Greek word · G2201

ζεῦγος

zeugos

a yoke/pair

A yoke of animals (a team of oxen, Luke 14:19). By extension, any pair or couple.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ζεῦγος, -εος (-ους), τό

(ζεύγνυμι, to yoke), [in LXX chiefly for צֶמֶד, Judges 19:3, al. ;]

1. a yoke of beasts: Luke 14:19.

2. a pair of any­thing, Luke 2:24 (LXX).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 2:24

Range of meaning

A yoke of animals (a team of oxen, Luke 14:19). By extension, any pair or couple.

Against the English

"Pair" is accurate. The point is the number two: the law asked for two birds with two different jobs.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 14:19 ("five yoke of oxen"). LXX Lev 5:11 reads ζεῦγος τρυγόνων, which is exactly Luke's wording. LXX Lev 12:8 has δύο τρυγόνας ("two turtledoves").

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 2:24 ζεῦγος A pair

    and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

    Here: First meant a team of animals yoked together, then any matched pair. Leviticus 12:8 requires two birds: one for a burnt offering and one for a purification offering.

  2. Luke 14:19 ζεύγη Yoke

    Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.