Quick Definition
a yoke, heavy burden, pair of scales
Strong's Definition
a coupling, i.e. (figuratively) servitude (a law or obligation); also (literally) the beam of the balance (as connecting the scales)
Derivation: from the root of (to join, especially by a "yoke");
KJV Usage: pair of balances, yoke
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ζυγός, ζυγοῦ, ὁ, for which in Greek writings before Polybius τό ζυγόν was more common (from ζεύγνυμι);
1. a yoke;
a. properly, such as is put on draught-cattle.
b. metaphorically, used of any burden or bondage: as that of slavery, 1Ti_6:1 (Lev_26:13), δουλείας, Gal_5:1 (Sophocles Aj. 944; δουλοσυνης, Demosthenes 322, 12); of troublesome laws imposed on one, especially of the Mosaic law, Act_15:10; Gal_5:1; hence, the name is so transferred to the commands of Christ as to contrast them with the commands of the Pharisees which were a veritable 'yoke'; yet even Christ's commands must be submitted to, though easier to be kept: Mat_11:29 f (less aptly in Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 16, 17 [ET] Christians are called οἱ ὑπό τόν ζυγόν τῆς χάριτος ἐλθόντες (cf. Harnack at the passage)).
2. a balance, pair of scales: Rev_6:5 (as in Isa_40:12; Lev_19:36; Plato, rep. 8, 550 e.; Aelian v. h. 10, 6; others).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ζυγός zygos 6x
also spelled ζυγόν , ου , τό (n-2c),
pr. a cross bar or band; a yoke;
met. a yoke of servile condition, 1Ti_6:1 ;
a yoke of service or obligation, Mat_11:29-30 ; Act_15:10 ; Gal_5:1 ;
the beam of a balance; a balance, Rev_6:5
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ζυγός
(in cl . more freq . τὸ ζυγόν ), -οῦ , ὁ
( < ζεύγνυμι ),
[in LXX for H5923 , H3976 , etc.;]
1. a yoke; metaph ., of bondage or submission to authority: Mat_11:29-30 , Act_15:10 , Gal_5:1 , 1Ti_6:1 .
2. a balance: Rev_6:5 (of. Isa_40:12 , al. ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ζυγός [page 274]
For this word, which survives in MGr, in its literal sense cf. P Rein 17 .20 (B.C. 109) ἄροτρον ᾱ ζυ [γὸ ]ν ᾱ , P Fay 121 .4 ( c. A.D. 100) εὖ ποιήσεις δοὺς Οὐηστείνωι εἰς τὸν ζυγὸν αὐτοῦ ζυγόδεσμον καινὸν στερεόν , kindly give Vestinus for his yoke a new strong yoke-band (Edd.), P Strass I. 32 .12 (A.D. 261) ζυγὸν δὲ ἐνάγων παρά σοι τὸν ἐπιτηδειότερον αὐτῷ παράσχες . The neuter form of the subst. = balance, as in Rev_6:5 , occurs in P Leid W v. 6 ( s.v. μηνύω ), and Michel 1222 .4 (ii/B.C.) τὸ ζυγὸν καὶ τὰ σταθμία .
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ζυγός (in cl. more frequently τὸ ζυγόν), -οῦ, ὁ
(ζεύγνυμι), [in LXX for עֹל, מֹאזֵן, etc. ;]
__1. a yoke; metaphorically, of bondage or submission to authority: Mat.11:29-30, Act.15:10, Gal.5:1, 1Ti.6:1.
__2. a balance: Rev.6:5 (of. Isa.40:12, al.).†
(AS)