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Read the Bible
Easy-to-Read Version
Proverbs 14:4
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- CharlesEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty,but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of an ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean; But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
When there are no oxen, no food is in the barn. But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where none oxen are, there the cribbe is emptie: but much increase cometh by the strength of the oxe.
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
Without the help of an ox there can be no crop, but with a strong ox a big crop is possible.
Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean; but much is produced by the strength of an ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the cribs are clean; but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty, but with them it will be full of grain.
When there are no oxen the manger is empty, but an abundance of crops comes by the strength of an ox.
The stall is clean where there are no cattle, but much gain is by the strength of an ox.
Where no oxen are, there the crybb is emptie: but where the oxen laboure, there is moch frute.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where no Oxen are, the crib is cleane: but much increase is by the strength of the Oxe.
Where no oxen are, there the cribbe is emptie: but much encrease commeth by the toyle of the oxe.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where oxis ben not, the cratche is void; but where ful many cornes apperen, there the strengthe of oxe is opyn.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.
Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.
There is no grain where there are no oxen, but much grain comes by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
Without cattle, the crib is clean, but, much increase, is in the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the crib is empty: but where there is much corn, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
Without oxen a stall [is] clean, And great [is] the increase by the power of the ox.
No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
clean: Amos 4:6
but: Proverbs 13:23, 1 Corinthians 9:9-11
Reciprocal: Exodus 22:1 - five oxen Job 39:11 - leave Proverbs 12:11 - tilleth Proverbs 28:19 - that tilleth Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of an ox
Cross-References
But this new king tried to rebel against Nebuchadnezzar anyway! He sent messengers to Egypt to ask for help. The new king asked for many horses and soldiers. Now, do you think the new king of Judah will succeed? Do you think the new king will have enough power to break the agreement and escape punishment?"
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Where no oxen [are] the crib [is] clean,.... Or "empty" z, so Jarchi and Aben Ezra. Oxen were used in Judea in several parts of husbandry; in ploughing the land, bringing home the corn, and in threshing or treading it out, Deuteronomy 22:10. Now where these are not, or not used, where husbandry is neglected, there is no straw in the crib for beasts, and much less food for men; or rather, no corn or "wheat" a on the "threshingfloor" b, or in the barn, granary, or storehouse; for so the same word is rendered, Jeremiah 50:26; and in this manner it is interpreted by Gersom here, as also by Kimchi c: the word translated "clean" is used for "wheat", Amos 8:5. By supplying the negative particle, the whole may be rendered thus; "where no oxen are, the threshingfloor", "granary", or storehouse, "is without wheat"; or there is no wheat "on the floor", or "in the barn", c. the note of Jarchi on the text is,
"where there are no scholars of the wise men, there is no instruction in the constitutions.''
But much better is the mystical sense, thus that where there are no ministers of the Gospel, there is no food for souls. Oxen are an emblem of faithful and laborious ministers. The ox was one of the emblems in the cherubim, which design Gospel ministers; the names by which oxen are called agree with them. Here are two words used of them in the text; the one comes from a root which signifies to "teach", "lead", "guide", and "govern"; and the same word for "oxen" signifies "teachers", "leaders", "guides", and "governors"; names which most properly belong to ministers of the word: the other word comes from a root which signifies to "see", to "look"; because these creatures are sharp sighted. Ministers are seers, overseers, and as John's living creatures in Revelation 4:6; one of which was an ox, were full of eyes, within, and before, and behind. So ministers of the word had need to have good sight, to look into the Scriptures, and search them; to look to themselves and to their flock, and to look out to discover enemies, and danger by them; and to look into their own experience, and into things both past and to come. There is a likeness in ministers to these creatures, as to the nature of them; they are clean, creatures, as such should be that minister in holy things; and chew the cud, as such should revolve in their minds and constantly meditate upon divine things; and, like them, are patient and quiet under the yoke; and are not only strong to labour, but very laborious in the word and doctrine; submit to the yoke, draw the plough of the Gospel; bring home souls to Christ, to his church, and to heaven; and tread out the corn, the mysteries of grace, out of the sacred writings. Now where there are no such laborious and diligent ministers of the word, as there are none in the apostate church of Rome, there is no spiritual food for the souls of men; but a famine of the word, and men perish for lack of knowledge;
but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox; as there is a large increase of the fruits of the earth, through the tillage of it by proper instruments; as by the strong and laborious ox, whose strength is employed in ploughing the ground d and treading the corn; which is put for all means of husbandry, where that is used or not: so through the unwearied labours of Gospel ministers, the blessing of God attending them, there is much spiritual food; see Proverbs 13:23. There is an increase of converts, a harvest of souls is brought in; and an increase of gifts and of grace, and of spiritual light and knowledge, and plenty of provisions; which spiritual increase, through the ministry of the word, is owing to God, 1 Corinthians 3:6.
z בר "vacuum", V. L. Munster, Pagninus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Amama; so the Syriac version. a "Triticum", Baynus. b אבוס "area", Gussetius, p. 14. Michaelis, Schultens. c Sepher Shorash. rad אבס & R. Joseph Kimchi in Abendana in loc. d "Fortis arat valido rusticus arva bove", Tibullus, l. 2. Eleg. 2. v. 14.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
i. e., Labor has its rough, unpleasant side, yet it ends in profit. So also, the life of contemplation may seem purer, “cleaner “than that of action. The outer business of the world brings its cares and disturbances, but also “much increase.” There will be a sure reward of that activity in good works for him who goes, as with “the strength of the ox,” to the task to which God calls him.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 14:4. But much increase is by the strength of the ox. — The ox is the most profitable of all the beasts used in husbandry. Except merely for speed, he is almost in every respect superior to the horse.
1. He is longer lived.
2. Scarcely liable to any diseases.
3. He is steady, and always pulls fair in his gears.
4. He lives, fattens, and maintains his strength on what a horse will not eat, and therefore is supported on one third the cost.
5. His manure is more profitable. And,
6, When he is worn out in his labour his flesh is good for the nourishment of man, his horns of great utility, and his hide almost invaluable.
It might be added, he is little or no expense in shoeing, and his gears are much more simple, and much less expensive, than those of the horse. In all large farms oxen are greatly to be preferred to horses. Have but patience with this most patient animal, and you will soon find that there is much increase by the strength and labour of the ox.
