To plow (till) with an OX and an ass together

Meaning & Analysis

The proverb directly references the biblical prohibition from Deuteronomy 22:10 against yoking an ox and a donkey to the same plow. Such a pairing is impractical and inhumane because the animals' different sizes, strengths, and gaits would make the work inefficient and cause suffering to the weaker animal.

Insights

Incompatible Partnership

The proverb serves as a potent metaphor for any ill-suited or mismatched partnership. It warns against combining entities—be it in marriage, business, or creative collaboration—that are fundamentally incompatible in nature, temperament, or purpose.

Unequal Burdens

It symbolizes situations of profound inequality where burdens and responsibilities are not shared equitably. The stronger partner is hindered, and the weaker one is strained, leading to an unproductive and often destructive outcome for both.

Violation of Natural Order

Drawing from its biblical roots, the proverb implies that certain combinations violate a natural or sacred order. It cautions against forcing unions that are inherently discordant, suggesting that such pairings are not just unwise but fundamentally wrong.

Internal Conflict

The image can represent an internal conflict between two opposing aspects of one's own character or desires. These conflicting forces pull in different directions, preventing progress and creating psychological distress.

Biblical and Theological Origins

Originating in Deuteronomy, the proverb is rooted in a religious law prohibiting the yoking of different species. This reflects a theological principle of maintaining natural and sacred order, where mixing distinct kinds is seen as a violation of that order.

Agricultural Realism

The metaphor is deeply grounded in agricultural reality. The differing strength, gait, and temperament of an ox and a donkey make them an inefficient and cruel pairing for plowing, a fact that would be immediately understood in agrarian societies.

Social and Marital Incompatibility

The proverb serves as a powerful and enduring metaphor for mismatched partnerships, especially in marriage or business. It warns that unions between individuals with fundamentally different natures, abilities, or values are destined for conflict and failure.

Psychology of Misalignment

Psychologically, the proverb captures the profound discomfort and inefficiency of forcing incompatible elements to work together. It speaks to the internal and external friction that arises from misaligned goals, temperaments, or capabilities.

Rhetorical Devices

Symbolism

The ox and the ass serve as powerful symbols representing starkly different qualities, such as strength versus endurance, or conformity versus stubbornness, making the incompatibility vivid and concrete.

Antithesis

The proverb's structure is built on the inherent contrast between the two animals. This antithesis effectively highlights the central theme of incompatibility and the discord that results from it.

Metaphor

The entire phrase functions as a metaphor for any joint venture or relationship, extending a specific agricultural prohibition to a general principle about human collaboration.

incompatibilitypartnershipinequalitybiblicalorderconflict

Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on June 30, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

The same could be accompted nothing els but (as the old proverbe is) to till the grounde with an oxe and an asse.

— c.1540, Eng. Hist., XXIII 72

Bible Citations

Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together.

— The Bible, Deut xxii:10

Related Proverbs

B149 The awfullest BEAST is a bearded king 90.6%E131 He goes in at the wide END of the horn and is squeezed out at the small end 90.5%B660 To make BRICKS without straw 90.2%W685 He is mad that quarrels with WOMEN or beasts 90.2%M1133 It is a bare MOOR he goes over and gets not a cow 90.1%L398 Like a LOADER's¹ horse that lives among thieves 90.0%W72 He was slain that had WARNING, not he that took it 89.8%W325 Two WHORES in a house will never agree 89.8%H547 He has HONEY in his mouth and the razor at his girdle 89.7%H372 Take HEED of a person marked and a widow thrice married 89.3%H567 He that gives HONOR to his enemy is like to an ass 89.3%W167 To go the wrong WAY to the wood 89.1%G406 Go teach your GRANDAME to get children 89.1%S657 SORROW is good for nothing but sin 89.1%T181 Good THINGS are difficult 89.0%O72 OPPRESSION causes rebellion 89.0%C10 He builds CAGES for oxen to bring up birds in 89.0%M1255 Let me spit in your MOUTH 89.0%S330 When the SHEPHERD is angry with his sheep he sends them a blind guide 89.0%M213 The lone MAN is wolves' meat 89.0%

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