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עֹל

𐤏𐤋

ʻôl

H5923 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עול to place a yoke, to impose burden, to weigh upon

Definition

A wooden bar or frame used to join two draft animals at the neck for labor, especially for plowing or pulling carts; metaphorically, a symbol of submission, authority, oppression, or servitude imposed upon individuals or peoples. The term ranges from the literal physical instrument used in agriculture to abstract applications describing political subjugation, burdensome obligations, or submission to authority.

Semantic Range

yoke (implement for animals), instrument of restraint, symbol of servitude or subjugation, metaphor for authority, oppression, obligation, or discipline

Root / Etymology

From the root עול (עלל), which in verb form can mean 'to act as a child, to act wantonly' (though this derivation is debated), but in this noun form reflects the concrete object (a yoke). The root implies imposition or encumbrance, and the noun עֹל likely developed from the idea of something imposed or placed upon, i.e., a yoke.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite society, the עֹל was a common agricultural implement, essential for harnessing animals for farm labor. In prophetic and poetic texts, it frequently appears as a metaphor for foreign domination (e.g., the yoke of a conquering power), harsh labor, or enforced servitude—connoting not only physical but also economic or political oppression. In legal and wisdom texts, 'yoke' can refer to the restraints of duty or obligation. Later interpretive traditions sometimes render עֹל as 'bondage' or 'servitude,' and rabbinic sources further extend the imagery to the 'yoke of Torah' (the discipline of religious duty). English translations often use 'yoke,' which generally captures the metaphor, but can obscure the nuances of oppressive rule versus ordinary labor. Distinction should be made from related terms like מוֹט (bar, staff) which can denote different instruments or forms of subjugation. In later periods, 'bearing the yoke' could refer to voluntary submission to divine law, though this usage is post-biblical.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עוֹל; from עָלַל; a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively; yoke.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עול (ʿ-w-l) — to place a yoke, to impose burden, to weigh upon

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5759 עֲוִיל their nursing infants
H5760 עֲוִיל unjust man
H5763 עוּל to suckle
H5764 עוּל nursing infant of
H5765 עֲוַל from injustice

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5923-03 עֹֽל ol HNcmsa yoke yoke 15
H5923-06 עֻלְּ/כֶ֔ם ulekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your yoke your yoke 6
H5923-07 עֻלֵּ֑/נוּ ulenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our yoke our yoke 4
H5923-01 בְּ/עֹֽל beol HR/Ncmsa in the yoke in a yoke 4
H5923-08 עֻלּ֖/וֹ ulo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his yoke his yoke 3
H5923-02 הָ/עֹ֔ל haol HTd/Ncmsa the yoke the yoke 2
H5923-09 וּ/מֵ/עֻלּ֧/וֹ umeulo HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-from-yoke-his and from his yoke 2
H5923-05 עֻלֵּ֖/ךְ ulekhe HNcmsc/Sp2fs your yoke your yoke 2
H5923-10 וְ/עֻלּ֖/וֹ veulo HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and his yoke and his yoke 1
H5923-04 עֻלָּ֔/ם ulam HNcmsc/Sp3mp of their yoke yoke of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

40 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5923-08 Genesis 27:40 עֻלּ֖/וֹ ulo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his yoke his yoke
H5923-06 Leviticus 26:13 עֻלְּ/כֶ֔ם ulekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp of your yoke your yoke
H5923-03 Numbers 19:2 עֹֽל ol HNcmsa yoke yoke
H5923-01 Deuteronomy 21:3 בְּ/עֹֽל beol HR/Ncmsa in the yoke in a yoke
H5923-03 Deuteronomy 28:48 עֹ֤ל ol HNcmsc yoke yoke
H5923-03 1 Samuel 6:7 עֹ֑ל ol HNcmsa yoke yoke
H5923-07 1 Kings 12:4 עֻלֵּ֑/נוּ ulenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our yoke our yoke
H5923-09 1 Kings 12:4 וּ/מֵ/עֻלּ֧/וֹ umeulo HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-from-yoke-his and from his yoke
H5923-02 1 Kings 12:9 הָ/עֹ֔ל haol HTd/Ncmsa the yoke the yoke
H5923-07 1 Kings 12:10 עֻלֵּ֔/נוּ ulenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our yoke our yoke
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