“Yoke” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(join). This well-known means of coupling oxen for agricultural purposes was primitively laid upon the necks of the cattle, and held there by thongs which passed around their necks. A thong served also as an attachment to the cart-tongue or plow-beam. A pair of oxen yoked together were called a yoke, as today (1 Sam. 11:7; 1 Kings 19:21). It would seem as if asses and mules went by pairs like oxen (Judg. 19:10; 2 Kings 5:17), and even horses, camels, and chariots (Isa. 21:7). The word, like the Latin jugum, gave rise to a measurement of land (1 Sam. 14:14), the amount a yoke of oxen could plow in a day. Yoke is used metaphorically for subjection (1 Kings 12:4,9-11; Isa. 9:4; Jer. 5:5). An unusually heavy bondage was typed by “iron yoke” (Deut. 28:48; Jer. 28:13). Removal of the yoke implied deliverance (Gen. 27:40; Jer. 2:20; Matt. 11:29-30). Breaking of the yoke meant repudiation of authority (Nah. 1:13).
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“Balances” From Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(two scales). Were in general use among the ancients for weighing gold and silver, and in traffic (Lev. 19:36; Mic. 6:11; Hos. 12:7).
“Yoke” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
Women plowing near Hebron. Dec. 8, 1937
The harness that secures an animal to a cart or plow; and the beam to which two animals are fastened for any purpose of labor; it is also used to denote the number two, as “a yoke of oxen” (1 Sam. 11:7). It is employed as a symbol of servitude and slavery (Jer. 28:2-14; 1 Tim. 6:1). Also of the grievous bondage of being under the law (Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1). The Lord Jesus invites the believer to take His yoke upon him, and to learn of Him; that is, giving up self-will, to be in submission to the will of God, content to be in the lowest place; and such will find rest to their souls. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt. 11:29-30).
Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.
“Balances” From Concise Bible Dictionary:
Jewelry Scales
Moznayim, ζυγός, a pair of balances or scales: such are seen on the Egyptian monuments, with the weights in one scale and the article to be weighed in the other. They were needful also in early days for weighing the money: when Abraham bought a burying place he “weighed to Ephron the silver” (Gen. 23:16: Compare Jer. 32:10). Job asked to be weighed in an even balance, (Job 31:6: Compare Lev. 19:36; Ezek. 45:10), for men contrived to falsify the balance, as well as the weights, which was an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 11:1; Prov. 16:11; Hos. 12:7; Amos 8:5). In Isaiah 46:6 another Hebrew word is used, ganeh, which signifies a reed, rod or beam, which may refer to the beam of the scales, for it is not known that the steel-yard was then in use. In Revelation 6:5 the rider on the black horse had a pair of balances with which to weigh out the food, showing that great scarcity will be one of God’s judgments in the future.
Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:
Meaning:
from the root of ζεύγνυμι (to join, especially by a "yoke"); a coupling, i.e. (figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation); also (literally) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales)
KJV Usage:
pair of balances, yoke