1 Corinthians 9:9

Amplified Bible

For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT IS TREADING OUT THE GRAIN [to keep it from eating the grain]." Is it [only] for oxen that God cares?

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
Yes, it is written in the Law of Moses: "When a work animal is being used to separate grain, don't keep it from eating the grain." When God said this, was he thinking only about work animals? No.

Revised Standard Version
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For it ys written in the lawe of Moses. Thou shall not mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne. Doth God take thought for oxen?

Hebrew Names Version
For it is written in the law of Moshe, "You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain." Is it for the oxen that God cares,

International Standard Version
For in the law of Moses it is written, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."Deuteronomy 25:4">[fn] God is not only concerned about oxen, is he?Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Timothy 5:18;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
For it is written in the Law of Moses: "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE IT IS THRESHING." God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

New Century Version
It is written in the law of Moses: "When an ox is working in the grain, do not cover its mouth to keep it from eating." When God said this, was he thinking only about oxen? No.

Update Bible Version
For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God cares,

Webster's Bible Translation
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

English Standard Version
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

World English Bible
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the corn." Is it for the oxen that God cares,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For it is written, in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn? Doth God take care for oxen?

Weymouth's New Testament
For in the Law of Moses it is written, "Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For it is writun in the lawe of Moises, Thou schalt not bynde the mouth of the ox threischynge. Whethir of oxun is charge to God?

English Revised Version
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

Berean Standard Bible
For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned?

American Standard Version
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

Bible in Basic English
For it says in the law of Moses, It is not right to keep the ox from taking the grain when he is crushing it. Is it for the oxen that God is giving orders?

Complete Jewish Bible
for in the Torah of Moshe it is written, "You are not to put a muzzle on an ox when it is treading out the grain." If God is concerned about cattle,

Darby Translation
For in the law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that is treading out corn. Is God occupied about the oxen,

Etheridge Translation
For it is written in the law of Musha, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out (the corn). But of oxen is Aloha careful?

Murdock Translation
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that thresheth. Hath God regard for oxen?

King James Version (1611)
For it is written in the Law of Moyses, Thou shalt not muzzell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: doth God take care for oxen?

New Living Translation
For the law of Moses says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?

New Life Bible
God gave Moses the Law. It says, "When the cow is made to walk on the grain to break it open, do not stop it from eating some." Does God care about the cow?

New Revised Standard
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned?

Geneva Bible (1587)
For it is written in the Lawe of Moses, Thou shalt not mussell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: doeth God take care for oxen?

George Lamsa Translation
For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. Why? Is God concerned only for the ox?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, in the law of Moses, it is written - Thou shalt not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the corn: - Is it, for the oxen, God is caring?

Douay-Rheims Bible
For it is written in the law of Moses: Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For it is written in the law of Moyses: Thou shalt not moosell the mouth of the Oxe that treadeth out the corne. Doth God take care for Oxen?

Good News Translation
We read in the Law of Moses, "Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain." Now, is God concerned about oxen?

Christian Standard Bible®
For it is written in the law of Moses, Do not muzzle an ox while it treads out grain. Is God really concerned about oxen?

King James Version
For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

Lexham English Bible
For in the law of Moses it is written, "You must not muzzle an ox while it is threshing." It is not about oxen God is concerned, is it?

Literal Translation
For it has been written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox treading out grain." Deut. 25:4 Is it that it matters to God as to oxen?

Young's Literal Translation
for in the law of Moses it hath been written, `thou shalt not muzzle an ox treading out corn;' for the oxen doth God care?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For it is wrytten in the lawe off Moses: Thou shalt not mosell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne. Doth God take thought for the oxen?

Mace New Testament (1729)
for it is written in the law of Moses , "thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." are oxen the objects of divine care?

New English Translation
For it is written in the law of Moses, " Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain ." God is not concerned here about oxen, is he?

New King James Version
For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Deuteronomy 25:4">[fn] Is it oxen God is concerned about?

Simplified Cowboy Version
The code of Moses says, "When an ox is treading grain, don't keep it from eating as it works." Are oxen worth more to God than we are?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING." God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

Legacy Standard Bible
For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle the ox while it is threshing." Is God merely concerned about oxen?

Contextual Overview

³This is my defense to those who would put me on trial and interrogate me [concerning my authority as an apostle]: ⁴Have we not the right to our food and drink [at the expense of the churches]? ⁵Have we not the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the rest of the apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas (Peter)? ⁶Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to stop doing manual labor [in order to support our ministry]? ⁷[Consider this:] Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? ⁸Do I say these things only from a man's perspective? Does the Law not endorse the same principles? ⁹For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE AN OX WHILE IT IS TREADING OUT THE GRAIN [to keep it from eating the grain]." Is it [only] for oxen that God cares? ¹⁰Or does He speak entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake: The plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the harvest. ¹¹If we have sown [the good seed of] spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? ¹²If others share in this rightful claim over you, do not we even more? However, we did not exercise this right, but we put up with everything so that we will not hinder [the spread of] the good news of Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Thou: Deuteronomy 25:4, 1 Timothy 5:18

Doth: Numbers 22:28-35, Deuteronomy 5:14, Psalms 104:27, Psalms 145:15, Psalms 145:16, Psalms 147:8, Psalms 147:9, Jonah 4:11, Matthew 6:26-30, Luke 12:24-28

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 7:25 - General 2 Chronicles 4:3 - And under 2 Chronicles 31:4 - that they might Proverbs 14:4 - but Isaiah 28:28 - Bread Isaiah 30:24 - oxen Isaiah 32:20 - the ox Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of an ox Matthew 10:31 - General Romans 15:4 - whatsoever Galatians 6:6 - General Revelation 4:7 - like a calf

Cross-References

Genesis 6:18
"But I will establish My covenant (solemn promise, formal agreement) with you; and you shall come into the ark—you and your [three] sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 9:7
"As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it."

