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Topical Encyclopedia

Bulls hold significant symbolic and practical importance throughout the Bible, appearing in various contexts that reflect their role in ancient Near Eastern culture and religious practices. In the Scriptures, bulls are often associated with strength, sacrifice, and idolatry, serving as both literal and metaphorical elements in the biblical narrative.

Symbol of Strength and Power

Bulls are frequently depicted as symbols of strength and power in the Bible. This imagery is rooted in the physical attributes of bulls, which are known for their might and vigor. InPsalm 22:12, the psalmist laments, "Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me." Here, the bulls of Bashan are emblematic of formidable adversaries, highlighting the psalmist's sense of being overwhelmed by powerful foes.

Sacrificial Role

Bulls play a crucial role in the sacrificial system outlined in the Old Testament. They are often used as offerings to God, symbolizing atonement and devotion. InLeviticus 1:3, the instructions for burnt offerings specify, "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer an unblemished male; he must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, that he may be accepted by the LORD." The requirement for an unblemished bull underscores the importance of purity and perfection in offerings made to God.

The Day of Atonement, as described inLeviticus 16, also involves the sacrifice of a bull. Aaron, the high priest, is instructed to offer a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household, signifying the need for purification before approaching God on behalf of the people.

Idolatry and Apostasy

Bulls are also associated with idolatry and apostasy in the biblical narrative. The most notable instance is the golden calf incident inExodus 32, where the Israelites, in Moses' absence, fashion a calf from gold and worship 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 provokes God's wrath and serves as a cautionary tale against turning away from true worship.

Similarly, in1 Kings 12:28-30, Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, sets up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, leading the people into sin by encouraging the worship of these idols. This act is condemned as a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh.

Prophetic Imagery

In prophetic literature, bulls are sometimes used metaphorically to convey messages of judgment and restoration. InIsaiah 34:7, the prophet speaks of a time of divine retribution, stating, "And the wild oxen will fall with them, the young bulls with the mighty bulls. Their land will be soaked with blood, and their dust will be soaked with fat." This imagery underscores the totality of God's judgment against the nations.

Conversely, inEzekiel 39:18, the imagery of bulls is used in a context of feasting and victory: "You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth as if they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls—all of them fattened animals from Bashan." Here, the consumption of bulls symbolizes the triumph of God's people over their enemies.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, bulls serve as powerful symbols and instruments within the religious and cultural framework of ancient Israel. Whether as offerings in the sacrificial system, representations of idolatry, or metaphors in prophetic literature, bulls are integral to understanding the biblical narrative and its theological themes.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Bulls

Of Bashan, pasturing in a fertile region and with but few keepers, became strong and fierce, and might "compass about" and intruder, and trample him under foot. They are symbols of powerful, fierce, and numerous foes,Psalm 22:12 68:30Isaiah 34:7. SeeOX.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BULLS, JEROBOAM'S

SeeCALF (GOLDEN).

Greek

5022. tauros -- a bull
... a bull, an ox. Word Origin a prim. word Definition a bull NASB Word Usage
bulls (2), oxen (2). bull, ox. Apparently a primary word...

2768. keras -- a horn
... 2768 -- properly, an animal ; (figuratively) an , ie that by displaying . [2768 ("")
symbolizes the strength of (horned)bulls (see Ps 132:17).]....

1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext....
... [J. Thayer documents how this meaning is consistently the same in ancient Greek
writers. The root of 5177 () means "to strike, hit thebulls-eye" ("spot on")....

1783. enteuxis -- a petition, ie spec. supplication
... specific will. See 1793 (). [The root of this term is 5177 () which means
"to strike, hit thebulls-eye" ("spot on"). Accordingly, it...

Strong's Hebrew

5056. naggach -- given to goring (used ofbulls)
... 5055, 5056. naggach. 5057 . given to goring (used ofbulls). Transliteration:
naggach Phonetic Spelling: (nag-gawkh') Short Definition: goring....

6499. par -- young bull, steer
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition young bull, steer NASB Word Usage bull
(67), bull* (18),bulls (29),bulls* (5), fruit (1), heifer (6), ox (5), oxen...

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...

47. abbir -- mighty, valiant
... Word Origin from the same as abar Definition mighty, valiant NASB Word Usage angels
(1),bulls (2), chief (1), man (1), mighty (1), mighty ones (1), stallions...

