Matthew 11 · Verse 29

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:29, King James Version

Matthew 11:29 in other translations

BSBTake My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
WEBTake my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
ASVTake my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
YLTtake up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls,
DARBYTake my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls;
BBETake my yoke on you and become like me, for I am gentle and without pride, and you will have rest for your souls;
WebsterTake my yoke upon you, and learn from me: for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls.

What does Matthew 11:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
29. Take my yoke upon you--the yoke of subjection to Jesus. and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls--As Christ's willingness to empty Himself to the uttermost of His Father's requirements was the spring of ineffable repose to His own Spirit, so in the same track does He invite all to follow Him, with the assurance of the same experience.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29. Take my yoke. This is a figure taken from the use of oxen; and hence signifying to labour for one, or in the service of any one. The yoke is used in the Bible as an emblem

(1.) of bondage or slavery, Lev 26:13

(2.) Of afflictions or crosses, Lam 3:27.

(3.) Of the punishment of sin, Lam 1:14.

(4.) Of the commandments of God, as in this place.

(5.) Of legal ceremonies, Acts 15:10, Gal 5:1. It refers here to the religion of the Redeemer; and means that they should embrace his system of religion and obey him. All virtue and all religion imply restraint-- the restraint of our bad passions and inclinations--and subjection to laws; and the Saviour here means to say that the restraints and laws of his religion were mild, and gentle, and easy. Let any one compare them with the burdensome and expensive ceremonies of the Jews, Acts 15:10, or with the religious rites of the heathen everywhere, or with the requirements of the Popish system, and he will see how true it is that his yoke is easy. And let his laws and requirements be compared with the laws which sin imposes on its votaries--the laws of fashion, and honour, and sensuality--and he will feel that religion is "freedom," Jn 8:36. "He is a freeman whom the truth maketh free, and all are slaves beside." It is easier to be a Christian than a sinner; and of all the yokes ever imposed on men, that of the Redeemer is the lightest.

For I am meek, etc. Mt 5:5. This was eminently Christ's personal character. But this is not its meaning here. He is giving a reason why they should embrace his religion. That was, that he was not harsh, overbearing, and oppressive, like the Pharisees, but meek, mild, and gentle in his government. His laws were reasonable and tender; and it would be easy to obey him.

(d) "learn of me" Php 2:5-8, 1Pet 2:21 (e) "lowly in heart" Zech 9:9 (f) "ye shall find" Jer 6:16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 Take my yoke upon you - Strange paradox! that a man already weary and overloaded must take a new weight upon him, in order to be eased and find rest! But this advice is similar to that saying, Psa 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee; i.e. trust thy soul and concerns to him, and he will carry both thyself and thy load. I am meek and lowly in heart - Wherever pride and anger dwell, there is nothing but mental labor and agony; but, where the meekness and humility of Christ dwell, all is smooth, even, peaceable, and quiet; for the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever. Isa 32:17.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 11:25-30

It becomes children to be grateful. When we come to God as a Father, we must remember that he is Lord of heaven and earth, which obliges us to come to him with reverence as to the sovereign Lord of all; yet with confidence, as one able to defend us from evil, and to supply us with all good. Our blessed Lord added a remarkable declaration, that the Father had delivered into his hands all power, authority, and…

Read the full comment on Matthew 11:25-30 →

Matthew 11:29 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἄρατεaratedo takeG142
τὸνtontheG3588
ζυγόνzugonyokeG2218
μουmouof MineG3165
ἐφ᾽eph᾽uponG1909
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
καὶkaiandG2532
μάθετεmathetedo learnG3129
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
ἐμοῦemouMeG1473
ὅτιhotiforG3754
πραΰςprausgentleG4235
εἰμιeimiI amG1510
καὶkaiandG2532
ταπεινὸςtapeinoshumbleG5011
τῇtēa<the>G3588
καρδίᾳ,kardiain heart,G2588
καὶkaiandG2532
εὑρήσετεheurēseteyou will findG2147
ἀνάπαυσινanapausinrestG372
ταῖςtaisfor theG3588
ψυχαῖςpsuchaissoulsG5590
ὑμῶν.humōnof you.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 11:29

  • Jeremiah 6:16

    Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

  • 1 John 2:6

    He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

  • Philippians 2:7-8

    But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  • John 13:15

    For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

  • Luke 6:46-48

    And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

  • Matthew 7:24

    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

  • John 15:10-14

    If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. …

  • 1 Peter 2:21-23

    For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

  • Matthew 28:20

    Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

  • Hebrews 5:9

    And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

  • 2 Corinthians 10:1

    Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

  • Zechariah 9:9

    Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
my.
7:24; 17:5; Joh 13:17; 14:21-24; 15:10-14; 1Co 9:21; 2Co 10:5
1Th 4:2; 2Th 1:8; Heb 5:9
and learn.
27; 28:20; Lu 6:46-48; 8:35; 10:39-42; Joh 13:15; Ac 3:22,23; 7:37
Eph 4:20,21; Php 2:5; 1Jo 2:6
for.
12:19,20; 21:5; Nu 12:3; Ps 131:1; Isa 42:1-4; Zec 9:9
Lu 9:51-56; 2Co 10:1; Php 2:7,8; 1Pe 2:21-23
and ye.
28; Jer 6:16; Heb 4:3-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 11:28

    Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  • Matthew 11:29

    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

  • Matthew 11:30

    For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Read all of Matthew 11

Matthew 11:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Llevad mi yugo sobre vosotros, y aprended de mí, que soy manso y humilde de corazón; y hallaréis descanso para vuestras almas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Prenez mon joug sur vous, et apprenez de moi, car je suis débonnaire et humble de cœur; et vous trouverez le repos de vos âmes.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Nehmet auf euch mein Joch und lernet von mir, denn ich bin sanftmütig und von Herzen demütig, und ihr werdet Ruhe finden für eure Seelen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Tollite jugum meum super vos, et discite a me, quia mitis sum, et humilis corde: et invenietis requiem animabus vestris.