Topical Bible: The Ox: Required Great Care and Attention

◄ The Ox: Required Great Care and Attention ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The ox, a domesticated bovine animal, holds significant importance in biblical times, both as a symbol and as a practical asset in agrarian society. The ox is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures, highlighting its value and the care it requires.

Symbolism and Importance

In biblical literature, the ox is often associated with strength, service, and sacrifice. It is a creature of great power, used primarily for plowing fields and threshing grain, making it indispensable for agricultural productivity. The ox's strength and endurance are emblematic of diligence and hard work, qualities esteemed in biblical teachings.

Scriptural References

The ox is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Bible. In Proverbs 14:4 , it is written, "Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox." This verse underscores the ox's role in ensuring a bountiful harvest, emphasizing the necessity of its presence for prosperity.

The Mosaic Law also provides specific instructions regarding the treatment of oxen, reflecting the care and attention they require. In Deuteronomy 25:4 , the law states, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." This commandment ensures that the ox is allowed to eat while working, highlighting the importance of fair treatment and provision for the animal's needs.

Sacrificial Role

The ox also plays a significant role in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. It was one of the animals acceptable for offerings, symbolizing atonement and dedication to God. In Leviticus 1:3 , the instructions for burnt offerings include the use of a bull, a male ox, as a sacrifice, indicating its value in religious rituals.

Care and Management

The care of oxen required diligence and attention. Owners were responsible for their well-being, ensuring they were fed, rested, and protected from harm. The biblical principle of stewardship extends to the treatment of animals, as seen in Proverbs 12:10 : "A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty."

Furthermore, the law provided for the protection of oxen from injury or theft. Exodus 21:28-32 outlines the consequences if an ox gores a person, demonstrating the legal framework in place to manage the risks associated with owning such powerful animals.

Conclusion

The ox, as depicted in the Bible, is a creature that requires great care and attention. Its role in agriculture, its symbolic significance, and the legal protections afforded to it all point to the broader biblical themes of stewardship, responsibility, and the value of diligent labor. Through the lens of Scripture, the ox serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of creation and the call to honor God through the responsible management of His gifts.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 27:23
Be you diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
... rest, but also that even the toiling ox and ass ... might have the relaxation which their
tired bodies required. ... The great difference between men and most of the ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study x the foundations of.htm

A Liberal Church
... shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth ... The liberality required of the
Hebrews was largely to benefit ... And when the last great harvest is gathered in ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 32 a liberal church.htm

Of Miracles which were Wrought that the World Might Believe in ...
... the surgeons arrived; all that the circumstances required was ready ... This he did with
great groaning and tears, and the ... had been found in the kidneys of an ox. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 of miracles which were.htm

The Evolution of a Father
... from May to July; the musk-ox at the ... prepare the altruistic sentiment for so great
an abnegation, the simpler discipline of the Family was required. ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter ix the evolution of.htm

The Good Samaritan
... He required the answer from the questioner himself ... to this effect: "If thou meet
thine enemy's ox or his ... through Moses that the Lord their God, "a great God, a ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 54 the good samaritan.htm

The First vision "In Heaven": Chapters 4-5
... be made, should make one Himself; especially one like unto "an ox that eateth ... open
the Book, or to look at it] The worthiness required is so great that no ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision in heaven .htm

The Power of Little Things.
... We are required to use what we have, not what we ... are four hundred short.' So he took
an ox goad and ... over the land, and we can accomplish a great deal between us ...
/.../moody/to the work to the work/chapter vi the power of.htm

Introduction to Oration ii.
... at the time, stung almost to madness, as an ox by a ... blood of simpler souls, which
will be required at our ... for other men like ourselves, it is a great thing to ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/introduction to oration ii.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... were armed with a pike tipped with bronze ox-copper, an ... sealed, one of the witnesses,
who was required to be ... the fruits borne by an orchard, so great shall be ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... And as the ox was created for ploughing, the horse ... of sumptuous banquets of flesh
involves great care and suffering ... of such strength as is required by athletes ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm