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From: Bible Dictionary

By: Walter Biggar Scott

Yoke That which unites the oxen in plowing, Luke 14:19¹⁹And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. (Luke 14:19). Used symbolically of the laborious servitude of the law, Acts 15:10¹⁰Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (Acts 15:10); Gal. 5:1¹Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1); in contrast to which is the yoke of the Lord, which is easy, and the burden light, Matt. 11:29-30²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29‑30). We are not to be unequally yoked to unbelievers, 2 Cor. 6:14¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14). Paul calls someone his true yokefellow (probably Epaphroditus), Phil. 4:3³And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3). A symbol of restraint. Deut. 28.

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