Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the cow is a significant animal, often symbolizing abundance, fertility, and provision. It is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old and New Testaments, reflecting its importance in the agrarian society of ancient Israel.
Old Testament References1.
Creation and Dominion: In
Genesis 1:24-25, God creates livestock, including cows, as part of His creation, granting humanity dominion over them. This establishes the cow as a part of God's provision for mankind.
2.
Symbol of Abundance: The cow is often associated with prosperity and abundance. In
Genesis 41, Pharaoh's dream of seven fat cows being devoured by seven lean cows is interpreted by Joseph as seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (
Genesis 41:26-30). This narrative underscores the cow's role as a symbol of agricultural abundance and economic stability.
3.
Sacrificial System: Cows, specifically bulls and heifers, were integral to the sacrificial system in the Mosaic Law.
Leviticus 1:3-5 describes the offering of a bull as a burnt offering, signifying atonement and dedication to God. The red heifer, mentioned in
Numbers 19:2, was used in purification rituals, highlighting the cow's role in religious practices.
4.
Idolatry and Judgment: The cow also appears in contexts of idolatry. In
Exodus 32, the Israelites create a golden calf while Moses is on Mount Sinai, leading to God's anger and judgment (
Exodus 32:4-10). This incident illustrates the dangers of idolatry and the cow's association with false worship.
5.
Provision and Blessing:
Deuteronomy 7:13 speaks of God's blessings, including the increase of cattle, as a sign of His favor upon Israel. The cow, therefore, is a representation of God's provision and blessing upon His people.
New Testament ReferencesWhile the New Testament does not frequently mention cows, the principles established in the Old Testament regarding livestock continue to hold significance. The New Testament emphasizes spiritual abundance and provision through Christ, transcending the physical symbols of the Old Testament.
Cultural and Theological SignificanceIn biblical times, cows were vital to the economy and daily life, providing milk, meat, and labor. Theologically, cows represent God's provision and the sustenance He offers to His people. They also serve as a reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the importance of worshiping God alone.
The cow's role in sacrificial practices points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law and provided a way for humanity's redemption. The imagery of the cow in the Bible, therefore, is rich with meaning, reflecting both God's material blessings and His spiritual provision.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Cow[BULL, BULLOCK]
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A cow and her calf were not to be killed on the same day (
Leviticus 22:28;
Exodus 23:19;
Deuteronomy 22:6, 7). The reason for this enactment is not given. A state of great poverty is described in the words of Isaiah 7:21-25, where, instead of possessing great resources, a man shall depend for the subsistence of himself and his family on what a single cow and two sheep could yield.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A chimney cap; a cowl
2. (n.) The mature female of bovine animals.
3. (n.) The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.
4. (v. t.) To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to overawe.
5. (n.) A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COW; KINEkou, kin (baqar (compare Arabic baqar, "cow"); `eghlath baqar (Isaiah 7:21); parah (compare Arabic furar, "young of a sheep, goat, or cow"); paroth `aloth (1 Samuel 6:7, 10), "milch kine," from `ul, "to suckle"; 'eleph): InAmos 4:1, the term, "kine of Bashan," is applied to the voluptuous women of Samaria. InGenesis 41:1-36 is the narration of Pharaoh's dream of the seven fat and seven lean kine. In Isaiah's vision (Isaiah 11:7) we have: "And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together." Cows do not seem to have been sacrificed. The sacrifice of the kine that brought the ark back from the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:14) was due to the exceptional circumstances.
SeeCALF;CATTLE.
Alfred Ely Day
Greek
1016. bous -- an ox, acow... an ox, a
cow. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: bous Phonetic Spelling:
(booce) Short Definition: an ox Definition: an ox,
cow, bull.
...1151. damalis -- a heifer
... a heifer. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: damalis Phonetic Spelling:
(dam'-al-is) Short Definition: a heifer Definition: a heifer, youngcow....
Strong's Hebrew
6510. parah -- a heifer,cow... 6509, 6510. parah. 6511 . a heifer,
cow. Transliteration: parah Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-raw') Short Definition: cows.
...cow, heifer, kine.
