βοῦς (bous)
bous
ox
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun bous refers to an ox or a cow, serving as a primary draft animal in the ancient world. In the New Testament, it appears in seven verses, most notably in the Gospels of Luke and John, as well as in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. The word is used to describe literal animals, such as the cattle Jesus sees in the temple courtyard (John 2:14-15) or the oxen mentioned in parables about hospitality (Luke 14:19).
Paul leverages this familiar image for a theological point in 1 Corinthians 9:9. He cites the Mosaic law regarding not muzzling an ox while it treads out grain, arguing that those who labor in spiritual ministry deserve material support just as the working animal deserves food. This usage highlights the creature’s role in agricultural work and its value to the community.
The term also appears in Luke 13:15 and 14:5, where Jesus challenges religious leaders for their hypocrisy in allowing livestock to be rescued on the Sabbath while withholding compassion from people. These passages underscore the ox’s status as a valuable possession that receives care, contrasting with the neglect shown to human beings.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word bous refers to an ox, a sturdy draft animal essential for agriculture in the ancient world. In Scripture, this creature serves as more than just background scenery; it becomes a lens through which Jesus and Paul teach about value, care, and justice. When Jesus cleanses the temple, He drives out the oxen being sold there (John 2:14-15), signaling that God’s house is not a marketplace for livestock but a place of holy reverence.
Paul later uses the image of an ox treading grain to argue that those who serve in spiritual ministry deserve material support (1 Corinthians 9:9). Jesus also points out the irony of religious leaders who rush to free their own oxen from wells on the Sabbath while neglecting human suffering (Luke 14:5). This word reminds us that God cares about the welfare of His creatures and expects His people to extend that same compassion and fairness to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- oxen2×
- an ox2×
- oxen,1×
- ox1×
- of oxen1×
- An ox1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βοῦν3×
- βοῶν2×
- βόας,1×
- βόας1×
- βοῦς1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 9:9
For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,
Paul quotes this verse to establish a biblical principle that spiritual laborers deserve financial support, using the ox's right to eat while working as a clear analogy.
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Luke 14:5
He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath day?”
Jesus uses the owner's immediate concern for an ox in a well to expose the hypocrisy of leaders who ignore human suffering on the Sabbath.
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John 2:14
He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
The presence of oxen in the temple courtyard highlights the commercialization of worship that Jesus actively confronts and cleanses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the word 'ox' (bous) signify in the New Testament?
Why does Paul mention an ox in 1 Corinthians 9:9?
How is 'ox' different from other animals mentioned in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (7 verses across 4 books)
Luke 3 verses
Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on…
Luke 14:5He answered them, “Which of you, if your son or an ox fell into a well, wouldn’t immediately pull him out on a Sabbath…
Luke 14:19“Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. Please have me excused.’