New King James Version
Proverbs 14:4
4Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.
Context of Proverbs 14:4
2He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him. 3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them. Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox. 5A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies. 6A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands.
Read all of Proverbs 14Proverbs 14:4 word by word
בְּאֵ֣ין אֲ֭לָפִים אֵב֣וּס בָּ֑ר וְרָב־תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּכֹ֣חַ שֽׁוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 14:4
- Amos 4:6“Also I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me,” Says the Lord.
- Proverbs 13:23Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, And for lack of justice there is waste.
- 1 Corinthians 9:9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries