishment [[Deuteronomy 28:48]] or serving a king who has imposed a heavy yoke [[1 Kings 12:4]].
* `{{H6677}}` **tsavvâʼr** (neck): This word identifies the physical location where a yoke is placed. It is used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as breaking a yoke "from off thy **neck**" [[Genesis 27:40]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5923}}` is significant, illustrating key aspects of God's relationship with humanity.
* **Symbol of Servitude and Judgment:** The yoke consistently represents bondage. This can be servitude to a human king [[1 Kings 12:4]], a foreign oppressor like Babylon [[Jeremiah 27:8]], or the consequences of one's own transgressions [[Lamentations 1:14]]. God imposes a "yoke of iron" as a severe punishment for disobedience [[Deuteronomy 28:48]].
* **Instrument of Divine Correction:** God uses the yoke as a tool of chastisement. He laid a heavy yoke on His people through other nations because He "was wroth" [[Isaiah 47:6]]. King Rehoboam's threat to "chastise you with scorpions" is directly tied to his promise to make the yoke heavier [[1 Kings 12:14]].
* **Promise of Divine Liberation:** The breaking of the yoke is a profound image of God's redemptive power. He promises to "**break** the **yoke**" of the oppressor [[Isaiah 9:4]] and deliver His people from those who enslaved them [[Ezekiel 34:27]]. This act of liberation is a central theme, culminating in the promise that the yoke will be destroyed "because of the anointing" [[Isaiah 10:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5923}}` is far more than a simple agricultural term. It is a cornerstone metaphor in scripture, representing the heavy weight of oppression, sin, and judgment. At the same time, its destruction symbolizes the profound hope of God's power to deliver, restore, and set His people free. The word illustrates how a simple object can carry the weight of national suffering and the promise of divine salvation.
TRV