Texts in conversation

Compare Psalms of Solomon 7:9 and Matthew 11:30

Pseudepigrapha, Wisdom and Poetry · New Testament

Summary

The Psalms of Solomon uses the image of a yoke to show Israel accepting God’s rule and the discipline that comes with it. In Matthew, Jesus uses the same picture to show that his teaching and interpretation of the Torah is not a heavy burden.

Passages

Psalms of Solomon 7:9

Pseudepigrapha, Wisdom and Poetry

7 For You are our shield, And when we call upon You, You listen to us; 8 For You will pity the descendants of Israel forever, and You will not reject (them): 9 But we (shall be) under Your yoke forever, And (under) the rod of Your discipline. 10 You will strengthen us when You help us, showing mercy to the house of Jacob on the day when You promised (to help them).

65–30 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Psalms of Solomon

Matthew 11:30

New Testament

27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

70–90 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Matthew

References

"... Scholarly attention has focused on the paradoxical use of the terms "yoke" (ζυγός) and "burden" (φορτίον), which are unexpectedly described as "easy" (χρηστὸς) and "light" (ἐλαφρόν) to carry. This raises the question: how can a yoke be "easy" and a burden "light"? The issue may partly stem from our Western presuppositions and interpretations of terms that may not have sounded entirely negative to ancient Jewish readers. Indeed, while words like "yoke" and "burden" often have a negative connotation even in ancient Jewish literature, the term "yoke" (Hebrew: עול; Aramaic: ניר; Greek: ζυγός) is seen in a positive light in various Jewish texts. In the Book of Jeremiah (2:20, 5:5), Israel is criticized for abandoning God's Law and "breaking the yoke." The author presumably suggests that staying under God's yoke would lead to a better outcome for Israel. The Book of Lamentations, attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, positively asserts that "it is good for one to bear the yoke in youth" (3:27). In Psalms of Solomon 7:9, the people of Israel willingly choose to remain under God's yoke. Lastly, Sirach 51:26, in many ways similar to Matthew 11:29, advises its audience to place their neck under the yoke of wisdom, echoing Sirach 6:30 and Solomon 3:8; 9:6 ..."

Isaac Wilk Oliver, “Torah Praxis after 70 C.E.: Reading Matthew and Luke-Acts as Jewish Texts” (PhD diss., The University of Michigan, 2012), 99.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

A Prayer for Mercy and Protection

Psalms of Solomon18 psalms

Compare Psalms of Solomon 7:9 and Matthew 11:30

Summary

Passages

Psalms of Solomon 7:9

Matthew 11:30

References

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