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# oxen

noun plural (ox, oxen)

«oxen» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Oxen is the word for more than one ox: big strong farm animals used to pull carts and ploughs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#m1)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x1)
- Each pair of oxen pulls a plough. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x2)
- How many legs do 5 oxen have? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x3)
- The oxen eat 100 pounds of hay. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x4)
- Oxen pulled the covered wagons west. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x5)
- A yoke joins two oxen together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x6)
- The oxen rested in the shade after work. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x7)
- In some countries, oxen still plough the fields. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x8)
- He was driving a herd of cows and oxen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/#x9)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/#x1)
- Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service. (Torah NUM.7.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/#x2)
- And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and they two made a covenant. (Torah GEN.21.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/#x3)
- And so did they with the oxen. (Writings 2CH.35.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/#x4)
- one sea, and the twelve oxen under it. (Writings 2CH.4.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/#x5)
- and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea; (Prophets 1KI.7.44, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/#x6)

### 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».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «oxen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/oxen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«oxen» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/oxen.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «oxen» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/oxen/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«oxen» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/oxen.html) on Mova free.