Proverbs 14:4
Proverbs 14:4 in Multiple Translations
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest 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 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.
Without oxen, the manger is empty, but a good harvest comes through the ox's strength.
Where none oxen are, there the cribbe is emptie: but much increase cometh by the strength of the oxe.
Without oxen a stall [is] clean, And great [is] the increase by the power 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 clean: but much increase is by 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.
If a man has no oxen to plow his field, he does not need to put grain in their feedbox, but if he has oxen, they will enable him to produce an abundant crop.
Berean Amplified Bible — Proverbs 14:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Proverbs 14:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בְּ/אֵ֣ין
אֲ֭לָפִים
אֵב֣וּס
בָּ֑ר
וְ/רָב
תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת
בְּ/כֹ֣חַ
שֽׁוֹר
בְּ/אֵ֣ין
ʼayin
H369
nothing
Prep | Part
אֲ֭לָפִים
ʼeleph
H504
cattle
Adj
אֵב֣וּס
ʼêbûwç
H18
crib
N-ms
בָּ֑ר
bar
H1249
pure
N-ms
וְ/רָב
rôb
H7230
abundance
Conj | N-cs
תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת
tᵉbûwʼâh
H8393
produce
N-fp
בְּ/כֹ֣חַ
kôach
H3581
reptile
Prep | N-ms
שֽׁוֹר
shôwr
H7794
cattle
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Proverbs 14:4
בְּ/אֵ֣ין
ʼayin
H369
"nothing"
Prep | Part
This word means nothing or not, often used to indicate the absence of something, as in Genesis 1:2 where the earth was without form. It emphasizes the idea of something lacking or non-existent.
Definition: 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: else, except, fail, (father-) less, be gone, in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any, thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable), well-nigh, without. Compare H370 (אַיִן). See also: Genesis 2:5; Deuteronomy 14:27; 1 Kings 15:22.
אֲ֭לָפִים
ʼeleph
H504
"cattle"
Adj
In the Bible, this word can mean a family or cattle, such as oxen or cows, highlighting their importance in farming and as possessions. It is often translated as 'family' or 'oxen'.
Definition: 1) cattle, oxen 1a) in farming 1b) as a possession
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: family, kine, oxen. See also: Deuteronomy 7:13; Judges 6:15; Psalms 8:8.
אֵב֣וּס
ʼêbûwç
H18
"crib"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for a feeding trough or manger is where Jesus was laid after his birth, as described in Luke 2:7. It was a common feeding place for animals, often made of stone or wood. The word is also used in Isaiah 1:3.
Definition: crib, manger, feeding trough
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: crib. See also: Job 39:9; Proverbs 14:4; Isaiah 1:3.
בָּ֑ר
bar
H1249
"pure"
N-ms
The word 'bar' can also mean pure or clean, describing something as sincere or empty. It is used in various contexts, like describing a person's heart or intentions. This term appears in books like Psalms and Proverbs.
Definition: adj 1) pure, clear, sincere 2) clean, empty adv 3) purely
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: choice, clean, clear, pure. See also: Job 11:4; Psalms 73:1; Psalms 19:9.
וְ/רָב
rôb
H7230
"abundance"
Conj | N-cs
Describes abundance or greatness in the Bible, used to talk about God's power and creation in Psalms and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) multitude, abundance, greatness 1a) multitude 1a1) abundance, abundantly 1a2) numerous 1b) greatness
Usage: Occurs in 145 OT verses. KJV: abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age). See also: Genesis 16:10; Job 32:7; Psalms 5:8.
תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת
tᵉbûwʼâh
H8393
"produce"
N-fp
This word means produce or income, referring to crops, revenue, or even the product of our lips. It is translated as fruit, gain, or revenue in the KJV Bible.
Definition: 1) produce, product, revenue 1a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually) 1b) income, revenue 1c) gain (of wisdom) (fig) 1d) product of lips (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: fruit, gain, increase, revenue. See also: Genesis 47:24; 2 Kings 8:6; Psalms 107:37.
בְּ/כֹ֣חַ
kôach
H3581
"reptile"
Prep | N-ms
Koach means strength or power, referring to human, angelic, or God's might. It can also describe the strength of animals or the produce of soil.
Definition: 1) a small reptile, probably a kind of lizard, which is unclean 1a) perhaps an extinct animal, exact meaning is unknown
Usage: Occurs in 121 OT verses. KJV: ability, able, chameleon, force, fruits, might, power(-ful), strength, substance, wealth. See also: Genesis 4:12; Job 36:5; Psalms 22:16.
שֽׁוֹר
shôwr
H7794
"cattle"
N-ms
This word refers to cattle, like oxen or bulls, used for work, food, or sacrifices, as seen in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: 1) ox, bull, a head of cattle 1a) for plowing, for food, as sacrifice Aramaic equivalent: tor (תּוֹר "bullock" H8450)
Usage: Occurs in 69 OT verses. KJV: bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for H7791 (שׁוּר)). See also: Genesis 32:6; Deuteronomy 15:19; Psalms 69:32.
Study Notes — Proverbs 14:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Proverbs 14:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 14:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 14:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
- Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 14:4
- Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 14:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
- Sermons on Proverbs 14:4
Context — The Wise Woman
2He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.
