ζεῦγος
zeûgos
G2201 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A pair, especially of animals joined together for work; primarily denotes a team of draft animals (usually oxen) harnessed together. By extension, can refer to a pair of things or persons considered as a unit, when contextually appropriate. The sense is of two entities coupled or linked to function together.
Semantic Range
pair of oxen, yoke of beasts (team), team of animals for plowing, pair of birds or other animals, pair as a unit
Root / Etymology
From ζυγός (zygos, 'yoke'), based on the concept of being yoked or paired for common function.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ζεῦγος refers foremost to a pair of draft animals (generally oxen) harnessed under a yoke for plowing or carrying loads (e.g., Homer, Herodotus). By Hellenistic and Koine periods, the term continues to be used in this primary sense, but also broadens at times to denote any pair acting together—though rarely for humans. In the LXX and New Testament, usage is almost always in reference to a "yoke" or "team" of oxen (cf. Luke 14:19, where 'five yoke of oxen' means five pairs, i.e., ten oxen in total). English translations such as 'pair' or 'yoke' capture the basic referent, but may obscure the agricultural and technical connotations present in Greek. The term is infrequently used for pairs of other animals (e.g., birds), but generally retains the sense of a working team. Not to be confused semantically with ζυγός, which denotes the yoke itself or the concept of being linked/bound. The pairing in ζεῦγος is fundamentally functional—focused on action together rather than simply numerical pairing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as ζυγός; a couple, i.e. a team (of oxen yoked together) or brace (of birds tied together):--yoke, pair.
Root Family
ζεῦγος (zeugos) — pair, team, yoke, joined unit
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2201-01 |
ζεύγη | zeuge | N ACC N PL |
yoke | yoked pairs | yoked pairs | 1 |
G2201-02 |
ζεῦγος | zeugos | N ACC N SG |
A pair | a yoked pair | a pair | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2201-02 |
Luke 2:24 | ζεῦγος | zeugos | N ACC N SG |
A pair | a yoked pair | a pair |
G2201-01 |
Luke 14:19 | ζεύγη | zeuge | N ACC N PL |
yoke | yoked pairs | yoked pairs |