ὑποζύγιον
hypozýgion
G5268 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Domesticated working animal, usually referring to a beast of burden harnessed for pulling (typically under a yoke); in most contexts, denotes a donkey but may encompass other draft animals placed beneath a yoke for agricultural or transport purposes. The term emphasizes the function or status of the animal as a work-beast rather than specifying species, though donkey is often the referent in the eastern Mediterranean context.
Semantic Range
beast of burden, draft animal, work animal under yoke, donkey, ass, (occasionally) ox or mule employed for plowing or carrying loads
Root / Etymology
Compound of ὑπό (under) and ζυγός (yoke); literally 'under the yoke.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ὑποζύγιον generally designates an animal used for drawing loads, such as an ox or donkey. In the context of the Greek Bible (LXX, NT), it often refers particularly to a donkey, which was a common beast of burden in Roman-period Judea and the Levant. The term is more functional than taxonomic: it identifies an animal by its use for labor rather than its species. English translations often render the word as 'ass' or 'donkey,' but the Greek may at times include oxen or other animals used to pull carts or plows. The Hebrew background is influenced by terms like חֲמוֹר (hamor, donkey) and שׁוֹר (shor, ox), but Greek ὑποζύγιον bridges these by focusing on the labor role. In post-biblical and wider Koine usage, it retains this broad application. Earlier Greek generally distinguishes more specifically (e.g., ὄνος for donkey, βοῦς for ox).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of a compound of ὑπό and ζυγός; an animal under the yoke (draught-beast), i.e. (specially), a donkey:--ass.
Root Family
ὑποζύγιον (hypozýgion) — yoke, harness, under-yoke animal, beast of burden
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5268-01 |
ὑποζύγιον | upozugion | N NOM N SG |
donkey | yoke-beast | 1 |
G5268-02 |
ὑποζυγίου | upozugiou | N GEN N SG |
of a yoked work-animal | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5268-02 |
Matthew 21:5 | ὑποζυγίου | upozugiou | N GEN N SG |
of a yoked work-animal | |
G5268-01 |
2 Peter 2:16 | ὑποζύγιον | upozugion | N NOM N SG |
donkey | yoke-beast |