Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.

DEUTERONOMY 22:10KJV
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Deuteronomy 22:10 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 22:10 mean?

Deuteronomy 22:10 forbids an Israelite farmer from using an ox and a donkey as a pair to pull a plow. The rule concerns a common farming task: turning the soil to prepare it for planting.

The picture is of two different animals harnessed to the same plow. Moses gives this instruction to the Israelites among several laws that address everyday work and possessions.

Why Deuteronomy 22:10 matters

  • The rule concerns working the two animals as a team, not owning both kinds. The key word is “together.”
  • The reason for the rule is not stated in the verse. The animals’ different sizes and strengths are often suggested as a practical concern, but the text does not give that explanation.
  • The verse appears between other rules about mixtures, including planting a vineyard with two kinds of seed in verse 9 and wearing a garment made of wool and linen together in verse 11. That setting places the plowing rule alongside other limits on combining different things.

Where else these words appear

“plow” Hebrew H2790 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
  • Esther 7:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
  • Proverbs 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

“ox” Hebrew H7794 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • Leviticus 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
  • Judges 6:25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

“ass” Hebrew H2543 · used in 93 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Numbers 31:28 And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
  • 1 Samuel 25:42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

“together” Hebrew H3162 · used in 139 verses

  • Genesis 13:6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
  • Job 24:17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
  • Isaiah 41:1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.