3The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
5An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies. 6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Corinthians 9:9–11 | 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? Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you? |
| 2 | Proverbs 13:23 | Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, but without justice it is swept away. |
| 3 | Amos 4:6 | “I beset all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. |
Proverbs 14:4 Summary
[Proverbs 14:4 teaches us that hard work and diligence are necessary for achieving success and abundance in our lives, whether that's in our work, relationships, or spiritual growth, just like how the strength of the ox is crucial for a bountiful harvest. This principle is also seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Proverbs 10:4-5, where it emphasizes the importance of being diligent and not being lazy. By applying this principle, we can experience a more fulfilling and fruitful life, as encouraged in Galatians 6:9 to not grow weary in doing good. Ultimately, it reminds us that our efforts, combined with God's blessings, can lead to a rich and abundant life.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main idea of Proverbs 14:4?
The main idea of Proverbs 14:4 is that hard work and diligence, symbolized by the strength of the ox, are necessary for achieving an abundant harvest, as seen in other scriptures like Proverbs 10:4-5 which emphasizes the importance of diligence and hard work.
What does the 'manger' represent in this verse?
The 'manger' in Proverbs 14:4 represents the place where the fruits of one's labor are stored, and its emptiness signifies the lack of productivity or results when there is no effort or strength, similar to what is described in Proverbs 20:4 where the sluggard does not plow and thus has no harvest.
How does this verse relate to our spiritual lives?
This verse can be applied to our spiritual lives by recognizing that just as the strength of the ox is necessary for a physical harvest, our spiritual strength and diligence are necessary for a bountiful spiritual harvest, as encouraged in Galatians 6:9 to not grow weary in doing good.
What role does perseverance play in this verse?
Perseverance plays a crucial role in Proverbs 14:4, as it highlights the importance of consistent and persistent effort, like the ox's strength, to achieve a fruitful outcome, echoing the sentiment in Romans 5:3-4 that perseverance produces character and hope.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to apply the principle of diligent effort to achieve a more abundant spiritual harvest?
- How can I cultivate the 'strength of the ox' in my own life, whether in my work, relationships, or spiritual walk?
- What are some potential consequences of lacking diligence and effort in my life, and how can I learn from the example of the empty manger?
- In what ways can I balance rest and work to ensure that my 'manger' is always full, as seen in the example of the Sabbath rest in Exodus 20:8-11?
Gill's Exposition on Proverbs 14:4
Where no oxen [are] the crib [is] clean,.... Or "empty" (z), so Jarchi and Aben Ezra.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 14:4
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 - i:e, Where there is no tillage of the ground (which in the East is effected by oxen), there is no food.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
The crib is clean; the barn or stable is empty of food for cattle, and much more for man, whose food is more scarce and dear. In the same sense cleanness of teeth is put for famine, . By the strength of the ox; by their labours, or by diligence in husbandry, which then was principally managed by oxen.
Trapp's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen [are], the crib [is] clean: but much increase [is] by the strength of the ox.Ver. 4. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean.] The barn and garners are empty. Neque mola, neque farina; no good to be got without hard labour of men and cattle. Let the idle man’ s motto be that of the lily, neque laborant, neque nent: "They neither toil nor spin." Man is born to toil, as the sparks fly upwards. And spinster they say is a term given the greatest women in our law. Our lives are called "the lives of our hands," because to be maintained by the labour of our hands. But much increase is by the strength of the ox.] This is one of those beasts that serve ad esum et ad usum, and are profitable both alive and dead. A heathen counselleth good husbands and husbandmens that would thrive in the world to get first a house, then a wife, and then an ox that lustily plougheth and bringeth in much increase. Bede applies this text to painful preachers, set forth by oxen, for their tolerance and tugging at the work; where these labour lustily there is commonly a harvest of holiness, a crop of comfort. Only they must be dustily diligent.
Dιακονος, of κονις, dust.
Ellicott's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
(4) Where no oxen are, the crib is clean . . .—A proverb which may be taken in various ways. Some have seen in it an exhortation to kindness towards animals in consideration of their great usefulness. Others, that labour has its disagreeable aspect, but also brings its reward, whether material prosperity (“much increase”) or a more enduring reward. (Comp. Galatians 6:9.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
Verse 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.
Cambridge Bible on Proverbs 14:4
4. the crib is clean] and therefore the labour of cleansing and replenishing it is avoided; but the fruit of such labour is lost also. This is what we ourselves understand by a “proverb,” a salient example of a general law. See Introd. ch. II. p. 16.
Barnes' Notes on Proverbs 14:4
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.
Whedon's Commentary on Proverbs 14:4
4. The crib is clean — ΰαερ, (ebhus,) crib, stall, or barn. It means a place for stabling and feeding. Hence, where no oxen are the “crib” may well be clean of both feed and manure. Increase — Income, profit.
Sermons on Proverbs 14:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Proverbs) ch.14:4 - 15:5 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on various verses from the book of Proverbs. He starts by discussing the concept of having oxen and the importance of keeping the stable clean, |
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Muzzled Christians by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about neglecting his children and realizing the importance of giving them attention. He then relates this to the parable of the |
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(Revelation) the Scene in Heaven by Willie Mullan | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of working diligently and being fully committed to serving God. He refers to the six wings of the heavenly creatures mentioned |
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God Is Inescapable by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of outward religious practices without true inward devotion. He emphasizes that this message from the book of Amos is not just ancie |
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(Through the Bible) Amos 1-5 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of preparing to meet God, as everyone will ultimately stand before Him in judgment. The preacher describes a vision of all th |
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(Amos) Yet You Have Not Returned to Me by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a personal anecdote about watching the Rocky movies and how the preparation for the boxing matches is the main focus of the plot. The |
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Under His Wings by Jenny Daniel | In this sermon, the preacher shares stories and illustrations to emphasize the importance of accepting God's invitation for protection and salvation. He describes a scene where a c |