Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough stays clean, but you get a great harvest through the strength of the ox.
This verse is saying that if you want to avoid mess and work, you can stay comfortable, but if you want real productivity and growth, you have to accept some inconvenience and effort.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient agricultural societies, oxen were essential for plowing fields and harvesting crops, but they also required daily care, feeding, and cleaning up after them. This proverb uses the familiar image of farm life that Solomon's audience would have understood immediately. The 'crib' refers to the feeding trough where oxen ate, which would get dirty and need regular cleaning.
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