8450. tor -- a bullock
... cattle. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to shor Definition a bullock
NASB Word Usagebulls (3), cattle (4). turtle dove. (Aramaic...

7794. shor -- a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.)
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.)
NASB Word Usage bull (1),bulls (1), cattle (1), herd (1), ox (65), oxen (8)....

1121. ben -- son
... 3), baby (1), Babylonians* (3), beasts (1), being* (1), Ben-hinnom* (7), bough
(2), breed (1), brothers* (1), builders (1), bull* (21),bulls* (5), calf* (2...

Library

The Pharisees are theBulls: the Roaring Lion is Herod or the...
... Chapter CIII."The Pharisees are thebulls: the roaring lion is Herod or the devil....
Many calves have compassed me; fatbulls have beset me round....

The PapalBulls against the Jansenists, 1653 and 1713.
... A HISTORY OF THE CREEDS OF CHRISTENDOM 27. The PapalBulls against the
Jansenists, 1653 and 1713. Cornelius Jansenius (Episcopi...

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to...
... At the new moon, they both perform the daily sacrifices, and slay twobulls, with
seven lambs of the first year, and a kid of the goats also, for the expiation...

How Pekah Died by the Treachery of Hoshea who was a Little after...
... 3. When these men were come, king Hezekiah went up into the temple, with the rulers
and all the people, and offered for himself sevenbulls, and as many rams...

Fifth Sunday in Lent
... but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption.13 For if the blood of goats andbulls, and the...

The Second Part.
... themselves somewhat, as it were strong men, as it were mighty men, as it were
prevailing, as it were a lion prepared for prey, as it were fatbulls, as of them...

That the Ancient Sacrifice Should be Made Void, and a New one...
... sacrifices? saith the Lord: I am full; I will not have the burnt sacrifices
of rams, and fat of lambs, and blood ofbulls and goats....

Building a Great Temple
... Solomon prepared the inner room as a place for the ark. In the inner room Solomon
made two wingedbulls of olive wood. The height of each was fifteen feet....

The Emperor Preparing an Expedition against the Persians, Arrives...
... For the emperor, being excessively superstitious, was continually sacrificingbulls
[537] on the altars of his idols; and had ordered the impression of a bull...

Be it So; Let it be Conceded that These Most Unfortunate Cattle...
... and that what has been done in accordance with usage and custom possesses some rational
ground: but if it seems a great and grand thing to slaybulls to the...

Thesaurus

Bulls (68 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaBULLS, JEROBOAM'S. See CALF (GOLDEN).
Multi-Version ConcordanceBulls (68 Occurrences). Acts 14...

Fourteen (26 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:13 and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of
a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen youngbulls, two rams, fourteen male...

Specified (9 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:18 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for
the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance...

Defect (62 Occurrences)
... (DBY NAS NIV). Leviticus 22:19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male
without blemish, of thebulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. (See NAS NIV)....

Rams (81 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelvebulls, the rams twelve,
the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and the male goats...

Golden (86 Occurrences)
... It has been thought that the habitual use of this diminutive term for the golden
bulls which Aaron and Jeroboam set up-especially as it is twice made feminine...

Blemish (71 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 22:19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without blemish,
of thebulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)....

Lambs (107 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:87 all the cattle for the burnt offering twelvebulls, the rams twelve,
the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and the male goats...

Calf (39 Occurrences)
... It has been thought that the habitual use of this diminutive term for the golden
bulls which Aaron and Jeroboam set up-especially as it is twice made feminine...

Shushan (19 Occurrences)
... was destroyed by fire in the time of Artaxerxes I. The columns apparently had capitals
of the style common in Persia-the foreparts of twobulls kneeling back...

Resources

What is the meaning of the blood of Christ? | GotQuestions.org

What was the significance of the new moon in Bible times? | GotQuestions.org

What was the Old Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance •Bible Dictionary •Bible Encyclopedia •Topical Bible •Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Bulls (68 Occurrences)

Acts 14:13
And the priest of Jupiter who was before the city, having broughtbulls and garlands to the gates, would have done sacrifice along with the crowds.
(DBY NIV)

Hebrews 9:13
For if the blood of goats andbulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh:
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 10:4
For it is impossible that the blood ofbulls and goats should take away sins.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 32:15
thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, tenbulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 24:5
He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to Yahweh.
(See NAS NIV)

