Calf

A young animal prized as the source of tender meat, suitable for celebrations. However, it also had associations with both the OT sacrificial system and idolatry.

The association of the calf with idolatry

Exodus 32:2–8; 1 Kings 12:28–29 See also Exodus 32:19–24; Deuteronomy 9:16–21; 2 Kings 10:28–29, 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Nehemiah 9:16–18; Psalm 106:19–20; Hosea 8:5–6, Hosea 10:5, Hosea 13:2; Acts 7:41

So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them! They have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it. They have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’”

After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.

The sacrifice of calves

Micah 6:6 See also Leviticus 9:1–4, Leviticus 9:8–11; 2 Samuel 6:12–13; 1 Kings 1:9–10; Hebrews 9:11–12, Hebrews 9:19–20

With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

The flesh of the calf as a prized food

Proverbs 15:17; Luke 15:22–23 See also Genesis 18:6–8; 1 Samuel 14:31–32, 1 Samuel 28:24–25

Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.

The metaphorical use of calves

Jeremiah 31:18; Malachi 4:2 See also Psalm 29:6, Psalm 68:30; Jeremiah 34:18, Jeremiah 46:20–21

I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.