11:29a

Take My yoke upon you: A yoke is a piece of wood carved to fit over the neck or shoulders of an animal. A yoke is put on an animal for pulling a cart or plow. The picture below is a double yoke for two animals.

The clause Take My yoke upon you is a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compared being his disciple to carrying a light yoke. They are similar in that both an animal and a disciple must submit to his owner and work for him.

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

Place my yoke over your shoulders (God’s Word)
-or-
Wear my harness

If you follow this option, you may want to include a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

A yoke is a symbol of submitting to an owner and working for him.

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the point of comparison explicit. For example:

submit to me like an animal/ox that wears a yoke submits to his owner

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

Accept my teachings (New Century Version)
-or-
Follow/obey my commands/laws
-or-
Submit yourself to me and serve me

You may then want to include a footnote to explain the literal clause. Here is a sample footnote:

Literally “Take my yoke upon you.” A yoke is a symbol of submitting to an owner and working for him.

11:29b

and learn from Me: Here are some other ways to translate this:

Let me teach you (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Let me guide/instruct you ⌊in how you should live⌋

11:29c

for: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the basis for the commands in 11:29a–b. A disciple of Jesus should submit to him and learn from him because he is gentle.

I am gentle: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gentle means “considerate” or “not rough/violent.” Jesus is a gentle master.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

considerate/patient
-or-
not forceful
-or-
not harsh

humble: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as humble means “of low position,” or “not proud.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

lowly (English Standard Version)
-or-
not proud

in heart: This indicates that Jesus is humble in attitude or manner. It does not refer to his status.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

in spirit (Good News Translation)
-or-
in attitude

In some languages, the expressions for “gentle” and “humble” already indicate a humble attitude or manner. If that is the case in your language, you can leave the phrase in heart untranslated.

11:29d

and you will find rest for your souls: This clause indicates that, with Jesus, a disciple’s inner being (and therefore his whole being) will be rested and not troubled.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

and your whole being will become rested
-or-
and ⌊with me⌋ your inner being will become peaceful

This clause is a result of 11:29a–c. You may want to make that clear in your translation. Here are some examples:

⌊so⌋ you will find rest
-or-

⌊as a result⌋ you will find rest

souls: This word refers to the inner being of a person.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

hearts/livers/stomachs
-or-
yourselves (God’s Word)

General Comment on 11:29a–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 11:29. For example:

29cI am gentle and humble in heart, 29aso take my yoke upon you 29band learn from me, 29dand you will find rest for your souls.

-or-

29aTake my yoke upon you 29band learn from me, 29dand ⌊as a result⌋ you will find rest for your souls. 29cbecause I am gentle and humble in heart.

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