cow, bull, calf, cattle, heifer, ox

Definition

The terms “cow,” “bull,” “heifer,” “ox,” and “cattle” all refer to a kind of large, four-legged bovine animal that eats grass.

• The female of this kind of animal is called a “cow,” the male is a “bull,” and their offspring is a “calf.”
• In the Bible, cattle were among the “clean” animals that the people could eat and use for sacrifice. They were primarily raised for their meat and milk.

A “heifer” is an adult female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf.

An “ox” is a type of cattle that is specifically trained to do agricultural work. The plural of this term is “oxen.” Usually oxen are male and have been castrated.

• Throughout the Bible, oxen were depicted as animals tied together by a yoke to pull a cart or a plow.
• Having oxen work together under a yoke was such a common occurrence in the Bible that the phrase to “be under a yoke” became a metaphor for hard work and labor.
• A bull is also a male type of cattle, but it has not been castrated and has not been trained as a work animal.

(See also: How to Translate Unknowns)

(See also: yoke)

Bible References

• Genesis 15:9-11
• Exodus 24:5-6
• Numbers 19:1-2
• Deuteronomy 21:3-4
• 1 Samuel 1:24-25
• 1 Samuel 15:3
• 1 Samuel 16:2-3
• 1 Kings 1:9
• 2 Chronicles 11:15
• 2 Chronicles 15:10-11
• Matthew 22:4
• Luke 13:15
• Luke 14:5
• Hebrews 9:13

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0047, H0441, H0504, H0929, H1165, H1241, H4399, H4735, H4806, H5695, H5697, H6499, H6510, H6629, H7214, H7716, H7794, H7921, H8377, H8450, G10160, G11510, G23530, G29340, G34470, G34480, G41650, G50220