מוֹט (mot)

mot

yoke

H4132 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 5 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 5 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun mot refers to the rigid wooden beam that forms part of an oxen’s yoke. It denotes the physical pole used for carrying loads or, more commonly in Scripture, the bar that binds animals together to pull a plow or cart. This concrete object serves as the primary metaphor for submission, labor, and authority.

Its meaning extends beyond the tool itself to describe the state of being bound or subjected. In Psalm 81:5, God speaks of delivering Israel from the "yoke" (mot) of the enemy, using the word to represent the heavy burden of oppression and servitude. The image is not merely about weight but about the loss of freedom that comes under another’s control.

Translators often render mot as "yoke," though this can sometimes obscure the specific imagery of the wooden bar itself. The sources highlight its association with shaking or tottering in some contexts, suggesting the stress placed on the structure under load. This word anchors biblical discussions on obedience and discipline, framing them not as abstract concepts but as tangible realities of daily agricultural life.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word mot describes the sturdy wooden beam that binds two animals together, allowing them to share a load or pull a plow. In Scripture, this concrete image shifts from agricultural tool to spiritual metaphor for submission and authority. It reminds us that obedience is not an abstract idea but a tangible reality of daily life, grounding our faith in the physical world God created.

While we often associate yokes with heavy burdens or oppression, they also signify partnership and shared direction. When Scripture speaks of being under a yoke, it invites reflection on whose guidance we follow. This imagery helps us understand that following God’s ways is not about losing freedom, but about finding a steady path where the load is distributed and the direction is clear.

Even when life feels heavy, this word points to the stability found in divine care. Just as the yoke holds the animals together for a common purpose, our trust in God provides a framework for endurance. We are invited to rest in the knowledge that our steps are preserved and our burdens are held by One who never slumbers.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.

to <the>/ slip2×
the/ carrying frame2×
on the/ pole1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

לַ/מּ֣וֹט2×
הַ/מּֽוֹט\׃2×
בַ/מּ֖וֹט1×

Key Verses

Psalms 66:9
who preserves our life among the living, and doesn’t allow our feet to be moved.

This verse uses the concept of being 'moved' (linked to the instability a yoke prevents) to highlight God’s role in preserving our stability and preventing us from falling.
Psalms 121:3
He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.

Here, the promise that God will not allow your foot to be moved reinforces the security found in His keeping, contrasting with the vulnerability of being unguided.
Numbers 13:23
They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.

While this verse describes carrying a grape cluster on a staff between two men, it provides the physical context for how heavy loads were shared and transported in ancient times, illustrating the practical reality of burden-bearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word mot mean?

Mot refers to the wooden beam of an oxen’s yoke. It is a concrete object used for carrying loads or pulling plows, serving as a metaphor for submission, labor, and authority in biblical texts.

How is mot different from other words for burden?

While other words might describe weight generally, mot specifically evokes the image of being bound together under a shared load. It emphasizes the structural aspect of submission and the partnership required to bear it.

Where does this word appear in the Bible?

It appears in five verses, including Psalms 66:9 and 121:3, where it relates to the stability of one’s feet, and Numbers 13:23, which illustrates the physical carrying of heavy loads.

Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)

Numbers 3 verses

Numbers 4:10

They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.

Numbers 4:12

“They shall take all the vessels of ministry with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth,…

Numbers 13:23

They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a…

Psalms 2 verses