Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that a "clean" manger, free of mess, actually means an empty one. True abundance and the "increase" of crops only come through the hard work and strength of the oxen, reminding us that valuable outcomes require effort and the right tools.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb is part of a collection of wise sayings that offer practical advice for living. It contrasts a clean but empty trough with the abundant harvest that comes from diligent work, using the ox as a symbol of necessary labor and strength in agriculture. The verse highlights that while avoiding difficult tasks might seem cleaner, it leads to no reward, whereas engaging in the hard work symbolized by the ox yields significant results.
Ever feel like you're doing a lot of work without seeing the results? This proverb offers a stark picture of what happens when necessary effort is missing.
The first part of the verse paints a simple, almost sterile scene: 'Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean.'
A Clean but Barren Space
Think about it. A clean manger means no hay, no feed. It's tidy, yes, but also empty. In the context of ancient farming, this wasn't a sign of good housekeeping; it was a sign of inactivity and impending lack. If there are no oxen to plow the fields, to haul the harvest, or to prepare the threshing floor, then there will be no grain to store.
This isn't just about literal farming. It speaks to any situation where essential labor or tools are absent. When we avoid the necessary 'work' – the difficult, unglamorous, but vital tasks – our 'mangers' might appear 'clean,' but they are ultimately unproductive and lacking.
Why focus on the ox? This creature represents more than just animal power; it's a symbol of the effort that yields abundance.
The contrast in the verse is striking: 'but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.'
The Power Behind Prosperity
The ox was the powerhouse of ancient agriculture. Its strength was essential for:
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Without the ox's diligent, steady strength, the harvest wouldn't happen. The verse is telling us that true increase – whether in crops, finances, knowledge, or spiritual growth – doesn't come from emptiness or idleness. It comes through purposeful, powerful effort, symbolized by the dependable strength of the ox.
This isn't a call to be harsh with animals, but an observation about the natural order and the principle that productive results require productive means. The ox represents the essential input needed for a significant output.
This passage directly echoes the principle that actions yield results, similar to how the ox's labor brings crops. It reminds us that what we sow, we will also reap, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:6This verse speaks to the 'increase' mentioned in Proverbs, attributing it ultimately to God, who gives the growth even when human effort (like the ox's strength or a minister's labor) is the visible means.
Deuteronomy 25:4This law regarding not muzzling the ox while it treads grain highlights the inherent right of the laborer to benefit from their work, paralleling the ox's strength bringing 'much increase' for the farmer.
Matthew 13:3-9Jesus' parable of the sower illustrates how diligent 'planting' (like the ox's plowing) and fertile ground (the farmer's preparation) lead to abundant 'increase' in the harvest, a foundational principle for agricultural and spiritual growth.
gillProverbs 14:4: "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."
Where no oxen are the crib is clean,.... Or "empty" (z), so Jarchi and Aben Ezra. Oxen were used in Judea in several parts of husbandry; in ploughing the land, bringing home the corn, and in threshing or treading it out, Deuteronomy 22:10 . Now where these are not, or not used, where husbandry is neglected, there is no straw in the crib for beasts, and much less food for men; or rather, no cor…
pulpitProverbs 14:4: "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."
Verse 4. - Where no oxen (cattle) are, the crib is clean. This does not mean, as some take it, that labour has its rough, disagreeable side, yet in the end brings profit; but rather that without bullocks to labour in the fields, or cows to supply milk - that is, without toil and industry, and necessary instruments - the crib is empty, there is nothing to put in the granary, there are no beasts…
The verse highlights that a "clean" manger, free of mess, actually means an empty one. True abundance and the "increase" of crops only come through the hard work and strength of the oxen, reminding us that valuable outcomes require effort and the right tools.
This proverb is part of a collection of wise sayings that offer practical advice for living. It contrasts a clean but empty trough with the abundant harvest that comes from diligent work, using the ox as a symbol of necessary labor and strength in agriculture. The verse highlights that while avoiding difficult tasks might seem cleaner, it leads to no reward, whereas engaging in the hard work symbolized by the ox yields significant results.
This proverb is part of a collection of wise sayings that offer practical advice for living. It contrasts a clean but empty trough with the abundant harvest that comes from diligent work, using the ox as a symbol of necessary labor and strength in agriculture. The verse highlights that while avoiding difficult tasks might seem cleaner, it leads to no reward, whereas engaging in the hard work symbolized by the ox yields significant results.
"Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox." — The verse highlights that a "clean" manger, free of mess, actually means an empty one. True abundance and the "increase" of crops only come through the hard work and strength of the oxen, reminding u…
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Last reviewed October 2026