Definition of Uneven Yoke

In the second letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul uses the symbol of the yoke to remember that the union between human beings must be between equals to be fruitful. This biblical passage indicates that it is not advisable for two people of different religious beliefs to unite in marriage, since the mentality of both is hardly complementary.

Paul's message did not refer exclusively to marriage but to any bond between people of different religions.

In this way, the counsel not to be unequally yoked in the Bible is a way of reminding that Christians (at that time Jews) must not allow themselves to be contaminated or influenced by non-Christians or infidels.

It should be remembered that the letter in which the statement "do not be unequally yoked" was addressed to the Corinthians and this community was characterized by mixed unions between Jews and Gentiles and this mixture of religious beliefs usually led to false doctrines and idolatrous practices.

A reference to mutual effort and work in unison

Technically, a yoke is an elongated piece of wood in which two oxen are joined so that both can pull a plow and till the land. In the activity agricultural traditional yoke requires two animals with one force similar and that they work in unison, otherwise the plowing of the land would be uneven.

In the tradition Catholic the reference to the unequal yoke has generally been used to suggest that Catholics should not associate or marry those who profess other Christian beliefs, such as the evangelical or the Protestant.

A teaching that goes beyond the religious question

If two people come together in a draft business create a work team and both have to act in a coordinated and complementary way. If the relationship between the two is unequal in some sense, for example a cheater associated with a righteous man, it is more than likely that problems will occur between the two.

Paul's words to the Corinthians incorporate a teaching which can be useful in any context, as it is not advisable to establish ties between people with conflicting interests and values.

Commonly used biblical expressions

In everyday language we continue to use concepts and expressions that originate in the Bible. If someone cries bitterly we say that he cries like a Magdalena, if we refer to a traitor he We consider a Judas and when someone goes through a bad moment in his life, we affirm that he is going through a Via Crucis.

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