Easton's Bible Dictionary Grain in the East is usually thrashed by the sheaves being spread out on a floor, over which oxen and cattle are driven to and fro, till the grain is trodden out. Moses ordained that the ox was not to be muzzled while thrashing. It was to be allowed to eat both the grain and the straw (Deuteronomy 25:4). (see AGRICULTURE.) Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a horse; a snout. 2. (n.) The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge; as, the muzzle of a gun. 3. (n.) A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting. 4. (v. t.) To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action. 5. (v. t.) To fondle with the closed mouth. 6. (v. i.) To bring the mouth or muzzle near. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MUZZLE muz'l (chacam; phimoo) According to the Deuteronomic injunction (Deuteronomy 25:4), the ox was not to be muzzled while treading the grain, i.e. threshing. The muzzle was a guard placed on the mouth of the oxen to prevent them from biting or eating. The threshing ox would have ample opportunity of feeding (compare Hosea 10:11). The Deuteronomic injunction is quite in accordance with the humane spirit which inspires it all through. Paul quotes this law in two places (1 Corinthians 9:9 1 Timothy 5:18) to illustrate his view that the "laborer is worthy of his hire." T. Lewis

Multi-Version Concordance Muzzle (4 Occurrences) 1 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, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Timothy 5:18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain." And, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Deuteronomy 25:4 You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 39:1 {To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.} I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me. (DBY NAS NIV)