en_tw/bible/other/ox.md

ox, oxen

Definition:

An "ox" is a type of cattle that is specifically trained to do agricultural work. The plural of this term is "oxen." Usually oxen are male and have been castrated.

• Throughout the Bible, oxen were depicted as animals tied together by a yoke to pull a cart or a plow.
• Having oxen work together under a yoke was such a common occurrence in the Bible that the phrase "to be under a yoke" became a metaphor for hard work and labor.
• A bull is also a male type of cattle, but it has not been castrated and has not been trained as a work animal.

(See also: cow, yoke)

Bible References:

• 1 Samuel 15:1-3
• 2 Chronicles 15:10-11
• Exodus 24:5-6
• Luke 14:4-6
• Matthew 22:4