Topical Bible: The Ox was Fed with Straw

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The phrase "The Ox was Fed with Straw" is derived from the prophetic imagery found in the book of Isaiah, specifically Isaiah 11:7, which states, "The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox" . This passage is part of a larger vision of the Messianic age, a time of peace and harmony when natural enmities are reconciled, and the created order is restored to its intended state.

Context and Interpretation

Isaiah 11 is a prophetic chapter that describes the coming of the Messiah, a descendant of Jesse, who will bring justice, righteousness, and peace. The imagery of animals living in harmony, such as the lion eating straw like the ox, symbolizes a radical transformation of the natural world. This transformation is often interpreted as a return to the conditions of the Garden of Eden, where there was no death or predation, and all creatures lived in peace.

The ox, a domesticated animal known for its strength and utility in agriculture, represents the peaceful and productive aspects of creation. Feeding on straw, a non-violent and sustainable food source, the ox in this vision is part of a world where the curse of sin and death is lifted, and creation is restored to its original harmony.

Theological Significance

From a theological perspective, the imagery of the ox eating straw alongside the lion is a powerful symbol of the peace and restoration that the Messiah will bring. It reflects the hope for a future where the effects of the Fall are reversed, and God's kingdom is fully realized on earth. This vision aligns with the broader biblical narrative of redemption and restoration, where God promises to renew all things through the work of the Messiah.

The passage also emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the Messiah's reign. It is not limited to human relationships but extends to all of creation. This holistic vision of peace underscores the biblical theme that God's salvation plan encompasses the entire cosmos, not just humanity.

Practical Implications

For believers, the imagery of the ox being fed with straw serves as a reminder of the hope and assurance found in God's promises. It encourages Christians to live in anticipation of the coming kingdom, striving for peace and reconciliation in their own lives and communities. The passage calls for a commitment to stewardship of creation, reflecting the peace and harmony that will characterize the Messianic age.

In summary, "The Ox was Fed with Straw" is a vivid illustration of the peace and restoration promised in the Messianic age. It serves as a symbol of hope and a call to live in alignment with God's redemptive purposes for the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 11:7
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christmas Eve Behold, I Bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy, which ...
... That Thou must choose Thy infant bed. Where ass and ox but lately fed! Were earth
a thousand times as fair,. ... Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,. ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/christmas eve behold i bring.htm

The Stupidity of Godlessness
... crib' where he is sure of fodder and straw, might teach ... It is fed by preoccupation
of thought with other things. ... Dogs lick the hand that feeds them; ox and ass ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the stupidity of godlessness.htm

Letter cxxx. To Demetrias.
... With these and similar meditations she fed her mind, dreading nothing so much as
to ... lies down with the kid and the lion eats straw like the ox; [3686] not ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxx to demetrias.htm

That the Scriptures are Divinely Inspired.
... by a little child to the pasture; that the ox and the ... that their young ones are to
be fed together; that ... will frequent stalls with the oxen, and feed on straw. ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter i that the scriptures are.htm

A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of ...
... runaways;[4] He that, like to the ox,[5] backslidden ... is governed; Not sanguinary
ones, nor taught nor fed By human ... To be revenged is not worth a straw, He that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse of the building.htm

The Creation of Fowl and Water Animals.
... 1643] "The ox knoweth his ... After having united, little by little, the bits of straw
with this ... So Coleridge (Kubla Khan): "For he on honey dew hath fed And drunk ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily viii the creation of.htm

The God of Peace
... more; the lion shall lie down with the kid and eat straw like the ox; the cockatrice ...
prayer, and how all those three hundred children had been fed by my ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the god of peace.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... Egypt "all things good, and sweet, and pure," whereby gods and men are fed. ... hand,
flint knives and other implements, mats of reeds or plaited straw, two flat ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The Sixth Commandment
... sometimes 'soon over,' like fire kindled in straw, which is ... law, if one met his
neighbour's ox or ass ... Heliogabalus fed his lions with pheasants: the devil is ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 6 the sixth commandment.htm

The Second Commandment
... God which fed me all my life long.' Genesis 48:15. ... Kindness works even on a brute:
the ox knows his owner ... but though it required brick, it gave no straw; but in ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 2 the second commandment.htm