Topical Encyclopedia Iron, a strong and durable metal, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of strength and oppression. In the context of yokes, iron represents a heavy burden or an oppressive force imposed upon individuals or nations. The use of iron yokes in biblical times underscores the severity and inescapability of certain types of bondage or servitude.The concept of an iron yoke is vividly illustrated in the book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy 28:48 , the Lord warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience: "you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution. He will place an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you." Here, the iron yoke symbolizes the harsh and unyielding domination that would befall the Israelites should they turn away from God's commandments. The imagery of an iron yoke conveys the idea of an unbreakable and relentless oppression, highlighting the severity of divine judgment. The prophet Jeremiah also uses the metaphor of an iron yoke to describe the subjugation of nations under Babylonian rule. In Jeremiah 28:13-14 , the Lord instructs Jeremiah to tell Hananiah, "Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: 'You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you have fashioned an iron yoke.' For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'I have put an iron yoke on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him control over the beasts of the field.'" The transition from a wooden yoke to an iron one signifies an intensification of control and the futility of resistance against God's ordained plan. The use of iron yokes in these passages serves as a powerful metaphor for the consequences of disobedience and the inevitability of divine will. The imagery of iron, with its connotations of strength and permanence, emphasizes the seriousness of the situation faced by those who fall under such a yoke. It reflects the broader biblical theme of the consequences of sin and the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant. In the broader biblical narrative, the concept of a yoke, whether iron or otherwise, often points to the burdens of life and the need for divine intervention and deliverance. Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, offers a contrasting image of a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light (Matthew 11:29-30), inviting believers to find rest in Him. This juxtaposition highlights the transformative power of faith and the liberation found in following Christ, in contrast to the oppressive yokes of sin and worldly powers. Torrey's Topical Textbook Deuteronomy 28:48Therefore shall you serve your enemies which the LORD shall send against you, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron on your neck, until he have destroyed you. Torrey's Topical Textbook Jeremiah 28:13,14 Library Yokes of Wood and Iron The Two Yokes The Last King of Judah The Boy in the Temple "Take My Yoke Upon You, and Learn of Me," &C. An Appendix to the Beatitudes Come from the Four Winds, O Breath! On the Article, and in one Holy Ghost, the Comforter, which Spake ... The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria Resources What is the story of Deborah and Barak? | GotQuestions.orgFriendship ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org What is an ox goad / oxgoad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Iron: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Iron of Greater Gravity than Water Iron of Severe Exercise of Power Iron of Small Comparative Value Iron used from the Earliest Age Iron: (Seared With) Insensibility of Conscience Iron: First Recorded Use of Ax Iron: First Recorded Use of Bedstead Iron: First Recorded Use of Breastplate Iron: First Recorded Use of Chariot Iron: First Recorded Use of Fetters Iron: First Recorded Use of File Iron: First Recorded Use of Furnace Iron: First Recorded Use of Gate Iron: First Recorded Use of Harrow Iron: First Recorded Use of Horn Iron: First Recorded Use of Idols Iron: First Recorded Use of Melted Iron: First Recorded Use of Ore of Iron: First Recorded Use of Pans Iron: First Recorded Use of Pen Iron: First Recorded Use of Pillars Iron: First Recorded Use of Rods for Scourging Iron: First Recorded Use of Stones of Iron: First Recorded Use of Threshing Instruments Iron: First Recorded Use of Tools Iron: First Recorded Use of Used in the Temple Iron: First Recorded Use of Vessels Iron: First Recorded Use of Weapons Iron: First Recorded Use of Yokes Iron: from the North Hardest and Best Iron: Great Quantity of, Provided for the Temple Iron: Made Into: Graving Tools Iron: Made Into: Implements for Husbandry Iron: Made Into: Nails and Hinges Iron: Made Into: Tools for Artificers Iron: Made Into: Weapons of War Iron: Miraculously Made to Swim Iron: Mode of Purifying, Taken in War Iron: Taken in War, often Dedicated to God Iron: The Land of Canaan Abounded With Related Terms |
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