Deuteronomy 22 10

Deuteronomy 22:10 kjv

Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.

Deuteronomy 22:10 nkjv

"You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Deuteronomy 22:10 niv

Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.

Deuteronomy 22:10 esv

You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Deuteronomy 22:10 nlt

"You must not plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together.

Deuteronomy 22 verses

Deuteronomy 22 10 Meaning

Deuteronomy 22:10 prohibits the practice of yoking an ox and a donkey together for plowing or other agricultural work. This commandment primarily addresses the practical implications for animal welfare, agricultural efficiency, and the principle of maintaining natural order and distinction. The diverse physical attributes, strength levels, gaits, and perhaps ceremonial statuses of these animals make such a partnership both cruel to the animals and unproductive for the laborer.

Deuteronomy 22 10 Context

Deuteronomy is Moses' reiteration and explanation of God's law to the generation about to enter the Promised Land, serving as a covenant renewal document. Chapter 22 presents various specific laws governing Israelite civil, moral, and cultic life. This chapter emphasizes the maintenance of proper distinctions in society, sexual purity, property, and practices, aligning with the broader Deuteronomic themes of covenant faithfulness, holiness, and communal order. Verse 10 is found within a section prohibiting unnatural mixtures (including seeds, garments, and animals) that undermine the order established by the Creator.

Deuteronomy 22 10 Word analysis

• You shall not: lo', a strong negative command, establishing an absolute prohibition. It implies a divine decree against the specified action.
• plow: The Hebrew verb is ḥāraš (חרש), meaning to cultivate, engrave, devise, or specifically, to plow. In this agricultural context, it signifies heavy, sustained labor that requires teamwork and compatibility between the yoked animals for effective output.
• with an ox: The Hebrew word is bĕšôr (בשור), referring to an adult male bovine, a bull or ox, which is large, powerful, steady-paced, and has cloven hooves and chews the cud, thus considered a clean animal under Mosaic law (Lev 11:3). They are typically used for heavy pulling due to their brute strength.
• and a donkey: The Hebrew word is wĕḥămôr (וחמור), referring to a common domestic donkey or ass. Donkeys are smaller, quicker, and generally possess less sustained pulling strength than an ox for heavy plowing. Unlike an ox, a donkey is not cloven-hoofed and does not chew the cud, classifying it as ceremonially unclean (Lev 11:4).
• together: This word is implied by the action of "plowing with" and the very nature of yoking. The purpose is joint labor, side by side, pulling the same load. The prohibition addresses the attempt to force incompatible creatures into unified, strenuous action.

Words-group analysis:

• "You shall not plow": This highlights the specific, arduous task that is being forbidden. Plowing requires animals to be synchronized in strength, gait, and temperament to pull the heavy implement evenly and effectively, preventing undue strain or injury.
• "an ox and a donkey": This pairing directly names the incompatible animals. Their stark physical differences (size, strength, speed, hoof structure, endurance) and distinct symbolic or ceremonial statuses (clean vs. unclean) underscore the principle of avoiding unnatural, ineffective, or harmful combinations, reflecting God's order in creation and practical wisdom.

Deuteronomy 22 10 Bonus section

The "yoke" (מּוֹטָה, motah) itself was a common agricultural implement in the ancient Near East, designed to join two animals at the neck or shoulders to distribute pulling power efficiently. The command therefore specifically speaks to the misapplication of this tool to an ill-suited pair. This law, like others in Deuteronomy 22, often presents a wisdom component, demonstrating that God's laws are not arbitrary but reflect principles of good order, animal welfare, and spiritual purity. The wider context of separating different kinds (mixed seeds, mixed fabrics) reinforces the divine order where distinctions are valued and upheld, reflecting God's orderly creation where everything reproduces and operates according to its kind.

Deuteronomy 22 10 Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:10 is often seen as a specific example of a broader principle woven throughout the Law: the importance of distinction, order, and avoiding improper mixtures. On a practical level, yoking an ox and a donkey for plowing is ineffective and cruel. The ox is slow, steady, and significantly stronger, while the donkey is quicker but smaller and less powerful for heavy, sustained pulling. Such a mismatch causes the faster, weaker donkey to be unduly stressed or injured by being dragged or forced beyond its natural capacity, and the ox's efficiency would be compromised by its mismatched partner. Ethically, it speaks to compassion for animals, ensuring they are not subjected to unnatural hardship. Spiritually, this command has been interpreted to represent a broader principle against unequal yoking in partnerships—particularly those of a deep or committed nature. This is notably applied in the New Testament to warn believers against forming intimate partnerships (especially marital or deeply binding business associations) with unbelievers, due to fundamental differences in values, direction, and spiritual nature (2 Cor 6:14-18). The difference in ceremonial status (clean ox vs. unclean donkey) can further emphasize the symbolic message of not mixing the sacred with the profane or light with darkness.