Genesis 9:8
Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

Genesis 9:9
"Now behold, I am establishing My covenant (binding agreement, solemn promise) with you and with your descendants after you

Genesis 9:10
and with every living creature that is with you—the birds, the livestock, and the wild animals of the earth along with you, of everything that comes out of the ark—every living creature of the earth.

Genesis 9:11
"I will establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the water of a flood, nor shall there ever again be a flood to destroy and ruin the earth."

Genesis 9:17
And God said to Noah, "This [rainbow] is the sign of the covenant (solemn pledge, binding agreement) which I have established between Me and all living things on the earth."

Genesis 22:17
indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [by conquering them].

Jeremiah 33:20
"Thus says the LORD, 'If you can break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night do not take place at their appointed times,

Romans 1:3
[the good news] regarding His Son, who, as to the flesh [His human nature], was born a descendant of David [to fulfill the covenant promises],

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For it is written in the law of Moses,.... Deuteronomy 25:4

Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. The manner of threshing, or beating out the corn among the Jews, was not the same with ours; it was not done by the flail, at least not always, but by the means of oxen; and by these not only treading upon it to and fro, but drawing a wooden instrument after them, the bottom of which was stuck with iron teeth, and the top of it filled with stones, to press it down close by the weight thereof; the sheaves put in proper form, the oxen were led to and fro upon them, drawing this threshing instrument after them, by which means the grain was separated from the husk and ear g; see Isaiah 41:15 The learned Beckius h has given us a figure of this instrument, and the manner of using it: now according to this law, whilst the ox was thus employed, its mouth was not to be muzzled, but it might freely eat of the corn it trod upon, excepting, the Jews say i, what was dedicated to sacred uses. They give many rules relating to this law, and particularly observe, that it is to be extended to all sorts of creatures, as well as the ox, and to all sorts of business k; and that what is said of the ox, is much more to be observed with respect to men l; and which agrees with the apostle's reasoning here:

doth God take care for oxen? yes, he does, and for creatures of less importance than they, even the fowls of the air, and the most worthless of them, sparrows, two of which are sold for a farthing; but not for them only, nor principally, but chiefly for men.

g Ben Melec. in 2 Sam. xii. 31. & Jarchi in Isa. xli. 1, 5. h Not. in Targum in 1 Chron. xx. 3. p. 210. Vid. Surenhusii Biblos Kattallages, p. 535. i Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Meilah, c. sect. 6. & Trumot, c. 9. sect. 3. k Jarchi in loc. Maimon. Hilch. Shecirot, c. 13. sect. 1, 2, 3. Moses Kotsensis Mitzot Tora, pr. neg. 184. & affirm. 91. l T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 88. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For it is written - Deuteronomy 25:4.

In the law of Moses - See the note at Luke 24:44.

Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth ... - To muzzle means, “to bind the mouth; to fasten the mouth to prevent eating or biting” - Webster. This was done either by passing straps around the mouth, or by placing, as is now sometimes done, a small “basket” over the mouth, fastened by straps to the horns of the animal, so as to prevent its eating, but not to impede its breathing freely. This was an instance of the humanity of the laws of Moses. The idea is, that the ox should not be prevented from eating when it was in the midst of food; and that as it labored for its owner, it was entitled to support; and there was a propriety that it should be permitted to partake of the grain which it was threshing.

That treadeth ... - This was one of the common modes of threshing in the east, as it is with us; see the note and illustration on Matthew 3:12.

The corn - The “grain,” of any kind; wheat, rye, barley, etc. Maize, to which we apply the word “corn,” was then unknown; see the note at Matthew 12:1.

Doth God take care for oxen? - Doth God take care for oxen only? Or is not this rather “a principle” which shows God’s care for all that labor, and the humanity and equity of his laws? And if he is so solicitous about the welfare of brutes as to frame an express law in their behalf, is it not to be presumed that the same “principle” of humanity and equity will run through all his dealings and requirements? The apostle does not mean to deny that God does take care for oxen, for the very law was proof that he did; but he means to ask whether it is to be supposed that God would regard the comfort of oxen and not of people also? Whether we are not to suppose that the same principle would apply also to those who labor in the service of God? He uses this passage, therefore, not as originally having reference to people, or to ministers of the gospel, which cannot be; but as establishing a general “principle” in regard to the equity and humanity of the divine laws; and as thus showing that the spirit of the law of God would lead to the conclusion that God intended that the laborer everywhere should have a competent support.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 9:9. Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox — See this largely explained in Clarke's note on "Deuteronomy 25:4".

Doth God take care for oxen? — This question is to be understood thus: Is it likely that God should be solicitous for the comfort of oxen, and be regardless of the welfare of man? In this Divine precept the kindness and providential care of God are very forcibly pointed out. He takes care of oxen; he wills them all that happiness of which their nature is susceptible; and can we suppose that he is unwilling that the human soul shall have that happiness which is suited to its spiritual and eternal nature? He could not reprobate an ox, because the Lord careth for oxen; and surely he cannot reprobate a man. It may be said the man has sinned but the ox cannot. I answer: The decree of reprobation is supposed to be from all eternity; and certainly a man can no more sin before he exists, than an ox can when he exists.