Original Word: עֹל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `ol
Pronunciation: [ohl]
Phonetic Spelling: (ole)
KJV: yoke
NASB: yoke
Word Origin: [from H5953 (עָלַל - To act severely)]

1. a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively

yoke

Or mowl {ole}; from alal; a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively -- yoke.

see HEBREW alal

Word Origin
from alal
Definition
a yoke
NASB Translation
yoke (40).

עֹל₃₉ noun masculine^{1Kings 12:4} yoke; — ׳ע absolute Hosea 11:4 +; construct Isaiah 9:3 +; suffix עֻלֵךְ Jeremiah 2:20; Isaiah 47:6, עֻלּוֺ Genesis 27:40 +, עֻלְּכֶם 1 Kings 12:11, etc.; — yoke, for cattle, עָלָה עֲלֵיהֶם ׳ע 1 Samuel 6:7, compare Numbers 19:2 (P), ׳מָֽשְׁכָה בְּע Deuteronomy 21:3; usually figurative of servitude 1 Kings 12:4,10,11 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 12:14 (twice in verse) = 2Chronicles 10:4,10,11 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 10:14; עַל ׳נָתַן ע 1 Kings 12:4,9 2Chronicles 10:4,9; ׳וְנָתַן ע בַּרְזֶל עַלצַֿוָּארֶ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 28:48, so Jeremiah 28:14; ׳עַלזָֿקִן הִכְבַּדְתְּ ע Isaiah 47:6; also נָתַן (הֵבִיא) אֶתצַֿוָּארוֺ בְּעֹל Jeremiah 27:8,11,12; ׳שָׁבַר ע break the yoke Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 5:5; Jeremiah 28:2,4,11; Jeremiah 30:8 ( + ׳מֵעַל צ), so ׳מֹטֹת ע Leviticus 26:13 (H), Ezekiel 34:27 (see מוֺטָה); ׳מָּרַק ע Genesis 27:40 (J; + ׳מֵעַל צ); ׳הֵחֵת ע Isaiah 9:3; compare ׳הֵרִים ע Hosea 11:4; also ׳מֵעַל צ ׳יָסוּר ע Isaiah 10:27, and Isaiah 14:25; figurative of transgressions Lamentations 1:14, strike out ׳ע ᵐ5 ᵑ9 Löhr Bu, but read עֹל v^b (see id.); of hardship, ׳נָשָׂא ע Lamentations 3:27.

Overview

עֹל appears about forty times in the Old Testament, presenting a vivid picture of a wooden yoke placed on the necks of draft animals—and, by extension, on people or nations. Scripture developes the image along several interconnected lines: literal agricultural use, covenant blessing and curse, political oppression, prophetic sign-acts, personal discipline, and redemptive hope.

Agricultural Reality

In daily life the yoke joined two oxen so that they could pull together with greater efficiency (for example, Deuteronomy 21:3). By metonymy the word could also refer to the load dragged behind the animals (Numbers 19:2). Seeing a team bowed under a yoke gave Israel a ready-made metaphor for any force that bent a person’s will or limited freedom.

Covenant Blessing and Curse

Leviticus 26:13 sets the baseline: “I have broken the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk upright.” Liberation from Egypt proved that Yahweh alone determined Israel’s bondage or freedom. Should the nation rebel, an opposite outcome was guaranteed: “He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you” (Deuteronomy 28:48). The image therefore functions as a barometer of covenant faithfulness—obedience removes the yoke; disobedience tightens it.

National Oppression and Political Misrule

After Solomon’s death, the northern tribes pleaded with Rehoboam, “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:4). His refusal fractured the kingdom. In the prophetic books the yoke often depicts foreign domination:
• Assyria: “You have shattered their burdensome yoke” (Isaiah 9:4).
• Babylon: “I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 30:8).
• Every oppressor: “I will remove their yoke from upon them and tear off their shackles” (Isaiah 58:6).

Thus עֹל becomes a shorthand for any regime that enslaves God’s people.

Prophetic Sign-Acts

Jeremiah dramatically wore a wooden yoke to announce Babylonian control (Jeremiah 27:2). When the false prophet Hananiah smashed it, the Lord replaced it with “yokes of iron” (Jeremiah 28:13–14). The tangible object lesson made the abstract prophecy unmistakable, underscoring that divine sovereignty, not human wishful thinking, decides historical outcomes.

Personal Discipline and Wisdom

Lamentations 3:27 counsels, “It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.” The hardship of imposed limits teaches endurance and humility. Hosea pictures Israel as “a trained heifer” enjoying ease under a light yoke but destined for heavier labor because of unfaithfulness (Hosea 10:11).

Redemptive and Messianic Hope

Isaiah 10:27 prophesies a future day when “the yoke will be broken because of the anointing.” Isaiah 14:25 promises that the Lord will “remove the burden from their shoulders.” These texts reach forward to the greater liberation announced by Jesus: “My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:30), where the metaphor is reversed into a gracious partnership with the Messiah.

Pastoral and Ministry Implications

1. Sin always enslaves; repentance always liberates.
2. Leadership either eases or exacerbates the burdens of God’s people (1 Kings 12).
3. Prophetic ministry must sometimes embody its message, as Jeremiah did.
4. Accepting the Lord’s discipline in youth equips believers for lifelong service.
5. Ultimate freedom is found only in the anointed One who breaks every yoke.

Representative References

Leviticus 26:13; Deuteronomy 28:48; 1 Kings 12:4–14; 2 Chronicles 10:4–14; Isaiah 9:4; 10:27; 14:25; 58:6; Jeremiah 2:20; 5:5; 27:8–12; 28:2–14; 30:8; 34:13; Lamentations 1:14; 3:27; Ezekiel 34:27; Hosea 10:11; 11:4; Nahum 1:13; Zechariah 11:7.

Together these passages trace עֹל from everyday farm implement to potent theological symbol, culminating in the promise that God Himself will break every yoke and bring His people into true rest.

בְּעֹ֖ל בְּעֹ֣ל בְּעֹ֥ל בְּעֹֽל׃ בעל בעל׃ הָעֹ֔ל העל וְעֻלּ֖וֹ וּמֵעֻלּ֧וֹ ומעלו ועלו עֹ֑ל עֹ֔ל עֹ֖ל עֹ֣ל עֹ֣ל ׀ עֹ֤ל עֹ֨ל עֹֽל׃ עֻלְּכֶ֑ם עֻלְּכֶ֔ם עֻלֵּ֑נוּ עֻלֵּ֔נוּ עֻלֵּ֖ךְ עֻלֵּ֗ךְ עֻלָּ֔ם עֻלּ֔וֹ עֻלּ֖וֹ עֻלּוֹ֙ על על׃ עלו עלך עלכם עלם עלנו ‘ōl ‘ul·lām ‘ul·lə·ḵem ‘ul·lê·nū ‘ul·lêḵ ‘ul·lōw ‘ullām ‘ullêḵ ‘ulləḵem ‘ullênū ‘ullōw bə‘ōl bə·‘ōl beOl hā‘ōl hā·‘ōl haOl Ol ū·mê·‘ul·lōw ulLam ulLech ulleChem ulLenu ulLo ūmê‘ullōw umeulLo veulLo wə‘ullōw wə·‘ul·lōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts