Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary say the yoke was “a type of harness that connected a pair of animals to a plow or similar tool.”

The New Bible Dictionary defines a yoke as “the rendering of several Heb. and Gk. words, used either literally for the wooden frame joining two animals (usually oxen), or metaphorically as describing one individual’s subjection to another.”

In the NT, this concept is communicated by the Greek word zugos [2218].

BDAG say it refers to “(1) a frame used to control working animals or, in the case of humans, to expedite the bearing of burdens, yoke in our literature [used] only figuratively of any burden (Matt. 11:29, 30; Acts 15:10; Gal. 5:1; 1 Tim. 6:1)

The Servitude of Esau/Edom to Jacob/Israel (Gen. 27:39-40; cf. 2 Kings 8:20-23).

The Servitude of Israel to the Egyptians (Lev. 26:13; cf. Exod. 2:23-25).

The Servitude of Israel to foreign oppressors, like Assyria and Babylon (Deut. 28:47-48; Jer. 27:1-8).

The Servitude of Israel to earthly kings (1 Kings 12:1-11; cf. 1 Sam. 8:4-20).

The Servitude of Youth (Lam. 3:24-28; cf. Heb. 12:4-12)

The Servitude to Masters (1 Tim. 6:1-2; cf. Col. 3:22-25).

The Servitude of Sin (Isa. 58:1-12; Jer. 2:20-22; 5:4-6; Lam. 1:14).

The Servitude of False Doctrine/Practice (Acts 15:1-2, 6-11; Gal. 5:1-6; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; Deut. 22:9-11).

The Servitude to God/Christ (Isa. 9:1-7; Jer. 30:8-11; Ezek. 34:25-31; Matt. 11:29-30).

Let us recognize the difference between yokes that are beneficial and yokes that are harmful.

The former should be willingly embraced; the later should be deliberately shunned.