Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, calves hold significant symbolic and ritualistic importance, appearing in various contexts throughout the Old and New Testaments. They are often associated with idolatry, sacrifice, and agricultural prosperity.
Idolatry and the Golden CalfOne of the most notable references to calves in the Bible is the incident of the Golden Calf in
Exodus 32. While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the Israelites, led by Aaron, fashioned a calf from gold jewelry and worshiped it, declaring, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" (
Exodus 32:4). This act of idolatry provoked God's anger, and Moses interceded on behalf of the people to avert their destruction. The Golden Calf became a symbol of Israel's unfaithfulness and a warning against idolatry.
Calves in Sacrificial PracticesCalves were also integral to the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. In Leviticus, calves are mentioned as offerings for sin and burnt offerings.
Leviticus 9:2 instructs Aaron to "take a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the LORD" . The use of calves in sacrifices underscored the need for atonement and the importance of offering the best to God.
Symbol of Prosperity and JudgmentIn the prophetic books, calves are sometimes used metaphorically to represent prosperity or judgment. In
Hosea 10:11, Israel is compared to a trained heifer, indicating both the nation's prosperity and its impending judgment due to disobedience: "Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh, but I will place a yoke on her fair neck" . This imagery highlights the tension between God's blessings and the consequences of turning away from Him.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the imagery of calves is less prominent but still present. The Parable of the Prodigal Son in
Luke 15:23 mentions the fattened calf, which the father orders to be slaughtered in celebration of his son's return: "Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate" . This reference underscores themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the joy of reconciliation with God.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, calves serve as powerful symbols of both human frailty and divine provision. Whether as objects of idolatry, elements of sacrificial worship, or symbols of prosperity and judgment, they remind believers of the importance of faithfulness to God and the consequences of turning away from His commandments.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) Plural of Calf.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CALVES, OF THE LIPSkavz, (Septuagint: karpon cheileon): This is the King James Version rendering of a dubious Hebrew text inHosea 14:2 (parim sephathenu). The Revised Version (British and American) runs "So will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips." Strange as the text is, it may be retained, and it admits of at least a possible explanation. The prophet calls on his contemporaries to return in penitence to Yahweh. Their worship should consist not of meaningless dumb ritual, but of "words"-hymns and prayers, expressive of real gratitude and of actual needs-or perhaps pledges of repentance and reform. The people respond and undertake that their worship shall consist of "calves or bullocks of lips," i.e. not of animal offerings, but of promises of reform or vows of obedience. But this explanation is forced and most modern commentators follow the Septuagint, which presupposes a slightly different Hebrew text, and renders peri sephathenu, "fruit of our lips," i.e. adoring gratitude or, as the author of the Epistle to the He, who quotes this verse from the Septuagint, explains it, "sacrifice of praise" (Hebrews 13:15). The same phrase occurs inIsaiah 57:19, where it signifies gladsome gratitude.
T. Lewis
Greek
3448. moschos -- a young shoot, a calf... young bull. Word Origin a prim. word Definition a young shoot, a calf NASB
Word Usage calf (4),
calves (2). calf. Probably strengthened
...Strong's Hebrew
5882. En Eglayim -- "spring of twocalves," a place on the Dead...... En Eglayim. 5883 . "spring of two
calves," a place on the Dead Sea. Transliteration:
En Eglayim Phonetic Spelling: (ane eg-lah'-yim) Short Definition: Eneglaim
...1121. ben -- son
... 3), beasts (1), being* (1), Ben-hinnom* (7), bough (2), breed (1), brothers* (1),
builders (1), bull* (21), bulls* (5), calf* (2),calves (2),calves* (1...
1241. baqar -- cattle, herd, an ox
... Word Origin from baqar Definition cattle, herd, an ox NASB Word Usage bull (1),
bull* (21), bulls (9), bulls* (5), calf* (2),calves* (1), cattle (13), cow's (1...
5695. egel -- a calf
... Definition: calf. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a calf NASB Word
Usage calf (22), calf's (1),calves (12). bullock, calf. From...
6403. palat -- to escape
... root Definition to escape NASB Word Usagecalves (1), carries it off (1), deliver
(5), delivered (4), deliverer (5), delivers (3), escape (1), preserve (2...
Library
The Pharisees are the Bulls: the Roaring Lion is Herod or the...
... "Then what is next said in the Psalm"For trouble is near, for there is none to help
me. Manycalves have compassed me; fat bulls have beset me round....
Political Religion
... Whereupon the king took counsel, and made twocalves of gold, and said unto them,
It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel...
And Then the Future Captivity under an Oppressive King is...
... subjoined the evils of luxury: "ye that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch yourselves
upon couches; that eat the lamb from the flock, and thecalves out of...
And all the Methods I have Mentioned are Constantly Used by Nearly...
... subjoined the evils of luxury: "ye that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch yourselves
upon couches; that eat the lamb from the flock, and thecalves out of...
Israel Returning
... iniquity.2. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto Him, Take away all
iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render thecalves of our lips...
'Fruit which is Death'
... in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the
field.5. The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of thecalves of Beth...
Fifth Sunday in Lent
... greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of
this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats andcalves, but through...
The Carcass and the Eagles
... of violence to come near; 4. That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves
upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and thecalves out of...
Jeroboam
... God. Accordingly he caused to be made twocalves of gold, and these were
placed within shrines at the appointed centers of worship....
A Diversity of Interpretations is Useful. Errors Arising from...
... the Greek word moschos means a calf, some have not understood that moscheumata
[1783] are shoots of trees, and have translated the word "calves;" and this...
Thesaurus
Calves (34 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Calf. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
CALVES, OF THE LIPS.
... T. Lewis. Multi-Version Concordance
Calves (34 Occurrences)
...Stall (7 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 46:21 Also her hired men in the midst of her are likecalves of the stall;
for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they didn't...
Lips (199 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaCALVES, OF THE LIPS. kavz, (Septuagint:
karpon cheileon): This is the King James Version rendering...
Lip (20 Occurrences)
... The "fruit of the lips" (Hebrews 13:15) is praise, and the "calves of the lips"
thank-offerings (Hosea 14:2). To "shoot out the lip" is to manifest scorn and...
Fattened (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 39:18 Flesh of the mighty ye do eat, And blood of princes of the earth ye
drink, Of rams, of lambs, and of he-goats, Ofcalves, fatlings of Bashan...
Eneglaim (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Fountain of twocalves, a place mentioned only in Ezek.
47:10. Somewhere near the Dead Sea. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia....
En-eglaim (1 Occurrence)
... Eneglaim, En-eglaim. En-eg'laim . Easton's Bible Dictionary Fountain of two
calves, a place mentioned only in Ezek. 47:10. Somewhere near the Dead Sea. Int...
Milch (2 Occurrences)
... 6:7 Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath
come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring theircalves home from...
Calved (2 Occurrences)
... therefore take and prepare you a new cart, and two milch kine, on which there hath
come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring theircalves home from...
Aven (10 Occurrences)
... He also calls it Beth-aven, ie, "the house of vanity" (4:15), on account of
the goldencalves Jeroboam had set up there (1 Kings 12:28)....
Resources
Why did Jehu destroy the Baal worship in Israel but not the worship of golden calves? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2)? | GotQuestions.orgWhen and how was Israel conquered by the Assyrians? | GotQuestions.orgCalves: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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