11:30a–b
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces another basis for the commands to take Jesus’ yoke and learn from him (in 11:29a–b). A disciple of Jesus should take his yoke on him because Jesus’ yoke is easy.
Here is another way to introduce the basis for these commands:
⌊Do this⌋ because
Some English versions do not translate this conjunction. In some languages, it may not be necessary to translate this conjunction either.
My yoke is easy and My burden is light: The words My yoke refer to the yoke that Jesus gives to his followers. Similarly, the words My burden refer to the burden that Jesus gives to his followers. These words do not refer to a yoke or burden that Jesus himself carries. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this more clear. For example:
For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light. (Good News Translation)
11:30a
My yoke is easy: This clause means that the yoke that Jesus gives his followers is comfortable to wear. It will not be tight, pinch, make sores on the skin, or hurt the person who wears it.
As in 11:29a, the word yoke is a metaphor for submitting to Jesus. Submitting to Jesus is similar to wearing a comfortable yoke. Both are easy.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
my yoke is easy to bear (NET Bible)
-or-
my yoke fits perfectly (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
the yoke that I give you is easy to wear/carry
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. Submitting to Jesus is easy.
• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the point of comparison explicit. For example:
submitting to me is easy like wearing a comfortable yoke
-or-
following my teachings is easy like wearing a comfortable yoke
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
The teaching that I ask you to accept is easy (New Century Version)
-or-
my commands/laws are easy to obey
-or-
Submitting to me is easy
You may then want to include a footnote to explain the literal clause. Here is a sample footnote:
Literally “my yoke is easy.” A yoke is a symbol of submitting to an owner. Submitting to Jesus is easy.
11:30b
My burden is light: This clause means that the burden/load that Jesus gives to his followers to carry is light. It is not heavy. It is easy to carry.
This clause is also a metaphor. In this metaphor, Jesus compares the work that he gives his disciples to carrying a light burden. They are similar in that both are easy to do.
Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:
• Keep the metaphor. For example:
the load I give you to carry is light (New Century Version)
• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the point of comparison explicit. For example:
the work that I give to you is as easy to do as carrying a load that is light
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
the work that I give you is not hard
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