God’s Word Translation
Deuteronomy 25:4
4Never muzzle an ox when it’s threshing grain.
Deuteronomy 25:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.
Context of Deuteronomy 25:4
2If the person who’s in the wrong deserves to be beaten, the judge will order him to lie down. Then the judge will have him beaten with as many lashes as the crime deserves. 3Forty lashes may be given, but no more. If an Israelite were given more than that, he would be publicly humiliated. Never muzzle an ox when it’s threshing grain. 5When brothers live together and one of them dies without having a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother must marry her and sleep with her. He must do his duty as her brother-in-law. 6Then the first son she has will carry the dead brother’s name so that his name won’t die out in Israel.
Read all of Deuteronomy 25Deuteronomy 25:4 word by word
לֹא־תַחְסֹ֥ם שׁ֖וֹר בְּדִישֽׁוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Deuteronomy 25:4
- Proverbs 12:10A righteous person cares ⌞even⌟ about the life of his animals, but the compassion of wicked people is ⌞nothing but⌟ cruelty.
- 1 Corinthians 9:9Moses’ Teachings say, “Never muzzle an ox when it is threshing grain.” God’s concern isn’t for oxen.
- 1 Timothy 5:17Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word.
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 25:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Thou shalt not muzzle the ox, etc. - In Judea, as well as in Egypt, Greece, and Italy, they make use of beeves to tread out the corn; and Dr. Shaw tells us that the people of Barbary continue to tread out their corn after the custom of the East. Instead of beeves they frequently made use of mules and horses, by tying by the neck three or four in like manner together, and whipping them afterwards round about the nedders, as they call the treading floors…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Compare the marginal references. In other kinds of labor the oxen were usually muzzled. When driven to and fro over the threshing-floor in order to stamp out the grain from the chaff, they were to be allowed to partake of the fruits of their labors.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 This is a charge to husbandmen. It teaches us to make much of the animals that serve us. But we must learn, not only to be just, but kind to all who are employed for the good of our better part, our souls, 1Co 9:9.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Do not muzzle an ox: The animal had to be able to eat the grain as it worked (compare 1 Corinthians 9:9–14; 1 Timothy 5:17–18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn--In Judea, as in modern Syria and Egypt, the larger grains were beaten out by the feet of oxen, which, yoked together, day after day trod round the wide open spaces which form the threshing-floors. The animals were allowed freely to pick up a mouthful, when they chose to do so: a wise as well as humane regulation, introduced by the law of Moses (compare 1Co 9:9; 1Ti 5:17, 18).Read the comment
Topics related to Deuteronomy 25:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Deuteronomy 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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