Calf
“Calf or young bull”
Summary
The young of cattle, significant in Scripture both as a valued food and sacrifice, and as an idolatrous symbol in the golden calves of Aaron and Jeroboam.
☩As Food and Hospitality
The 'fatted calf' was highly esteemed by the Hebrews as the choicest animal food. It was stall-fed, often with special reference to a particular festival or extraordinary occasion. Abraham presented a 'tender and good' calf to his angelic visitors as an expression of hospitality. The parable of the Prodigal Son famously depicts the father ordering the fatted calf to be killed for a celebration feast, symbolizing the joy of restoration and reconciliation.
☩In Sacrifice
Calves were commonly offered in sacrifices. At the inauguration of Aaron's priestly service, a calf was offered as a sin offering for Aaron, and a calf and lamb as burnt offerings for the people. The calf for sacrifice was usually a male of one year old. The expiatory virtue of blood sacrifices was fundamental to Semitic belief, based on the understanding that the life or soul of the animal is in the blood.
☩Golden Calf Idolatry
The most notorious biblical reference to calves is the golden calf made by Aaron at Sinai while Moses was on the mountain receiving the law. The people demanded visible gods, and Aaron fashioned a molten calf, probably a wooden figure overlaid with gold, reflecting Egyptian influence. Later, King Jeroboam I set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent the northern tribes from going to Jerusalem to worship, declaring 'Behold your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' The bull was likely chosen as a symbol of strength, a common representation of deity in the ancient Near East.
☩Symbolic Uses
The expression 'calves of our lips' in Hosea 14:2 is figurative, referring to the fruits of our lips in prayer and praise offered to God instead of animal sacrifice. In the apocalyptic vision, one of the four living creatures had the likeness of an ox, presumably symbolizing strength. Church tradition associated this figure with the Gospel of Luke, signifying the priestly and sacrificial character of Jesus's ministry.
Related Verses37 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Calf," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Calf," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Calf," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Calf," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 5.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Calf," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).