Lexical Summary motah: Yoke, bar, or pole Original Word: מוֹטָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bands, heavy, staves, yoke Feminine of mowt; a pole; by implication, an ox-bow; hence, a yoke (either literal or figurative) -- bands, heavy, staves, yoke. see HEBREW mowt NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of mot Definition a pole, bar (of a yoke) NASB Translation bars (2), poles (1), yoke (5), yoke bars (1), yokes (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs מוֺטָה noun feminine pole, bar of yoke, mostly late (compare מוֺט); — ׳מ Jeremiah 28:10 4t.; plural מֹטוֺת etc., absolute Jeremiah 27:2; 1 Chronicles 15:15; construct Ezekiel 30:18 4t.; — 1 pole, plural, staves, for bearing ark 1 Chronicles 15:15. 2 bar of yoke, symbolic, of oppression Jeremiah 27:2 ("" מוֺמֵרוֺת, compare עֹל Jeremiah 27:8; Jeremiah 27:11; Jeremiah 27:12), Jeremiah 28:10,12 (compare עֹל Jeremiah 28:11); עֵץ ׳מ Jeremiah 28:13; בַּרְזֶל ׳מ Jeremiah 28:13 (compare עֹל Jeremiah 28:14); figurative of oppression, Isaiah 58:6,9; Ezekiel 30:18; compare (thongs of yoke) ׳אֲגֻדּוֺת מ Isaiah 58:6; מֹטֹת עֻלְּכֶם Leviticus 26:18 compare Ezekiel 34:27. — On form of yoke see SchumacherZPV xii. 1889, 160, BenzArchaeology 207. Topical Lexicon Physical and Symbolic Profile מוֹטָה denotes the wooden cross-bar fixed across the necks of draft animals. In Scripture it functions as a visible token of servitude. When applied to people, it pictures political oppression, spiritual bondage, or the willing service a worshiper renders to the Lord. Covenant Deliverance (Leviticus 26:13) “I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.” By recalling the Exodus, the verse establishes the foundational pattern: Yahweh alone shatters oppressive yokes. The image seals Israel’s identity as a liberated people whose freedom is covenant-bound. The redemption that began in Egypt becomes the paradigm for every subsequent act of divine rescue. Worship and Responsibility (1 Chronicles 15:15) The same term describes the poles used by the Levites to carry the ark. Here the yoke is neither burdensome nor degrading; it is an honor. The contrast teaches that submission to God’s appointed service brings dignity, not bondage. True worship replaces oppressive yokes with joyful responsibility. True Fasting and Social Justice (Isaiah 58:6, 9) “Is not this the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke…?” Empty ritual is rejected until the yoke of exploitation is removed. The prophet ties piety to practical mercy, insisting that authentic devotion liberates others. The passage challenges every generation to express spirituality through just action. Prophetic Sign-Act and Contested Authority (Jeremiah 27–28) Jeremiah is commanded: “Make for yourself a yoke with leather straps and put it on your neck” (27:2). The symbol warns surrounding kingdoms to submit to Babylon as God’s instrument. Hananiah’s dramatic breaking of the wooden yoke (28:10) and Jeremiah’s reply—“You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will make an iron yoke” (28:13)—expose false optimism. The episode underscores the inviolability of God’s word: human rhetoric cannot alter divine decree; resisting it only intensifies the burden. National Humbling (Ezekiel 30:18) “At Tehaphnehes the day will be dark when I break the yoke of Egypt.” The prophet announces that the proud imperial power that once enslaved Israel will itself be yokeless and defenseless. History turns on the Lord’s ability to place or remove the bar of dominion. Restorative Hope (Ezekiel 34:27) “When I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslave them.” In the context of the Good Shepherd oracle, liberation is linked with covenant blessing—fertile land, secure habitation, and the experiential knowledge of God. The final word is not exile but freedom under divine shepherding. Theological Trajectory 1. Divine Sovereignty: Only the Lord can truly impose or remove a yoke; therefore every power structure is provisional and accountable. Ministry Applications • Preaching: Use Leviticus 26:13 and Ezekiel 34:27 to proclaim Christ’s comprehensive deliverance—spiritual, social, and eschatological. Summary מוֹטָה threads through Scripture as an emblem of either oppressive bondage or consecrated service. Whether in Israel’s historical liberation, the Levites’ worship, or prophetic visions of judgment and restoration, the breaking—or faithful bearing—of the yoke reveals the character and purposes of God. Forms and Transliterations בַּמֹּט֖וֹת במטות הַמּוֹטָ֔ה המוטה וּמֹט֑וֹת ומטות מֹט֣וֹת מֹט֥וֹת מֹטֹ֣ת מוֹטָ֑ה מוֹטָ֔ה מוֹטָ֖ה מוֹטֹ֥ת מוטה מוטת מטות מטת bam·mō·ṭō·wṯ bammoTot bammōṭōwṯ ham·mō·w·ṭāh hammoTah hammōwṭāh mō·ṭō·wṯ mō·ṭōṯ mō·w·ṭāh mō·w·ṭōṯ moTah moTot mōṭōṯ mōṭōwṯ mōwṭāh mōwṭōṯ ū·mō·ṭō·wṯ umoTot ūmōṭōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 26:13 HEB: עֲבָדִ֑ים וָאֶשְׁבֹּר֙ מֹטֹ֣ת עֻלְּכֶ֔ם וָאוֹלֵ֥ךְ NAS: and I broke the bars of your yoke KJV: and I have broken the bands of your yoke, INT: not be their slaves broke the bars of your yoke walk 1 Chronicles 15:15 Isaiah 58:6 Isaiah 58:6 Isaiah 58:9 Jeremiah 27:2 Jeremiah 28:10 Jeremiah 28:12 Jeremiah 28:13 Jeremiah 28:13 Ezekiel 30:18 Ezekiel 34:27 12 Occurrences |
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