Proverbs 14:4

Proverbs 14:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
• New International Version (NIV)Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

Context of Proverbs 14:4

2He who walks in uprightness [reverently] fears the Lord [and obeys and worships Him with profound respect], But he who is devious in his ways despises Him. 3In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back, But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox. 5A faithful and trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness speaks lies. 6A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom], But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].

Proverbs 14:4 word by word

בְּאֵ֣ין אֲ֭לָפִים אֵב֣וּס בָּ֑ר וְרָב־תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּכֹ֣חַ שֽׁוֹר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Where no oxenאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · cattleH504
• the cribאֵבוּס'êbûs · cribH18
• cleanבַּרbar · pureH1249
• but muchרֹבrôb · abundanceH7230
• increaseתְּבוּאָהtebû'âh · produceH8393
• by the strengthכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• of the oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794

Cross-references for Proverbs 14:4

• Amos 4:6“I also gave you cleanness of teeth [because of the famine] in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, Yet you have not returned to Me [in repentance],” says the Lord.
• Proverbs 13:23Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor, But [without protection] it is swept away by injustice.
• 1 Corinthians 9:9For 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?

Commentaries on Proverbs 14:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4But 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. He is longer lived. Scarcely liable to any diseases. He is steady, and always pulls fair in his gears. He lives, fattens, and maintains his strength on what a horse will not eat, and therefore is supported on one third the cost. His manure is more profitable. When…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4i. 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.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 There can be no advantage without something which, though of little moment, will affright the indolent.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4It is easy to keep a stable clean if it is empty, but a farmer without an ox cannot harvest crops.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. 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).Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 14:4

• Bullock
• Crib
• Industry

In the dictionaries

• Backslider
• Confident
• Crib
• Easy
• Envious
• Hasty
• Mock
• Poetry
• Prudent
• Rich

Commentaries on Proverbs 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings