oxen

Everyday

Oxen is the word for more than one ox: big strong farm animals used to pull carts and ploughs. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: animals counted, often in old problems with legs, feed or pairs; a «yoke» of oxen is 2. In history: oxen pulled covered wagons on the Oregon Trail and ploughs on farms. In stories: oxen working in the fields.

Examples

• The farmer has 6 oxen. tree →
• Each pair of oxen pulls a plough. tree →
• How many legs do 5 oxen have? tree →
• The oxen eat 100 pounds of hay. tree →
• Oxen pulled the covered wagons west. tree →
• A yoke joins two oxen together. tree →
• The oxen rested in the shade after work. tree →
• In some countries, oxen still plough the fields. tree →
• He was driving a herd of cows and oxen. tree →

Note

Plural of ox; a thing counted. Hidden number: 4 legs each; a «pair» or «yoke» of oxen = 2. Trap: count oxen, not pairs, unless the problem says pairs. Oxen is an old plural with «-en», like children; never say «oxens».

In Jewish tradition

The plural of ox: oxen draw the wagons for the Tabernacle and are given as gifts and offerings.

Interpretation. The chieftains' gift of wagons and oxen is read as their eager help in carrying the Tabernacle, with the wagons given to Levite families by their service.

Examples

• And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. (Torah NUM.7.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service. (Torah NUM.7.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and they two made a covenant. (Torah GEN.21.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• And so did they with the oxen. (Writings 2CH.35.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• one sea, and the twelve oxen under it. (Writings 2CH.4.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea; (Prophets 1KI.7.44, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural of ox; a thing counted. Hidden number: 4 legs each; a «pair» or «yoke» of oxen = 2. Trap: count oxen, not pairs, unless the problem says pairs. Oxen is an old plural with «-en», like children; never say «oxens».