Deuteronomy 25:4 kjv
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
Deuteronomy 25:4 nkjv
"You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.
Deuteronomy 25:4 niv
Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
Deuteronomy 25:4 esv
"You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.
Deuteronomy 25:4 nlt
"You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.
Deuteronomy 25 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:4-5 | "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray... If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden..." | Compassion for animals, even an enemy's. |
| Dt 22:6-7 | "If you come across a bird's nest in any tree... you shall not take the mother with the young." | Care for mother animals. |
| Dt 22:10 | "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together." | Practical kindness, recognizing unequal yoke. |
| Lev 19:13 | "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning." | Fair wages for workers. |
| Dt 24:14-15 | "You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy... You shall give him his wages on the same day..." | Prompt and fair payment to workers. |
| Prov 12:10 | "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." | Righteousness includes animal care. |
| Isa 58:6-7 | "Is not this the fast that I choose... to loose the bonds of wickedness... Is it not to share your bread with the hungry..." | Social justice and care for the needy. |
| Jer 22:13 | "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages." | Condemnation of unjust labor practices. |
| Psa 36:6 | "Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; Man and beast you save, O Lord." | God's care extends to all creatures. |
| Psa 145:9 | "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made." | God's universal compassion. |
| Mt 6:26 | "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." | God provides for all creation. |
| Lk 10:7 | "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages." | Ministers have a right to support. |
| 1 Cor 9:7-14 | (Context for Dt 25:4 interpretation) "Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? ... Or do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.' Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he speak undoubtedly for our sake?" | Paul's primary use; applies the law to those who serve in ministry. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | Reciprocal support for spiritual instruction. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Support for preaching/teaching elders. |
| Jas 5:4 | "Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you..." | Condemns withholding rightful wages. |
| Rom 15:27 | "For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things." | Principle of giving material for spiritual. |
| Hab 2:8 | "Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you, for the blood of man and violence to the land, to cities and all who dwell in them." | Condemnation of exploitation. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me by withholding tithes and offerings. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse..." | Duty to provide for the ministry of the Lord. |
| Deut 23:25 | "When you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain." | Principle of moderate immediate gratification for sustenance while working. |
| Phil 4:18-19 | "...I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours..." | Supporting those who serve God results in divine provision. |
Deuteronomy 25 verses
Deuteronomy 25 4 Meaning
Deuteronomy 25:4 commands that an ox, when engaged in the arduous task of treading out grain on the threshing floor, must not have its mouth muzzled. This means the animal should be permitted to eat from the grain it is working to process. At its most fundamental level, it is a divine injunction advocating for compassionate and just treatment of working animals, ensuring they receive nourishment commensurate with their labor. Beyond this literal interpretation, the verse contains a profound ethical principle regarding fair remuneration for effort expended, applicable not only to animals but, as extensively interpreted in the New Testament, primarily to human laborers, especially those who minister the Word of God.
Deuteronomy 25 4 Context
Deuteronomy 25:4 is situated within a series of diverse civil and moral laws governing the community of Israel. Immediately preceding it are regulations concerning fair judicial flogging (Dt 25:1-3), ensuring the punishment is proportionate and preserves dignity. Following it are laws on levirate marriage (Dt 25:5-10), the handling of immodest behavior (Dt 25:11-12), and regulations for honest weights and measures (Dt 25:13-16). This specific command regarding the ox demonstrates God's concern for justice and compassion not just between humans, but extending to animals involved in essential labor. It forms part of the broader Deuteronomic code emphasizing ethical behavior and the well-being of all in Israelite society, reflecting the character of a God who is both righteous and merciful. The law implies a broader principle of fairness and care for the vulnerable, characteristic of God's covenant with Israel.
Deuteronomy 25 4 Word analysis
- You (לֹא - lo'): The opening Hebrew word is part of "lo'-tahsom," "you shall not muzzle." It is a strong negative command, prohibiting a specific action. This emphasizes that the prohibition is not a suggestion but an imperative, reflecting divine law.
- shall not muzzle (תַחְסֹם - tahsom, from חָסַם - chasam): This verb means to "stop up," "bridle," or "muzzle." It denotes actively preventing the ox from eating. The command ensures that the working animal is not deprived of the direct benefits of its strenuous labor. It reflects a standard of care that went beyond mere utility to acknowledge the animal's needs.
