Proverbs 14 · Verse 4

Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4, King James Version

Proverbs 14:4 in other translations

BSB	Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
WEB	Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
ASV	Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
YLT	Without oxen a stall is clean, And great is the increase by the power of the ox.
DARBY	Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
BBE	Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox.
Webster	Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

What does Proverbs 14:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

4. crib is clean--empty; so "cleanness of teeth" denotes want of food (compare Am 4:6). Men get the proper fruit of their doings (Ga 6:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

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. 6. When he is worn out in his labor 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 labor of the ox.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

There can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 14:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בְּאֵ֣יןbe.'Einwhen there notH369

אֲ֭לָפִים'A.la.fim[are] cattle<s>H504

אֵב֣וּס'e.Vus[the] feeding troughH18

בָּ֑רBar[is] cleanH1249

וְרָב\־ve.rov-and abundance ofH7230

תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹתte.vu.'otproduce<s>H8393

בְּכֹ֣חַbe.Kho.ach[is] by [the] strength ofH3581

שֽׁוֹר\׃Shoran oxH7794

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 14:4

1 Corinthians 9:9-11
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? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Proverbs 13:23
Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
Amos 4:6
And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

clean.
Am 4:6
but.
13:23; 1Co 9:9-11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Proverbs 14:3
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Proverbs 14:4
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Proverbs 14:5
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Read all of Proverbs 14

Proverbs 14:4 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Sin bueyes el granero está limpio: mas por la fuerza del buey hay abundancia de pan.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Où il n’y a point de bœufs, la crèche est vide; et l’abondance du revenu est dans la force du bœuf.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wo keine Rinder sind, ist die Krippe rein; aber viel Ertrag ist durch des Stieres Kraft.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ubi non sunt boves, præsepe vacuum est; ubi autem plurimæ segetes, ibi manifesta est fortitudo bovis.