A mixed animal, the offspring of a horse and an ass. A mule is smaller than a horse, and has long ears, though not so long as those of an ass. It is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, surefooted animal, lives twice as long as a horse, and is much more easily and cheaply fed. Mules are much used in Spain and South America, for transporting goods across the mountains. So also in the Alps, they are used by travelers among the mountains, where a horse would hardly be able to pass with safety. There is no probability that the Jews bred mules, because it was forbidden to couple creatures of different species, Lev 19:19 . But they were not forbidden to obtain them from abroad and use them, 1Ki 10:25 Eze 27:14 . Thus we may observe, especially after David’s time, that mules, male and female, were common among the Hebrews; formerly they used only male and female asses, 2Sa 13:29 18:9 1Ki 1:33 10:25 18:5 Gen 8:10,14 .\par In Gen 36:24, Anah is said to have found "mules" in the desert; but the Hebrew word here probably means hot springs. See ANAH.\par
Mule. A hybrid animal, the offspring of a horse and an ass. "The mule is smaller than the horse, and is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, sure-footed animal, living, ordinarily, twice as long as a horse." -- McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia. It was forbidden to the Israelites to breed mules, but sometimes, they imported them. It would appear that only kings and great men rode on mules. We do not read of mules at all, in the New Testament; perhaps, therefore, they had ceased to be imported.
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1. pered. The first reference to this animal is in the time of David: his sons rode upon mules. David had his own mule, upon which Solomon was made to ride when he was proclaimed king. Mules were among the animals that were brought as presents by the nations to Solomon. They were also imported to Tyre. It would appear from Lev 19:19 that the Israelites were forbidden to breed them. 2Sa 13:29; 2Sa 18:9; 1Ki 1:33; 1Ki 1:38; 1Ki 1:44; 1Ki 10:25; Psa 32:9; Isa 66:20; Eze 27:14; Zec 14:15.
2. rekesh. This was probably a swift horse on which despatches were sent. Est 8:10; Est 8:14. The word is once translated ’dromedary,’ 1Ki 4:28; and once ’swift beast.’ Mic 1:13.
3. yemim. This is acknowledged to be wrongly rendered in the A.V.: it is translated ’hot springs,’ by the Revisers and others. Gen 36:24.
By: Emil G. Hirsch, Solomon Schechter, I. M. Casanowicz
A hybrid between the ass and horse. The Hebrew term is "pered"; feminine, "pirdah." (For "rekesh," which some render by "mule," see Horse.) "Yemim" (Gen. xxxvi. 24), which Targ. Yer., Arabic version, and Greek Venetus translate by "mules," is generally admitted to mean "hot springs"; so Vulgate, "aquæ calidæ." The mule is first mentioned in the time of David. It was used as a riding-animal for kings (I Kings i. 33, 38, 44), for the royal household at large (II Sam. xiii. 29), and in war (II Sam. xviii. 9; comp. Isa. lxvi. 20; Zech. xiv. 15). It formed part of the royal stud (I Kings xviii. 5); and among the tribute paid to Solomon by subject tribes were included mules (ib. x. 25). The mule is also referred to as a beast of burden (II Kings v. 17; comp. Josephus, "Vita," § 26). Togarmah (Armenia) was the staple market for mules (Ezek. xxvii. 14). The Jews were prevented from breeding the mule themselves by the prohibition of Lev. xix. 19 (comp. Philo, ii. 307). Still it was a favorite animal with them, as it still is in the East, on account of its sure-footedness, hardiness, and endurance; and among the stock brought on the return from Babylon are mentioned 245 mules (Ezra ii. 66; comp. Josephus, l.c.).
Besides the Biblical names (Ḥul. 79a) there occur in the Talmud the terms "mula" (comp. Latin "mula"; Shab. 52a) and "kudanta" (ib. 110b); for "yemim" see Ḥul. 7b (comp. Gen. R. xcii. 2). A distinction is made between the issue of a stallion and a she-ass and that of an ass and a mare; the former has a thicker voice, longer ears, and a shorter tail (Ḥul. 79a). The mule was one of the last things created (Pes. 54a). The she-mule, having no womb, can not propagate (Bek. 8b; Shab. 67a); a barren spouse is therefore called "kudna 'aḳarah" (B. B. 91a). The mule is less hardy than the ass, and ages early ('Er. 56a); still it is a favorite beast of burden (Pes. 119a). The bite of a white she-mule was considered dangerous (Ḥul. 7b), while its excrements were used for medicinal purposes (Shab. 110b). The mule may be yoked neither with the horse nor with the ass (Kil. i. 6).
Bibliography:
Tristram, Nat. Hist. p. 124;
Lewysohn, Z. T. p. 144.
MULE.—
(1) pered (m.) and pirdâh (f.)—in all passages except three.