- an ox (שׁוֹר - shor): Refers to a mature bovine, typically used for plowing, threshing, or drawing burdens. Oxen were vital agricultural assets, representing significant investment and essential labor for sustenance in ancient Israel. The specific mention highlights its role as a hard-working creature deserving consideration.
- while it treads out (בְּדִישׁוֹ - bidisho, from דּוּשׁ - dush): This phrase means "in its threshing" or "when it treads." Threshing involved animals walking in circles over piles of grain on a threshing floor, breaking open the husks to release the edible kernels. It was a physically demanding and dusty process. The phrase specifies the exact circumstance under which the ox must not be muzzled – precisely when it is performing its productive labor directly with the foodstuff.
- the grain (implied by context of threshing): The Hebrew literally refers to "its threshing" rather than directly stating "grain." The 'grain' is what is being trodden out. This signifies the immediate reward for the animal's work; it is allowed to eat from the very product it is laboring to yield. The context implicitly points to staples like wheat or barley, which were vital for the survival and prosperity of the Israelites.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "You shall not muzzle an ox": This phrase sets a legal precedent for animal welfare based on compassion and fairness, contrasting with mere instrumental views of animals. It highlights God's concern for all His creatures, particularly those serving human needs. This law reveals a principle that just stewardship over creation involves caring for the laborer, animal or human.
- "while it treads out the grain": This specifies the context of the work—direct engagement with the production of sustenance. It emphasizes that the right to partake of the fruits of labor applies directly to the process of work itself, reinforcing the principle that one should not withhold immediate gratification from those expending effort. This is not about letting an animal consume the farmer's entire yield, but about permitting it reasonable access during its labor. The dusty, arduous nature of the task means an animal would naturally be inclined to eat small portions for refreshment and sustenance.
Deuteronomy 25 4 Bonus section
The seemingly minor detail about "not muzzling an ox" encapsulates a principle often termed "The Law of Compensation" or "The Law of Reciprocity." It teaches that those who work hard and produce benefit should also partake of that benefit. This principle extends to various aspects of life, forming a moral bulwark against exploitation. Furthermore, the selection of the "ox" in particular, an animal so integral to sustenance, is significant. The ox wasn't a luxury animal but a cornerstone of agricultural productivity. Therefore, the law touches on fundamental economic justice and sustainable living. This passage, by divine wisdom, transforms a practical farm regulation into a powerful theological truth concerning fairness in labor, a testament to the pervasive justice of God's law.
Deuteronomy 25 4 Commentary
Deuteronomy 25:4 is a concise yet profound command reflecting divine justice and compassion. On its surface, it prohibits the inhumane practice of muzzling an ox during threshing, thereby allowing the animal to eat some of the very grain it labors to produce. This practical care ensures the animal's well-being, acknowledging its hard work and preventing cruelty. The command is not simply about optimizing an animal's performance—though a well-fed ox is certainly more productive—but about a deeper moral principle of fairness. God desires for His people to treat His creation, even animals, with kindness and equity.
However, the enduring significance of this verse is amplified through its re-interpretation by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament (1 Cor 9:9 and 1 Tim 5:18). Paul uses this seemingly simple agricultural law to draw out a foundational principle regarding human remuneration, particularly for those dedicated to spiritual labor, such as ministers and teachers of God's Word. He rhetorically asks whether God is primarily concerned with oxen or, more significantly, with people, thereby illustrating that the divine care extended to an animal performing physical labor points even more strongly to the right of humans to be compensated for their spiritual labor. This teaching asserts that those who dedicate their lives to sharing spiritual truth, analogous to the ox laboring for physical food, should partake in the material sustenance provided by those they serve. It underscores the concept that laborers, especially in the context of ministry, are worthy of their wages and honor, affirming their right to be supported by the very flock they feed with the spiritual harvest. This verse thus stands as a timeless directive against exploitation and a foundational argument for justly rewarding diligent labor.
Practical usage examples:
- In a modern workplace, ensure employees who contribute to a project benefit from its success (e.g., through fair bonuses, profit sharing, or recognition).
- Church communities are reminded to generously support their pastors, missionaries, and teachers, understanding that those who sow spiritual seeds deserve material support for their living.
- Avoid exploiting interns or volunteers, acknowledging their efforts and ensuring they gain something valuable (experience, training, small stipends) from their contribution.