1 Corinthians 9:9

Contextual Overview

³ Some people want to judge me. So this is the answer I give them: ³ This is my defense to those who would examine me. ³ Myne answer to them that axe me is this. ³ My defense to those who examine me is this. ³ This is my defense to those who would examine me: ³ My defense to those who examine me is this: ³ This is the answer I give people who want to judge me: ³ My defense to those that examine me is this. ³ My answer to them that examine me is this, ³ This is my defense to those who would examine me.

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 with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 6:18
But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 6:18
But I will make an agreement with you—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives will all go into the boat.

Genesis 6:18
but I will confirm my covenant with you. You will enter the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 6:18
But with thee will I establish my covenant: and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.

Genesis 6:18
But I will establish my covenant with you. You shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

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 6:18
And Y schal sette my couenaunt of pees with thee; and thou schalt entre in to the schip, and thy sones, and thi wijf, and the wiues of thi sones schulen entre with thee.

Genesis 6:18
`And I have established My covenant with thee, and thou hast come in unto the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy son's wives with thee;

Genesis 6:18
But I will establish My covenant with you, and you will enter the ark-you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.

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.