You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Deuteronomy 22:10
What does Deuteronomy 22:10 mean?
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Deuteronomy 22:10
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Beyond the practical cruelty of unequally yoking beasts, this prohibition also carried a spiritual weight: it illustrated that God’s people shouldn't be yoked together with those who don’t share their faith. This isn't just about mixed farming; it's a profound lesson on maintaining purity in our closest associations.
You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This command appears within a cluster of laws designed to maintain distinctiveness and prevent improper mixtures in Israelite life. Just before, the text addresses gender-appropriate clothing, and immediately after, it discusses not sowing two kinds of seed in the same field or breeding different kinds of animals. The prohibition against plowing with an ox and a donkey together, therefore, fits into this pattern of preserving clear boundaries and avoiding heterogeneous pairings.
Did you know God's laws extend to how we treat animals? This verse reveals a surprising concern for the well-being of His creation.
A Principle of Compassion
This command, "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together," seems simple, but it touches on a deep principle of care for God's creatures. The ox and the donkey are very different animals:
God's law wasn't just about human behavior; it showed His profound care for all He created. This prohibition protects the weaker animal from exploitation, teaching us to be mindful of the burdens we place on others, whether they have fur, feathers, or skin.
Some ancient laws seem strange until we see the deeper spiritual truth they point to. This one is a powerful illustration of holiness.
The Symbol of Separation
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Beyond the practical concern for the animals, this law also served a symbolic, spiritual purpose. The ox was considered a 'clean' animal according to the Law of Moses, fit for sacrifice and use. The donkey, however, was 'unclean.'
This concept echoes powerfully in the New Testament, where we are warned against being 'unequally yoked' with those who do not share our faith. The physical act of plowing with mismatched animals was a constant visual reminder to maintain distinctiveness in our spiritual walk.
Understand the original words
shor · Hebrew Noun
A beast of burden commonly used in the ancient Near East for labor. The prohibition against yoking an ox and a donkey together highlights the principle of stewardship and consideration for the differences in strength and nature of animals, mirroring the command against unequal yoking in human relationships.
chamor · Hebrew Noun
A domesticated animal used for transport and labor, known for being smaller and having a different temperament than an ox. Its coupling with the ox is forbidden to prevent undue hardship on the weaker animal and to uphold order in agricultural practice.
This passage prohibits mixing different kinds of animals, similar to the prohibition against yoking an ox and a donkey, reinforcing the theme of maintaining distinctions.
2 Corinthians 6:14The Apostle Paul directly applies the principle of not being 'unequally yoked' to believers and unbelievers, drawing a clear parallel to the physical prohibition in Deuteronomy.
1 Corinthians 7:39This verse speaks about marrying only 'in the Lord,' which echoes the broader principle found in Deuteronomy of avoiding improper or mismatched unions.
Matthew 11:30Jesus speaks of His yoke being easy and His burden light, contrasting with the heavy, unequal yokes that can be imposed, reflecting the spirit of compassion behind the Deuteronomy law.
cambridgeDeuteronomy 22:10: "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together."
10 . 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.
gillDeuteronomy 22:10: "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together."
Thou 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. Pliny (h) makes mention of some fruitful land in Africa, which when it was dry weather could not be ploughed by oxen, but after showers of rain might be ploughed by a mean little ass; so Leo Africanus (i) says, the Africans on…
Beyond the practical cruelty of unequally yoking beasts, this prohibition also carried a spiritual weight: it illustrated that God’s people shouldn't be yoked together with those who don’t share their faith. This isn't just about mixed farming; it's a profound lesson on maintaining purity in our closest associations.
This command appears within a cluster of laws designed to maintain distinctiveness and prevent improper mixtures in Israelite life. Just before, the text addresses gender-appropriate clothing, and immediately after, it discusses not sowing two kinds of seed in the same field or breeding different kinds of animals. The prohibition against plowing with an ox and a donkey together, therefore, fits into this pattern of preserving clear boundaries and avoiding heterogeneous pairings.
This command appears within a cluster of laws designed to maintain distinctiveness and prevent improper mixtures in Israelite life. Just before, the text addresses gender-appropriate clothing, and immediately after, it discusses not sowing two kinds of seed in the same field or breeding different kinds of animals. The prohibition against plowing with an ox and a donkey together, therefore, fits into this pattern of preserving clear boundaries and avoiding heterogeneous pairings.
"You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together." — Beyond the practical cruelty of unequally yoking beasts, this prohibition also carried a spiritual weight: it illustrated that God’s people shouldn't be yoked together with those who don’t share thei…
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Last reviewed October 2026