A beast of burden, used to carry both goods and people.
Used for carrying goods
1 Samuel 16:20 See also Genesis 22:3–5, Genesis 42:27; Exodus 23:12 parallel Deuteronomy 5:14 As beasts of burden they were afforded rest on the Sabbath.
And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David.
Used for personal transport
1 Samuel 25:20; Matthew 21:7 See also Exodus 4:20NUM Exodus 22:22; 2 Peter 2:16 Joshua 15:18; Judges 19:28; 2 Samuel 17:23, 2 Samuel 19:26; 1 Kings 13:23–29; Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:5; Luke 10:34; John 12:14
As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.
They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
The value of donkeys
Exodus 22:4 See also Exodus 20:17 parallel Deuteronomy 5:21; Exodus 22:9; Numbers 16:15; Deuteronomy 22:3–4; 1 Samuel 12:3; Job 24:3; Luke 13:15
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession— whether ox or donkey or sheep— he must pay back double.
Mistreatment of donkeys
Numbers 22:23 See also Deuteronomy 22:10
When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.
Sometimes found in the wild
Job 39:5 See also Job 6:5; Jeremiah 2:24; Hosea 8:9
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
Figurative use of the donkey
Genesis 16:12 See also Genesis 49:14; 2 Kings 6:25; Isaiah 1:3; Jeremiah 22:19
He will be a wild donkey of a man, and his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand against him; he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
Samson and the donkey's jaw-bone
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.