Proverbs 14:4 kjv

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

Proverbs 14:4 nkjv

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

Proverbs 14:4 niv

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

Proverbs 14:4 esv

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

Proverbs 14:4 nlt

Without oxen a stable stays clean,
but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

Proverbs 14 verses

Proverbs 14 4 Meaning

Proverbs 14:4 conveys a practical truth: while an empty or inactive life might appear orderly and free of trouble (a clean crib), it also yields no produce or gain. Conversely, the "mess" and effort associated with diligent labor, represented by the oxen and their activity, are intrinsically linked to significant productivity and material blessings. It illustrates that genuine progress and increase are not achieved in sterile environments but often emerge from effort, investment, and the accompanying inconvenience.

Proverbs 14 4 Context

Proverbs chapter 14 belongs to the main collection of Solomon's proverbs (Proverbs 10:1-22:16). These proverbs are pithy, often two-line sayings contrasting wisdom with foolishness, righteousness with wickedness, and diligence with sloth. This specific verse appears amidst a series of maxims offering practical life principles. The society for which Proverbs was written was agrarian, deeply connected to farming, animal husbandry, and manual labor. Thus, the imagery of oxen and cribs was immediately understandable and relatable to the original audience. The verse uses a common observation from their daily lives to convey a deeper principle about the necessity of effort and acceptance of the 'mess' that comes with fruitful endeavor. It sets up a contrast between neatness and idleness versus the effort and bounty of productive work, speaking to a common human desire for ease versus the reality of achieving success.

Proverbs 14 4 Word analysis

• Where no oxen are: אֵין בָּקָר ('ayn baqar).

  • אֵין ('ayn): Hebrew particle meaning "no," "without," "there is not." Signifies absence or non-existence.
  • בָּקָר (baqar): Refers to "cattle," "oxen," or "herd." These were fundamental to the agricultural economy for plowing fields, threshing grain, and transport. The plural implies a general absence of these working animals.
  • Significance: This phrase sets the premise for a life without productive labor or the means thereof. It paints a picture of stillness, devoid of the bustle associated with the agricultural activities crucial for survival and prosperity.

• the crib is clean: אֵבוּס בָּר ('evus bar).

  • אֵבוּס ('evus): "Manger," "crib," or "stall"—the feeding trough or enclosure where animals are kept.
  • בָּר (bar): "Clean," "pure," "empty." In this context, it suggests free from straw, dung, and spilled feed—the common byproducts of having livestock.
  • Significance: A clean crib indicates no animals are present, thus no work is being done. While "clean" sounds positive, here it metaphorically represents sterility, idleness, or lack of productive activity. It’s an appearance of order masking an absence of valuable input. This speaks to avoiding mess and inconvenience, but at a significant cost.

• but much increase is by the strength of the ox: וְרֹב תְּבוּאָה בְּכֹחַ שׁוֹר.

  • וְרֹב (v'rov): "and much," "and abundance." רֹב (rov) means "multitude," "plenty," "great number." Conjunction וְ (ve) is "but" or "and."
  • תְּבוּאָה (tevu'ah): "Produce," "revenue," "income," "harvest," "gain." This word encapsulates all forms of profitable output from labor.
  • בְּכֹחַ (b'khoach): "by the strength," "by the power of." בְּ (be) means "by" or "with," and כֹּחַ (khoach) is "strength," "power," "might," "ability." It highlights the exertion required.
  • שׁוֹר (shor): "Ox" or "bull." Here it is singular, representing the collective power or the archetypal working animal, symbolizing hard work and enduring labor.
  • Significance: This is the counterpoint. It establishes the direct causal link between effort and gain. The "strength of the ox" signifies consistent, laborious application of energy, which is essential for yielding the "much increase." This implies that real value and fruitfulness necessitate embracing the "mess" and demands of productive labor.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean": This phrase highlights the false comfort of inaction. An empty barn signifies the absence of problems, but also the absence of prosperity. It's an illusion of neatness without substance. It can represent a life that avoids challenges and responsibility, leading to sterility.
  • "but much increase is by the strength of the ox": This powerful contrast provides the core wisdom. It connects significant output directly to vigorous input. The image evokes sweat, struggle, and consistent effort as the indispensable source of true abundance and blessing. It implies that to achieve meaningful growth, one must be willing to engage in the hard, often messy work that real progress demands.

Proverbs 14 4 Bonus section

The proverb can also be seen as a critique of theoretical purity or inactivity that fears engaging with the world for fear of "getting dirty." Spiritual disciplines and kingdom work, while having aspects of purity and dedication, also involve practical, often challenging, engagement with human brokenness and the world's resistance. A "clean crib" might, in some allegorical interpretations, represent a passive faith that avoids ministry's challenges, or a pursuit of personal holiness so secluded it fails to bear the fruit of actively loving and serving others in the messy realities of life. True fruitfulness in life, whether natural or spiritual, requires practical application, hands-on labor, and an acceptance of the effort, disorder, and perseverance involved.

Proverbs 14 4 Commentary

Proverbs 14:4 encapsulates a fundamental economic and life principle often overlooked in the pursuit of comfort and ease. It contrasts two states: a pristine, unburdened existence and a fruitful, productive one. The "clean crib" speaks of a life untouched by labor – no animal to feed, no manure to shovel, no noisy activity. It's orderly and neat, perhaps even desirable at first glance for those who wish to avoid hassle. However, the proverb swiftly punctures this illusion, revealing that such a state, while free of mess, is also free of meaningful "increase" or produce.

The second part of the verse, "much increase is by the strength of the ox," highlights the unavoidable reality: substantial gains come from substantial effort. The ox symbolizes brute strength, sustained labor, and the willingness to engage with the grittiness of productive work. For an agricultural society, this meant plowing difficult fields, transporting heavy loads, and contributing to the processes that bring forth sustenance and wealth. The "much increase" represents not just agricultural yield, but any significant outcome, whether material prosperity, skill development, spiritual fruit, or building a strong family or community. This verse calls for a realistic acceptance that every worthwhile endeavor carries its own form of "mess"—be it hard work, difficult decisions, managing problems, or investing personal resources. It serves as a gentle rebuke to those who desire results without diligence, comfort without contribution, or reward without effort, pointing them towards the diligent path as the true source of abundance and blessing.