Topical Encyclopedia
A mule is a hybrid animal, the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). In biblical times, mules were valued for their strength, endurance, and ability to carry heavy loads over long distances. They were considered more reliable than horses for certain tasks, particularly in mountainous or rugged terrain.
Biblical ReferencesMules are mentioned several times in the Bible, often in the context of royal or noble use. They were considered valuable animals and were associated with wealth and status. In
2 Samuel 13:29, mules are mentioned in the context of Absalom's servants: "So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the rest of the king’s sons got up, and each mounted his mule and fled."
King David's use of mules is noted in
2 Samuel 18:9, where Absalom, David's son, is caught by his hair in the branches of a great oak while riding a mule: "Now Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. He was riding his mule, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, his head was caught in the tree. He was left hanging in midair while the mule he was riding kept going."
Mules were also used in the transportation of goods and people. In
1 Kings 1:33, King David instructs Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet to have Solomon ride on his own mule as a sign of his succession to the throne: "The king said to them, 'Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son mount my own mule, and take him down to Gihon.'"
Cultural and Religious SignificanceIn the ancient Near East, mules were considered valuable animals due to their hybrid vigor, which made them stronger and more resilient than either parent species. Despite their utility, the breeding of mules was prohibited under Mosaic Law, as stated in
Leviticus 19:19: "You must keep My statutes. You must not breed together two different kinds of your livestock; you must not sow your field with two kinds of seed; and you must not wear clothing made of two kinds of material."
This prohibition reflects the broader biblical theme of maintaining purity and separation, which is evident in various aspects of the Law. The Israelites were called to be distinct from the surrounding nations, and this extended to their agricultural and breeding practices.
Symbolism and InterpretationMules, as hybrids, can symbolize the blending of different elements, which in some biblical contexts, is seen as contrary to God's design for creation. The use of mules by Israelite kings and nobles, however, underscores their practical value and the necessity of using available resources wisely.
In a spiritual sense, the mule can be seen as a symbol of service and humility. Despite their royal associations, mules were beasts of burden, serving their masters faithfully. This duality of status and service can be reflective of the Christian call to leadership through servanthood, as exemplified by Jesus Christ.
ConclusionWhile mules are not the most frequently mentioned animals in the Bible, their appearances provide insight into the daily life and practices of ancient Israel. They serve as a reminder of the balance between adhering to divine commandments and utilizing God's creation for practical purposes.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Mulea 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.
ATS Bible Dictionary
MuleA 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, Le 19:19. But they were not forbidden to obtain them from abroad and use them,1 Kings 10:25Ezekiel 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,2 Samuel 13:29 18:91 Kings 1:33 10:25 18:5Esther 8:10,14.
InGenesis 36:24, Anah is said to have found "mules" in the desert; but the Hebrew word here probably means hot springs. SeeANAH.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Hebrews pered), so called from the quick step of the animal or its power of carrying loads. It is not probable that the Hebrews bred mules, as this was strictly forbidden in the law (
Leviticus 19:19), although their use was not forbidden. We find them in common use even by kings and nobles (
2 Samuel 18:9;
1 Kings 1:33;
2 Kings 5:17;
Psalm 32:9). They are not mentioned, however, till the time of David, for the word rendered "mules" (R.V. correctly, "hot springs") in
Genesis 36:24 (yemim) properly denotes the warm springs of Callirhoe, on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. In David's reign they became very common (
2 Samuel 13:29;
1 Kings 10:25).
Mules are not mentioned in the New Testament. Perhaps they had by that time ceased to be used in Palestine.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny.
2. (n.) A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; -- called also hybrid.
3. (n.) A very stubborn person.
4. (n.) A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and mule-jenny.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MULEmul (peredh (1 Kings 10:25;1 Kings 18:5Ezra 2:66Isaiah 66:20Zechariah 14:15), the feminine pirdah (1 Kings 1:33, 38, 44), rekhesh, "swift steeds," the King James Version "mules" (Esther 8:10, 14), 'achashteranim, "used in the king's service," the King James Version "camels," the Revised Version margin "mules" (Esther 8:10, 14), yemim, "hot springs," the King James Version "mules" (Genesis 36:24); hemionos, "half-ass," "mule" (1 Esdras 5:43; Judith 15:11)): Mules are mentioned as riding animals for princes (2 Samuel 13:29;2 Samuel 18:91 Kings 1:33, 38, 44); in the tribute brought to Solomon (2 Chronicles 9:24); as beasts of burden (2 Kings 5:171 Chronicles 12:40); horses and mules are obtained from the "house of Togarmah" in the distant north (Ezekiel 27:14). The injunction ofPsalm 32:9, "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding," need not be understood as singling out the horse and mule as more in need of guidance than the rest of the brute creation, but rather as offering familiar examples to contrast with man who should use his intelligence.
