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.

MATTHEW 11:29KJV
Know the Bible

Matthew 11:29 (KJV)

What does Matthew 11:29 mean?

Jesus calls those who are weary and burdened to become his learners and accept his guidance. He describes himself as gentle and humble in heart, and promises that under his teaching they will find rest for their whole selves.

The key is “learn of me.” The Greek ἀπό (apo), translated “of,” means “from”: Jesus says to learn from him as their teacher. In the preceding verse, Jesus invites the weary to come to him; here he explains that coming to him includes accepting his direction and learning from him.

The Greek behind Matthew 11:29

  • “yoke” — ζυγός (zygos): A yoke was a wooden frame placed on working animals to direct their labor. The word also served as an image of submission to authority or instruction. “Take my yoke upon you” therefore means accepting Jesus’ authority and teaching.

  • “meek” — πραΰς (praus): This means gentle or mild in dealing with others. The KJV’s “meek” describes the character of the teacher whose yoke they are being asked to take.

  • “lowly” — ταπεινός (tapeinos): This means lowly or humble. “In heart” connects that humility with Jesus’ inward character: “heart,” καρδία (kardia), refers to the inner person, including thought, desire, and intention.

  • “rest” — ἀνάπαυσις (anapausis); “souls” — ψυχή (psychē): “Rest” means relief or refreshment after toil. “Souls” can refer to people’s lives or selves, as well as their inner life. Here Jesus promises relief reaching the people themselves, beyond merely a pause in physical work.

Why Matthew 11:29 matters

  • Jesus connects rest with accepting his teaching. “Take my yoke” and “learn of me” lead into “ye shall find rest.” The next verse develops the same image by describing his yoke as easy and his burden as light.

  • Jesus’ character explains his invitation. The word “for” gives the reason: they can learn from him because he is “meek and lowly in heart.”

  • The promise recalls an earlier scriptural invitation. Jeremiah 6:16 joins walking in the good way with finding “rest for your souls.” Jesus uses that familiar language while calling people to learn from him.

Where else these words appear

“rest” Greek G372 · used in 5 verses

  • Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
  • Luke 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
  • Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

“yoke” Greek G2218 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
  • Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
  • 1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

“lowly” Greek G5011 · used in 8 verses

  • Luke 1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
  • James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

“learn” Greek G3129 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
  • 1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
  • 1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.