The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
The ox knoweth his owner (Jeremiah 8:7 ), and the donkey his master's crib - the stall where it is fed (Proverbs 14:4). Spiritually, the Word and ordinances. The mute brute teaches a lesson to man. It recognizes man, its master; whereas man often disowns his Lord.
(But) Israel - the whole nation: Judah as well as Israel in the restricted sense. God regards His covenant people in their designed unity.
Doth not know - namely, his owner: as the parallellism requires; i:e., does not recognize Him as such (Exodus 19:5, "a peculiar treasure unto me above all people," answering to my people here). This awful and stupid ingratitude reached its height in the non-recognition of Christ by "His own" (John 1:10-11).
Doth not consider - attend to his Master (Isaiah 41:8), notwithstanding the spiritual food which He provides: answering to crib in the parallel clause (Isaiah 49:7).