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.
Alfred Ely Day
Greek
5268. hupozugion -- a beast of burden or draught... of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hupozugion Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-od-zoog'-ee-on) Short Definition: a beast of burden, an ass or
mule Definition:
...1913. epibibazo -- to place upon
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epibibazo Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-bee-bad'-
zo) Short Definition: I place upon Definition: I place upon (a horse,mule)....
2934. ktenos -- a beast of burden
... ktenos Phonetic Spelling: (ktay'-nos) Short Definition: a beast of burden Definition:
a beast of burden (generally, a horse ormule) either for riding or for...
3457a. mulikos -- of a mill
... of a mill. Transliteration: mulikos Short Definition: millstone. Word Origin from
mule (a mill) Definition of a mill NASB Word Usage millstone* (1)....
Strong's Hebrew
6506. pirdah -- a femalemule... 6505, 6506. pirdah. 6507 . a female
mule. Transliteration: pirdah Phonetic
Spelling: (pir-daw') Short Definition:
mule. Word Origin
...6505. pered -- amule
... 6504, 6505. pered. 6506 . amule. Transliteration: pered Phonetic Spelling:
(peh'-red) Short Definition: mules. Word Origin... mules' (1).mule....
3222. yem -- perhaps hot springs
... springs (1).mule. From the same as yowm; a warm spring --mule. see HEBREW
yowm. 3221, 3222. yem or yemim. 3223 . Strong's Numbers.
7409. rekesh -- steeds
... Word Origin perhaps from rakash Definition steeds NASB Word Usage horses (1),
steeds (2), swift steeds (1). dromedary,mule, swift beast....
327. achashteran -- royal
... Word Origin of foreign origin Definition royal NASB Word Usage royal (1). camel.
Of Persian origin; amule -- camel. 326, 327. achashteran. 328 ....
Library
God's Care Over Me
... One time not long after this a brother was taking me somewhere on amule.... Once the
mule on which I was riding became frightened and threw me off....
A Supplementary Chapter to the Bible in Spain
... It has pleased her to play an arrant jade's part, the part of a mula falsa, a vicious
mule, and now, and not for the first time, the brute has been chastised...
A Broken-Hearted Father
... Absalom happened to meet the soldiers of David while riding upon hismule, and the
mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and Absalom's head caught...
My Call to the Ministry
... giving way entirely. One day Harley went on an errand for Father and the
mule that he rode accidentally got his ankle hurt. When he...
David Appointing Solomon
... The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause
Solomon my son to ride upon mine ownmule, and bring him down to Gihon: 34....
The Arabic Gospel of the Infancy of the Saviour (Nt Apocrypha)
... There stood beside them amule, covered with housings of cloth of gold, and sesame
was put before him; and the women were kissing him, and giving him food....
Psalm XXXII.
... 9. "Be not ye like unto horse ormule, which have no understanding:" and
therefore would govern themselves. But saith the Prophet...
What Then do I Love, when I Love My God? who is He Above The...
... Nor can I by that power find my God; for so horse andmule that have no understanding
might find Him; seeing it is the same power, whereby even their bodies...
That God is to be Found Neither from the Powers of the Body nor of...
... Not by that power do I find my God; for then the horse and themule, "which have
no understanding," [850] might find Him, since it is the same power by which...
Whether the Reason Can be Overcome by a Passion, against Its...
... 4: Further, whoever knows the universal, knows also the particular which he knows
to be contained in the universal: thus who knows that everymule is sterile...
Thesaurus
Mule (9 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn
or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and
mule-jenny.
...MULE.
...Rode (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 13:29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded.
Then all the king's sons arose, and they rode each upon hismule and fled....
Ride (31 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 13:29 And the young men of Absalom do to Amnon as Absalom commanded, and
rise do all the sons of the king, and they ride, each on hismule, and flee....
Mules (14 Occurrences)
... as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man
got him up upon hismule, and fled. (See NIV). 1 Kings 10...
Riding (30 Occurrences)
... Absalom was riding on hismule, and themule went under the thick boughs of a great
oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the...
Entangled (11 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:9 And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding
on themule, and themule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great...
Meeteth (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:9 And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding
on themule, and themule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great...
Midair (4 Occurrences)
... Absalom was riding on hismule, and themule went under the thick boughs of a great
oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the...
Boughs (29 Occurrences)
... Absalom was riding on hismule, and themule went under the thick boughs of a great
oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the...
Bough (8 Occurrences)
... Absalom was riding on hismule, and themule went under the thick boughs of a great
oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the...
Resources
What does the Bible say about being stubborn / stubbornness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Apollinarianism? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Naaman in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgMule: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
