Deuteronomy 22:10 — Word Study
WLCלֹֽא־ תַחֲרֹ֥שׁ בְּשׁוֹר־ וּבַחֲמֹ֖ר יַחְדָּֽו׃ ס
BSADo notlôʼ [refuse to, never] plowchârash▸ [to cultivate, to break up the soil] with an oxshôwr [cattle, a domesticated bovine] and a donkeychămôwr [a male ass, a beast of burden] [yoked] togetheryachad [hitched, joined, in unity, as a team]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹֽא־ | not | Particle |
| תַחֲרֹ֥שׁ | you will plow | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| בְּשׁוֹר־ | with an ox | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וּבַחֲמֹ֖ר | and with a donkey | Conjunction, preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| יַחְדָּֽו׃ ס | together | Adverb |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. |
| KJV | ¶ Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. |
| ASV | Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. |
| YLT | 'Thou dost not plow with an ox and with an ass together. |
| WEB | You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. |
| BBE | Do not do your ploughing with an ox and an ass yoked together. |
The translations agree on the prohibition against plowing with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
The sentence has a main command followed by details about the animals involved and their relationship.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָרַשׁ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Deuteronomy 22:10
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Laws about Daily Lifegenerated
Deuteronomy 22:10 is part of a series of laws that regulate various aspects of life for the Israelites, emphasizing purity, separation, and proper conduct. This particular command addresses agricultural practices, highlighting the importance of not mixing different kinds of animals in work, which can symbolize broader themes of separation and holiness in the community.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Corinthians 6:14–16 | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַחְדָּֽו, yach.Davgenerated
The word יַחְדָּֽו (*yachad*) is an adverb meaning 'together' or 'in unity.' It emphasizes the concept of being joined or united in purpose or action. In this verse, it describes the improper act of yoking together an ox and a donkey, which are different species, thus creating a disunity in labor.
This word is built from a root that stresses unity and is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. Its use here highlights the idea that certain combinations are not only impractical but also against the divine order intended for creation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the prohibition against plowing with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is תַחֲרֹ֥שׁ (*ta.cha.Rosh*), meaning 'you will plow,' which governs the entire command. The structure emphasizes the prohibition through the negation לֹֽא־ (*lo'*), meaning 'not,' placed at the beginning.
The sentence structure is straightforward, with a clear command followed by the specifics of what is prohibited. The order of the words emphasizes the animals involved and the unity that is being disrupted by their pairing.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew תַחֲרֹ֥שׁ is translated as ἀροτριάσεις (*arotriasēs*), which also means 'to plow.' This shows a direct correspondence in the agricultural context.
The Greek translation maintains the prohibition while using a different word order, but the essential meaning remains intact, emphasizing the importance of not mixing different kinds of animals.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Deuteronomy 22:10 tells us not to plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. This command highlights the importance of keeping different kinds of animals separate in work, symbolizing a broader principle of unity and order in life.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This command emphasizes the importance of unity and order in God's creation, suggesting that different kinds of animals should not be mixed in labor.
It teaches that proper agricultural practices involve using animals that are alike, reflecting a principle of harmony and suitability.
It underscores the importance of holiness and separation in the lives of the Israelites, reinforcing the idea that they are to be distinct from other nations.
We can learn the value of unity and the importance of being mindful about the partnerships and associations we engage in.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some examples in my life where I see the importance of unity and order?
- How can I apply the principle of not mixing different kinds of partnerships in my own life?
- In what ways does this command reflect God's character and His desires for His people?
- How can understanding this command help me in my relationships with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers referenced this verse to discuss the implications of unity and separation in various contexts, as seen in their writings.
There it is perhaps guessing at the disparity between the animals. It is at the same time showing clearly that we must not wrong any of those from other races by bringing them under the same yoke when we have nothing against them apart…Early Church Fathers on Deuteronomy 22 →
What does Scripture mean by these riddles? That it is not right for evil and virtue to grow together in the same soul. Nor is it right, dividing one’s life between opposites, to reap thorns and grain from the same soul.Early Church Fathers on Deuteronomy 22 →
Man is forbidden to plow with an ox and an ass at the same time. This is as if to say you should not bring together fools and the wise to hear your teaching.Early Church Fathers on Deuteronomy 22 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Deuteronomy 22:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together,.... They might be used separately, but not together; nor was it uncommon in some countries for asses to be employed in ploughing as well as oxen.
Read John Gill on Deuteronomy 22 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together. Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Read Robert Jamieson on Deuteronomy 22 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleEither, 1. Because the one was a clean beast, the other unclean; whereby God would teach men to avoid polluting themselves by the touch of unclean persons or things, . Or, 2. Because of their unequal strength, whereby the weaker, the ass, would be oppressed and overwrought. Or, 3. For mystical reasons, of which see on .
Read Matthew Poole on Deuteronomy 22 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDeuteronomy 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.Ver. 10. Thou shalt not plough.] These laws were made to set forth how God abhorreth all mixtures in religion, and how carefully men should keep their minds from being "corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
Read John Trapp on Deuteronomy 22 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9-11) These precepts appear also in Leviticus 19:19, more briefly.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Deuteronomy 22 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 10. Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass] It is generally supposed that mixtures of different sorts in seed, breed, c., were employed for superstitious purposes, and therefore prohibited in this law. It is more likely, however, that there was a physical reason for this two beasts of a different species cannot associate comfortably together, and on this ground never pull pleasantly either in cart or plough; and every farmer knows that it is of considerable consequence to the comfort of the cattle to put those together that have an affection for each other. This may be very frequently remarked in certain cattle, which, on this account, are termed true yoke-fellows. After all, it…
Read AdamClarke on Deuteronomy 22 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges10. an ox and an ass together] This is frequently seen in Palestine, as also a camel with one or other of these two. Note that the ox was ‘clean,’ the ass ‘unclean.’ D does not, like H, prohibit cross-breeding. Mules were common in Israel from David’s time, see Jerus. i. 326 f. On cross-breeding at the present day in Palestine see Musil, Ethn. Ber. 291.
Read Cambridge on Deuteronomy 22 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible9-11. Not sow… divers seeds — These prohibitions are similar to those in Leviticus 19:19, and seem founded on an aversion to mingling things unlike.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Deuteronomy 22 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.
You must not plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together.
Tyndale line
¶ Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Thou shalt not plow with an oxe and an asse together.
Strictly literal
Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together.
'Thou dost not plow with an ox and with an ass together.
You do not plow with an ox and with a donkey together.
Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together.
You must not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
From the Latin
Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together.
Simplified
Don't harness an ox and a donkey together when you plow.
Do not do your ploughing with an ox and an ass yoked together.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in most respects, but the Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly in two words: it uses תחרישׁ (plough) and חמור (he-ass), which are similar in meaning but differ in form.
לֹֽא־ תַחֲרֹ֥שׁ בְּשׁוֹר־ וּבַחֲמֹ֖ר יַחְדָּֽו׃ ס
4 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
לא תחרישׁ בשׁור ובחמור יחדו
2 words differ from the Masoretic Text: תחרישׁ (plough), חמור (he-ass)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Deuteronomy 22:10
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word חָרַשׁ (*charash*) encompasses meanings related to cutting, engraving, and plowing, as well as devising, often with a negative connotation. It also has a related form, חָרֵשׁ (*charesh*), which means to be silent or deaf. The entries indicate a range of uses, from physical actions to metaphorical implications of secrecy and silence.
[חָרַשׁ] vb. cut in, engrave, plough, devise
Qal
cut in, engrave
plough
devise
Niph. Zion, as a field she shall be ploughed
Hiph. fabricating mischief against
base
[חָרֵשׁ] vb. 1. be silent, dumb, speechless; 2. be deaf; chiefly poet.
Qal
be silent, alw. of God’s keeping silence when men pray
be deaf
Hiph.
be silent (= exhibit silence)
once causat. make silent
be deaf, shew deafness
base
H2790a חָרַשׁ cut in, engrave, plough, devise H2790b חָרֵשׁ . be silent, dumb, speechless
. be deaf; chiefly poet.
2790 charash khaw-rash'
a primitive root; to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to
engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate
(of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad sense);
hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone;
hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of
dumbness):--X altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise,
ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace,
plow(-er, man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep
silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue,
worker.
חָרַשׁ (cha.rash) — to plow/plot.
1) to cut in, plough, engrave, devise
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to cut in, engrave
1a2) to plough
1a3) to devise
1b) (Niphal) to be ploughed
1c) (Hiphil) to plot evil
חָרֵשׁ (cha.resh) — be quiet.
