What Does Matthew 11:29 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The rest Jesus promises is found while taking on his yoke, because the one you are joined to is meek and lowly in heart.
THE MEANING
You find rest for your whole living self as you learn from Jesus and take his yoke. His gentleness shapes the way of learning: the yoke remains, yet the one who leads you is not harsh or proud.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that rest can come only after every responsibility disappears; here rest is found within a yoke shaped by a gentle teacher.
THE ROOT
ζυγός
zygos
GROWS FROM
ζυγ-
zyg-
A yoke, a joining or pairing.
The word carries the image of being joined under a yoke. Related words describe a yokefellow and the act of joining together, so learning here happens in attachment to a person: the character of the one you are joined to shapes the yoke.
ALSO GROWS
syzygos: Yokefellow, companion.
σύζυγος
The shared root makes the yoke relational: this is a way of learning beside someone, not merely a weight to carry.
syzeugnymi: Join together, yoke together.
συζεύγνυμι
The same joining language appears in Jesus’ words about what is joined together, underscoring that a yoke binds lives or things together.
ἀνάπαυσις
anapausis
GROWS FROM
παυ-
pau-
To stop or bring to a pause.
Rest is expressed through the language of stopping and relief. Here that relief does not require the yoke to vanish; it is found within the way of learning from Jesus.
ALSO GROWS
pauō: Stop, cease.
παύω
This root gives rest the sense of an interruption in strain or activity.
anapauō: Give rest, refresh.
ἀναπαύω
The related verb appears in the preceding invitation, where Jesus promises rest to those who come to him.
ψυχαῖς
psychais
GROWS FROM
ψυχ-
psych-
The living self; life or soul.
The same Greek word can be rendered “life” in one verse and “souls” in another. The rest here reaches the living person as a whole, not a detachable inner part.
ALSO GROWS
psychē: Life.
ψυχή
In Matthew 16:25 the same word is translated “life,” showing how English can split what Greek holds together.
psychai: Souls, living persons.
ψυχαί
The plural form names the people receiving rest here, keeping the verse grounded in living selves.
THE PATTERN
God’s rest is received through his presence and guidance, and includes a ceasing from self-driven labor.
And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.THE THREAD
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.The promise of rest comes before Jesus describes the yoke: the weary first come to him, then learn his way. Both verses use forms from παυ- (pau-), “to stop, cease,” so the yoke is not the opposite of rest; it is where his promised relief is found.
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