...1241. baqar -- cattle, herd, an ox
... 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), cows (1...
7794. shor -- a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.)
... bullock,cow, ox. From shuwr; a bullock (as a traveller) -- bull(-ock),cow, ox,
wall (by mistake for shuwr). see HEBREW shuwr. see HEBREW shuwr. 7793, 7794....
5697. eglah -- a heifer
... calf,cow, heifer. Feminine of egel; a (female) calf, especially one nearly grown
(ie A heifer) -- calf,cow, heifer. see HEBREW egel. 5696, 5697....
504. eleph -- cattle
... family, kine, oxen. From 'alph; a family; also (from the sense of yoking or taming)
an ox orcow -- family, kine, oxen. see HEBREW 'alph. 503, 504....
441. alluwph -- tame
... Or (shortened) talluph {al-loof'}; from 'alph; familiar; a friend, also gentle;
hence, a bullock (as being tame; applied, although masculine, to acow); and so...
Library
"About the Same Time, aCow which a Demon Harassed Met Martin as...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter IX. "About the same time, acow
which a demon harassed met Martin as he was? "About the...
Another Wonderful Record of 25.
... MR. SPURGEON'SCOW. "My... done. They knew nothing about my grandfather'scow;
but God did, you see; and there was the newcow for him....
Kedron
... built a foot-causeway, or a foot-bridge, upheld with arches, from the mount of the
Temple to the mount of Olives, upon which they led away the redcow (to be...
Responsiveness to Christ.
... Shepherd.". THECOW AND THE SUNSET. Sanctification... Acow and the man who owns the
cow may stand side by side and look at the same sunset. Thecow...
David the Shepherd Youth.
... Then one day he left Ramah early in the morning, riding on an ass, with a young
man behind him driving acow; for he gave out that he was going to offer a...
Chapter xli
... 4.Cow eating upcow is the strange thing that now follows; and yet in a dream such
an occurrence is entirely of the type that might be expected....
The Blessedness of Giving
... When they got into the yard, the deacon, pointing to one of the cows, exclaimed,
'There, take thatcow, and drive her home.' The man thanked him heartily for...
Thankfulness to God.
... See how the animals have been subjected to man; the horse, the usefulcow, the dog,
and the sheep have been tamed, the horse which once roved wild submits to...
The Persecutions.
... A wildcow was let loose on them, and threw down the two women; but Perpetua at
once sat up again, covered herself with her garments, and helped up Felicitas...
Diamond Managed with Many Blunders to Read this Rhyme to his...
... Little Boy Blue, come blow me your horn; The sheep's in the meadow, thecow's in
the corn, He had to keep them out, you know. But he wasn't minding his work....
Thesaurus
Cow (32 Occurrences)... A
cow and her calf were not to be killed on the same day (Leviticus 22:28; Exodus
23:19; Deuteronomy 22:6, 7). The reason for this enactment is not given.
...Cow's (1 Occurrence)
...Cow's (1 Occurrence). Ezekiel 4:15 Then he said to me, Behold, I have given you
cow's dung for man's dung, and you shall prepare your bread thereon....
Kine (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n. pl.) Cows. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.COW;
KINE. kou, kin (baqar (compare Arabic baqar, "cow"); `eghlath...
Tanned (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV).... (See RSV).
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV)....
Rams (81 Occurrences)
... RSV NIV). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Exodus 26:14 You shall...
Dyed (10 Occurrences)
... George B. Eager. Multi-Version Concordance Dyed (10 Occurrences). Exodus 25:5 rams'
skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV...
Porpoise (14 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See NAS).... (See NAS).
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See NAS)....
Skins (27 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red,
seacow hides, acacia wood, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Cows (33 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural ofCow.... (BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV). Exodus
25:5 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See NIV)....
Goatskins (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Exodus 25:5 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV)....
Exodus 35:7 rams' skins dyed red, seacow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV)....
Resources
What is the significance of a red heifer in the Bible? Is a red heifer a sign of the end times? | GotQuestions.orgHow and to whom did Jesus pay our ransom? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to be born of God? | GotQuestions.orgCow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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