Proverbs 14:4 - What does this mean?

Question

Proverbs 14:4

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

I've been reading proverbs lately, but I haven't been able to understand this verse! What is the context that this applies to? Is there some kind of metaphor? I can understand the second clause "from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests". This part seems somewhat easily understood. But for the first part, why would you not want oxen in the first place?

Answer 1

I usually take proverbs to be straightforward about earthly affairs. They often fall under the theme of Ecclesiastes:

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God (Ecclesiastes 2:24)

This proverb might be a word of wisdom to farmers, touching on laziness or reluctance to work in the grime of hard labor. A framer might not like working hard with oxen because of the mess they make in the barn. They would prefer the manger to be’ empty’ as indicating ‘cleanliness’ (or’ empty’ could signify poverty). I lean to the cleanliness aspect of the barn resulting in poverty from the lack of harvest.

Accordingly, not only having to feed oxen and getting dirty oneself, but all the dung and waste that they would have had to clean up. However, to really accept the work that we have been assigned by the ‘sweat of out brow’ and the kindness that God provisioned in man’s use of stronger animals, man can reap a good harvest.

A farmer, who just wants a tidy place to relax in, will have nothing but poverty.

Answer 2

The simple meaning is to take care of your tools and work animals, because you'll regret it when they are not there.

Answer 3

Scope

It would be easy to think this is just a statement of agricultural fact, but remember,

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness -2 Timothy 3:16

So we need to be careful not to dismiss this as a mere statement about life on the farm; this is here in Scripture for a reason: to teach us and train us in how to be righteous. So the question is, why did God provide in Scripture a verse describing the way things are with oxen?

Case Study

There is another verse about oxen that is explained more explicitly in Scripture:

You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing. -Deuteronomy 25:4

Paul explains the meaning as follows:

God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? -1 Corinthians 9:9-11

Paul is clarifying that this Old Testament law about oxen was intended to illustrate to God's people that a minister should not be "muzzled" while he is ministering. Just as it would be cruel to cover an ox's mouth while he is threshing in your field, it is cruel to deprive a minister of support while he is ministering to you.

Some teach that the verse in Deuteronomy provided an agricultural law which teaches a principle that applies to everything in life, whether it be oxen, ministers, or others. However, Paul clarifies that God was not concerned about oxen when He gave this instruction, but that it was given for the sake of those in ministry.

Answer

Here is an alternate reading of Proverbs 14:4

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. -NASB

I have always taken this as follows:

Oxen are dirty, messy, cumbersome beasts, and yes, you can keep your manger a lot cleaner if you don't keep any oxen there... but, oxen are actually very profitable due to their great strength.

I had a Pastor tell me one time that I was like a "bull in a china shop" in church. (In other words, a big, troublesome beast who makes a mess of an otherwise pretty place.) I have always read this passage and thought "yeah, but God still uses me powerfully, so it's a good thing my church keeps me around."

I think this verse was given "for our sake", and it makes a lot of sense in church. The servants of God are like oxen. We can sure make a mess of things and be a headache to manage, and things are a lot simpler when we're not around... but, we are very profitable to the Kingdom, so it's good to keep us around, regardless of how difficult we are at times.

Anyway, that's just my take. I would suggest praying about it and asking God to give you the wisdom to know whether this is correct.

Answer 4

I agree with Jas with the exception that I want to point out that Proverbs 14:4 applies not only to ministers but all those who labor. People make mistakes and cause problems but its through people that work is accomplished. Every employee requires the labor of an employer. The "perfect" employee will never work for you because you are not the "perfect" employer and vice versa. God doesn't disregard people because they make messes, mistakes or sin. He does "fire" people but it is a severe punishment for pride and rejecting correction.

Jas 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

Pro 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.