Lexical Summary chasam: To muzzle, to restrain Original Word: חָסַם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance muzzle, stop A primitive root; to muzzle; by analogy, to stop the nose -- muzzle, stop. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to stop up, muzzle NASB Translation block off (1), muzzle (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חָסַם] verb stop up, muzzle (Late Hebrew id., חסום muzzle; Aramaic חֲסַם bind up fast) — Qal Imperfect לֹא תַחְסֹם שׁוֺר בְּדִישׁוֺ Deuteronomy 25:4 thou shalt not muzzle an ox when it is treading (i.e. threshing); Participle וְחֹסֶמֶת היא Ezekiel 39:11 and it shall stop (the way of) the passers-by; but read וְחָֽסְמוּ אתהַֿגַּיְא and they shall stop up the valley, Co see ᵐ5 Syrver Hi. Topical Lexicon Agricultural Practice and Compassionate Law In Deuteronomy 25:4, the command appears: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” (Berean Standard Bible). The ancient Near-Eastern threshing floor relied on oxen walking over sheaves to loosen kernels. Muzzling would prevent the animal from eating the very grain its labor helped produce. By prohibiting such restraint, the law upholds the Creator’s concern for creaturely well-being and affirms that productive labor deserves an immediate share in the fruit it yields (compare Proverbs 12:10). Moral Principle of Fair Reward Beyond mercy to animals, the statute embodies a universal ethic: withholding due benefit from any worker is unjust. The verse stands among other civil ordinances (Deuteronomy 24:14–15; Leviticus 19:13) that protect the vulnerable from exploitation. The object lesson teaches that productivity and enjoyment of reward belong together, a theme reiterated when laborers in various spheres—whether servants, hired hands, or priests—are granted portions of harvests and offerings (Numbers 18:8-13; Deuteronomy 18:1-8). New Testament Application to Gospel Ministry Apostle Paul twice cites Deuteronomy 25:4, treating the command as a principle that transcends its agrarian setting. Paul’s hermeneutic receives the Old Testament text as authoritative and relevant, establishing precedent for supporting gospel workers materially (see also Luke 10:7; Galatians 6:6). The verse thus becomes foundational for Christian stewardship, congregational giving, and missionary support. Prophetic Imagery of Final Judgment The only other occurrence, Ezekiel 39:11, foretells a burial valley for the defeated hordes of Gog: “it will block the passage of travelers”. Here חָסַם depicts a hindrance so complete that it “muzzles” or stops those who pass by, emphasizing the magnitude of divine judgment. The same verb that guards the mouth of an ox against wrongful restraint now portrays the sealing off of evil after God’s victory. The dual usage—mercy in Deuteronomy, judgment in Ezekiel—highlights the righteousness and consistency of the Lord in both compassion and justice. Practical Ministry Lessons 1. Honor all labor. Whether animal, employee, or elder, laborers deserve timely, tangible reward. Forms and Transliterations וְחֹסֶ֥מֶת וחסמת תַחְסֹ֥ם תחסם tachSom ṯaḥ·sōm ṯaḥsōm vechoSemet wə·ḥō·se·meṯ wəḥōsemeṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 25:4 HEB: לֹא־ תַחְסֹ֥ם שׁ֖וֹר בְּדִישֽׁוֹ׃ NAS: You shall not muzzle the ox KJV: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox INT: shall not muzzle the ox is threshing Ezekiel 39:11 2 Occurrences |
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