1) to be silent, be dumb, be speechless, be deaf
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be silent
1a2) to be deaf
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to be silent, keep quiet
1b2) to make silent
1b3) to be deaf, show deafness
1c) (Hithpael) to remain silent
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
plou (charash; arotrioo): No implement of the Bible is more frequently illustrated today than the plow. This is partly because there is every reason to believe that the plows still used throughout Egypt, Palestine, and Syria are counterparts of the ancient ones. The first plows were probably an adaptation of the ancient Egyptian hoe, where the handle was lengthened in order that animals might be hitched to it. To make it easier to break up the ground, it was pointed, and handles were added by which it could be guided. The ancient plow probably varied in type in different sections of the country, as it does today. In one form a young tree Of oak or other strong wood of a diameter of 3 or 4 inches is cut off just below a good-sized branch and again 15 or 20 inches above. The upper end of the severed trunk is pointed and forms the share. Between this and the side branch is fitted a brace.…
שׁוֹר (shor) refers to a head of cattle, specifically a bullock or ox, and is associated with agricultural and sacrificial contexts. It is derived from the root meaning to travel, indicating its role in farming and food. The term appears in various forms and usages, including in Aramaic.
שׁוֹר 78 n.m. a head of cattle, bullock, ox, etc.
base
H7794 שׁוֹר a head of cattle, bullock, ox, etc.
7794 showr shore
from 7788; a bullock (as a traveller):--bull(-ock), cow, ox,
wall (by mistake for 7791).
see HEBREW for 07788
see HEBREW for 07791
שׁוֹר (shor) — cattle.
1) ox, bull, a head of cattle
1a) for plowing, for food, as sacrifice
Aramaic equivalent: tor (תּוֹר "bullock" H8450)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHR/Ncmsa
Ox
Heb. bakar, “cattle;” “neat cattle”, (Gen. 12:16; 34:28; Job 1:3, 14; 42:12, etc.); not to be muzzled when treading the corn (Deut. 25:4). Referred to by our Lord in his reproof to the Pharisees (Luke 13:15; 14:5).
There was no animal in the rural economy of the Israelites, or indeed in that of the ancient Orientals generally, that was held in higher esteem than the ox and deservedly so, for the ox was the animal upon whose patient labors depended all the ordinary operations of farming. Oxen were used for ploughing, (22:10; 1 Samuel 14:14) etc.; for treading out corn, (25:4; Hosea 10:11) etc.; for draught purposes, when they were generally yoked in pairs, (Numbers 7:3; 1 Samuel 6:7) etc.; as beasts of burden, (1 Chronicles 12:40) their flesh was eaten, (14:4; 1 Kings 1:9) etc.…
The male of the beeve kind when grown, synonymous in the Bible with BULL; a clean animal, by the Levitical law; much used for food, 1Ki 19:21, and constituting no small part of the wealth of the Hebrews in their pastoral life, Ge 24:35 Job 1:14 42:12. Oxen were used in agriculture for ploughing, 1Ki 19:19; and for treading out the grain, during which they were not to be muzzled, 1Co 9:9, but well fed, Isa 30:24. The testing of a new yoke of oxen is still a business of great importance in the East, as of old, Lu…
→ See BULLOCK
→ See CATTLE
חֲמוֹר (chamor) refers to a male donkey, derived from a root meaning 'to be red' or 'dun.' The term is consistently translated as 'ass' or 'donkey' across various lexicons, indicating its specific reference to this animal in the Old Testament.
חֲמוֹר n.m. (he)-ass
base
H2543 חֲמוֹר (he)-ass
2543 chamowr kham-ore'
or (shortened) chamor {kham-ore}; from 2560; a male ass (from
its dun red):--(he)ass.
see HEBREW for 02560
חֲמוֹר (cha.mor) — donkey.
(he) ass
Conj | Prep | N-cs — Conjunction · preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHC/R/Ncbsa
יַ֫חַד (yachad) refers to the concept of unitedness or being together. It can function as a noun meaning 'unitedness' and as an adverb meaning 'together.' The word is built from a root that emphasizes unity and is used in various contexts in the Old Testament.
יַ֫חַד 45 n.[m.] unitedness
as subst.
elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together
base
יָחְדָּו 92 adv. together
base
H3162a יַ֫חַד unitedness . as subst.
. elsewhere always in acc. as adv. in union, together
H3162b יָחְדָּו adv. together
3162 yachad yakh'-ad
from 3161; properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly:--alike,
at all (once), both, likewise, only, (al-)together, withal.
see HEBREW for 03161
יַ֫חַד (ya.chad) — unitedness.
1) union, unitedness
יָחְדָּו (yach.dav) — together.
adv
together
Adv — AdverbHD