Ox

Heb. bakar, “cattle;” “neat cattle”, (Gen. 12:16; 34:28; Job 1:3, 14; 42:12, etc.); not to be muzzled when treading the corn (Deut. 25:4). Referred to by our Lord in his reproof to the Pharisees (Luke 13:15; 14:5).

There was no animal in the rural economy of the Israelites, or indeed in that of the ancient Orientals generally, that was held in higher esteem than the ox and deservedly so, for the ox was the animal upon whose patient labors depended all the ordinary operations of farming. Oxen were used for ploughing, (22:10; 1 Samuel 14:14) etc.; for treading out corn, (25:4; Hosea 10:11) etc.; for draught purposes, when they were generally yoked in pairs, (Numbers 7:3; 1 Samuel 6:7) etc.; as beasts of burden, (1 Chronicles 12:40) their flesh was eaten, (14:4; 1 Kings 1:9) etc.; they were used in the sacrifices; cows supplied milk, butter, etc. (32:14; 2 Samuel 17:29; Isaiah 7:22) Connected with the importance of oxen in the rural economy of the Jews is the strict code of laws which was mercifully enacted by God for their protection and preservation. The ox that threshed the corn was by no means to be muzzled; he was to enjoy rest on the Sabbath as well as his master. (Exodus 23:12; 5:14) The ox was seldom slaughtered. (Leviticus 17:1-6) It seems clear from (Proverbs 15:17) and 1Kin 4:23 That cattle were sometimes stall-fed though as a general rule it is probable that they fed in the plains or on the hills of Palestine. The cattle that grazed at large in the open country would no doubt often become fierce and wild, for it is to be remembered that in primitive times the lion and other wild beasts of prey roamed about Palestine. Hence the force of the Psalmist’s complaint of his enemies. (Psalms 22:13)

OX, a well-known domestic animal, clean by the Levitical Law, strong and patient of labor, of great use in agricultural pursuits, and one of the most valuable possessions of the Jewish husbandman. Gen 24:35; Gen 30:43; 1 Sam 11:7; Job 1:3. Oxen were used for ploughing, Deut 22:10; 1 Kgs 19:19; Job 1:14; Prov 14:4; Isa 30:24; for drawing. Num 7:3, Num 3:7-8; for threshing or treading out grain, Deut 25:4; 1 Cor 9:9; for beasts of burden, 1 Chr 12:40; for sacrifice, Gen 15:9; 1 Kgs 8:63; 2 Chr 29:33; to produce milk and butter, Deut 32:14; Isa 7:22; 2 Sam 17:29; and their flesh as food. 1 Kgs 19:21; 1 Chr 12:39-40; Matt 22:4. The full-grown ox was,however, rarely slaughtered either for food or sacrifice, being esteemed too valuable for any ordinary use of this kind. The young animal was taken instead. Of the herds of Moab in our day Tristram says: "Unlike the sheep, the cattle do not find their way across Jordan to the markets of Jerusalem or Nablous. Beef is a costly luxury, for the bullocks are as valuable for the plough as the heifers are for milch-kine." The cattle of the Jews were probably broken to service when three years old. Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34. The oxen of ancient Egypt are shown by the monuments to have been large and handsome creatures, and it is likely that those of Palestine were then similar, though they have now much deteriorated, in size at least. As is shown by the above synopsis, oxen were used in general as horses are now. East of the Jordan vast herds of cattle grazed through the entire year, being driven to new pastures as old ones were exhausted. This was sometimes possible in Western Palestine, owing to the variety of elevation and climate. When these resources failed, a mixture of grains (as the Hebrew indicates) called "fodder" or "provender," Job 6:5; Isa 30:24, was given, or the torn "straw" left by the threshing-machine. See Thresh. In the more populous districts cattle were stall-fed, as to some extent in all parts. 1 Kgs 4:23; Prov 15:17; Hab 3:17. At present the herds and flocks of a whole village are commonly pastured together, and at night driven into some large cave, natural or artificial. It is possible that the cave shown at Bethlehem as our Saviour's birthplace was thus used - in part at least - and was really the manger in which the new-born Christ was laid. Various provisions of the Mosaic Law concerning cattle are recorded in the following additional references: Ex 20:10; Josh 21:28; Ex 34:19; Lev 19:19; Deut 25:7; Deut 22:1, Ex 6:4, 1 Kgs 16:10. Herds were often left to care for themselves in the vast feeding-grounds east of the Jordan. These half-wild cattle will gather in a circle around any strange object, and, if irritated, charge upon it with their horns. Ps 22:13. The wild ox of Deut 14:5, or wild bull of Isa 51:20, is probably the oryx, a powerful creature of the antelope kind, See Agriculture, Herd.

OX, a well-known domestic animal, clean by the Levitical Law, strong and patient of labor, of great use in agricultural pursuits, and one of the most valuable possessions of the Jewish husbandman. Gen 24:35; Gen 30:43; 1 Sam 11:7; Job 1:3. Oxen were used for ploughing, Deut 22:10; 1 Kgs 19:19; Job 1:14; Prov 14:4; Isa 30:24; for drawing. Num 7:3, Num 3:7-8; for threshing or treading out grain, Deut 25:4; 1 Cor 9:9; for beasts of burden, 1 Chr 12:40; for sacrifice, Gen 15:9; 1 Kgs 8:63; 2 Chr 29:33; to produce milk and butter, Deut 32:14; Isa 7:22; 2 Sam 17:29; and their flesh as food. 1 Kgs 19:21; 1 Chr 12:39-40; Matt 22:4. The full-grown ox was,however, rarely slaughtered either for food or sacrifice, being esteemed too valuable for any ordinary use of this kind. The young animal was taken instead. Of the herds of Moab in our day Tristram says: "Unlike the sheep, the cattle do not find their way across Jordan to the markets of Jerusalem or Nablous. Beef is a costly luxury, for the bullocks are as valuable for the plough as the heifers are for milch-kine." The cattle of the Jews were probably broken to service when three years old. Isa 15:5; Jer 48:34. The oxen of ancient Egypt are shown by the monuments to have been large and handsome creatures, and it is likely that those of Palestine were then similar, though they have now much deteriorated, in size at least. As is shown by the above synopsis, oxen were used in general as horses are now. East of the Jordan vast herds of cattle grazed through the entire year, being driven to new pastures as old ones were exhausted. This was sometimes possible in Western Palestine, owing to the variety of elevation and climate. When these resources failed, a mixture of grains (as the Hebrew indicates) called "fodder" or "provender," Job 6:5; Isa 30:24, was given, or the torn "straw" left by the threshing-machine. See Thresh. In the more populous districts cattle were stall-fed, as to some extent in all parts. 1 Kgs 4:23; Prov 15:17; Hab 3:17. At present the herds and flocks of a whole village are commonly pastured together, and at night driven into some large cave, natural or artificial. It is possible that the cave shown at Bethlehem as our Saviour's birthplace was thus used - in part at least - and was really the manger in which the new-born Christ was laid. Various provisions of the Mosaic Law concerning cattle are recorded in the following additional references: Ex 20:10; Josh 21:28; Ex 34:19; Lev 19:19; Deut 25:7; Deut 22:1, Ex 6:4, 1 Kgs 16:10. Herds were often left to care for themselves in the vast feeding-grounds east of the Jordan. These half-wild cattle will gather in a circle around any strange object, and, if irritated, charge upon it with their horns. Ps 22:13.
The wild ox of Deut 14:5, or wild bull of Isa 51:20, is probably the oryx, a powerful creature of the antelope kind, See Agriculture, Herd.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The male of bovine quadrupeds, especially the domestic animal when castrated and grown to its full size, or nearly so. The word is also applied, as a general name, to any species of bovine animals, male and female. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field. Ps. viii. 7.