Leviticus 22:19
that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without blemish, of thebulls, of the sheep, or of the goats.
(WEB RSV)

Numbers 7:87
all the cattle for the burnt offering twelvebulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs a year old twelve, and their meal offering; and the male goats for a sin offering twelve;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 7:88
and all the cattle for the sacrifice of peace offerings twenty-fourbulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after it was anointed.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Numbers 8:12
"The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of thebulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 23:1
Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here sevenbulls and seven rams."
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 23:29
Balaam said to Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here sevenbulls and seven rams."
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 28:11
"'In the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh: two youngbulls, and one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 28:19
but you shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to Yahweh: two youngbulls, and one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; they shall be to you without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 28:27
but you shall offer a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh: two youngbulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:13
and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen youngbulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:14
and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three tenth parts for every bull of the thirteenbulls, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:17
"'On the second day you shall offer twelve youngbulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:18
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:20
"'On the third day elevenbulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:21
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:23
"'On the fourth day tenbulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:24
their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:26
"'On the fifth day ninebulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:27
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:29
"'On the sixth day eightbulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:30
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:32
"'On the seventh day sevenbulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 29:33
and their meal offering and their drink offerings for thebulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 1:24
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with threebulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to Yahweh's house in Shiloh. The child was young.
(WEB)

1 Kings 7:25
It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 7:29
and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and on the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 7:44
and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea;
(See NIV)

1 Kings 18:23
Let them therefore give us twobulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it.
(WEB RSV NIV)

1 Kings 18:25
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal: 'Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under.'
(See NIV)

2 Kings 16:17
King Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the basin from off them, and took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pavement of stone.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:26
It happened, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, that they sacrificed sevenbulls and seven rams.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 29:21
They sacrificed sacrifices to Yahweh, and offered burnt offerings to Yahweh, on the next day after that day, even one thousandbulls, one thousand rams, and one thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:3
Under it was the likeness of oxen, which encircled it, for ten cubits, encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:4
It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set on them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:15
one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:21
They brought sevenbulls, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. He commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:22
So they killed thebulls, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar: they killed also the lambs, and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:32
The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was seventybulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:33
The consecrated things were six hundred head of cattle and three thousand sheep.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 30:24
For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings one thousandbulls and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 35:7
Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and young goats, all of them for the Passover offerings, to all who were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousandbulls: these were of the king's substance.
(WEB NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 35:9
Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings five thousand small livestock, and five hundred head of cattle.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Chronicles 35:12
They removed the burnt offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers' houses of the children of the people, to offer to Yahweh, as it is written in the book of Moses. So did they with the cattle.
(See NAS RSV)

Ezra 6:9
That which they have need of, both youngbulls, and rams, and lambs, for burnt offerings to the God of heaven; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 6:17
They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundredbulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 7:17
therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this moneybulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 8:35
The children of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelvebulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering to Yahweh.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Job 21:10
Theirbulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don't miscarry.
(WEB NIV)

Job 42:8
Now therefore, take to yourselves sevenbulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has."
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 22:12
Manybulls have surrounded me. Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 50:13
Will I eat the flesh ofbulls, or drink the blood of goats?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 51:19
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings. Then they will offerbulls on your altar.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 66:15
I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals, with the offering of rams, I will offerbulls with goats. Selah.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 68:30
Rebuke the wild animal of the reeds, the multitude of thebulls, with the calves of the peoples. Being humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 1:11
"What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me?," says Yahweh. "I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don't delight in the blood ofbulls, or of lambs, or of male goats.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 34:7
The wild oxen will come down with them, and the youngbulls with the mighty bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 50:11
Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow asbulls;
(KJV WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 50:27
Kill all herbulls; let them go down to the slaughter: woe to them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 52:20
The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve bronzebulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh. The brass of all these vessels was without weight.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 39:18
You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, ofbulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 45:23
The seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to Yahweh, sevenbulls and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 12:11
If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrificebulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 14:2
Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips likebulls.
(WEB)

Subtopics

Bulls

Related Terms

Bulrush (3 Occurrences)

Offal (6 Occurrences)

Outer (98 Occurrences)

Goat's (6 Occurrences)

Innards (15 Occurrences)

Eye (145 Occurrences)

Entrails (18 Occurrences)

Pin (10 Occurrences)

Dung (27 Occurrences)