(2) rekesh, RV
(3) yçmîm, Gen 36:24, where ‘mules’ is certainly a mistranslation; RV
The breeding of mules was forbidden to the Israelites (Lev 19:19), but from David’s time (2Sa 13:29; 2Sa 18:9) onwards (1Ki 1:33; 1Ki 10:25; 1Ki 18:5) they appear to have been increasingly used. The returning Israelites brought 245 mules with them (Ezr 2:66). Mules are preferred in Palestine to-day as pack animals (cf. 1Ch 12:40, 2Ki 5:17). they are hardier, subsist on less food, and travel better on rough roads. A well-trained mule is a favourite riding animal with the highest officials in the land.
E. W. G. Masterman.
At the present day mules are used as pack animals and for drawing freight wagons, rarely for riding. One does not often see in Palestine mules as large and fine as are common in Europe and America. This may be because most of the mares and many of the donkeys are small.
Gen 36:24 (c) If this word is correctly understood, then there is a wonderful lesson to be found in this passage. Mules were found in the wilderness because the asses had been mingling with the horses and producing these fine work animals while it was all unknown to the owners. It is the story of "unearned increment." It is the story of GOD granting rich blessing and increase without our definite planning or knowledge. GOD does this for His children frequently.
2Sa 18:9 (c) In this story we see a picture of the disappointment which comes to those who trust in human devices and rest their hopes on earthly provisions. Absalom had hoped to use the mule either to carry him to victory, or else to carry him to safety. He was disappointed in both cases, and the mule became the means of his death. It is a warning to us not to place our confidence in any means or methods provided by earth’s resources. The animal represents any doctrine, or theory, or religion which is man-made, and on which one often depends for salvation and deliverance. It will fail us in the hour of need.
See Monkey
A mule is an animal born from a male donkey and a female horse. Its scientific name is Equus asinus mulus. Mules cannot usually have babies of their own. When a female donkey and a male horse have a baby, it is called a hinny. Hinnies are smaller than mules and not as useful.
The law in the Old Testament did not allow crossbreeding of animals (Leviticus 19:19). This is why the Israelites bought mules from other nations instead of breeding them. They probably bought them from the Phoenicians, since the city of Tyre (a Phoenician seaport in what is now southern Lebanon) sold horses and mules (Ezekiel 27:14).
Mules did not appear in Israel until King David's time (2 Samuel 13:29). This may be because horses were rare among the Hebrew people. Mules were mainly used by the royal family and other important people. King David rode on a mule, and Solomon rode on King David's mule when he became king (1 Kings 1:33). Absalom, one of David's sons, died while riding a mule (2 Samuel 18:9). After the exile, there were fewer mules than horses, camels, and donkeys in the community (Ezra 2:66). In ancient times, Asia Minor (modern Turkey) was known for breeding excellent mules.
Mules are known today for being stubborn, but the Bible does not mention this trait. People value mules for riding and for carrying heavy loads, especially in hot, mountainous areas. They have sure feet on difficult paths and do well in hot, dry climates. Mules have the toughness, endurance, and steady walking style of a donkey, along with the size, strength, speed, and courage of a horse. Mules almost never get sick and live longer than horses. They can carry up to 136 kilograms (300 pounds) for 48.3 kilometers (30 miles) a day.
See also Travel.
Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
References:
Discussion:
The word pirdah refers to the female mule while pered can refer to either the male or the female. In biblical times mules were used for riding and as pack animals while horses were mainly used to pull military chariots. They appear to have been introduced into Canaan much later than horses. Mules are not mentioned in the Bible until the time of David while horses are mentioned in the Joseph story and in DEU 17:16 where the king is forbidden to acquire them. Technically the owning of mules was not prohibited although the breeding of them would have fallen under the prohibition of LEV 19:19, which forbade the cross-breeding of animals. The Israelites thus seem to have relied on mules imported from neighboring countries.
Description:
The mule is not an animal found naturally anywhere, but is the result of people breeding male donkeys with female horses. It is also possible to breed male horses with female donkeys, but the offspring, technically called “hinnies", not “mules", are usually smaller than mules. Mules are bigger and stronger than donkeys and are much more resistant to disease than either horses or donkeys. They are usually dark brown with bigger ears than the parent horse.
Although there are male and female mules they are infertile and not able to breed. This makes the stronger males much easier to handle than stallions.
Special significance or symbolism:
Although the mule in English is associated with stubbornness this is not usually the case in other cultures since mules are very easy to handle if treated properly. In PSA 32:9 the mule is linked to the horse as both being animals that lack sufficient understanding and need to be guided in the right direction.
Translation:
Even in languages of societies that know mules, they are often referred to as “horse-donkeys", or “donkey-horses". This seems to be a good translation solution even in languages that have no word for mule.
Animals in the Bible © United Bible Societies. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.